Like with anything,jump scarescan be used effectively. This practice tends to be seen as a shortcut utilized by films to pick up the slack when they cannot generate any significant tension through other means, however, the technique is not inherently bad. Some of thebest horror movies of all time–A Quiet Place,Alien,Evil Dead 2,It, andThe Conjuring 2 –contain plenty of jump scares that enhance the overall experience. In fact, these films might not be as highly regarded as they are today if they didn’t include these startling moments.
Jump scares have their place; conversely, they do not belong in every horror movie under the sun. Some films make do without them and still manage to be completely terrifying. These are those movies, and they are ripe pickings for aHalloweenfree of jump scares.
Where’s The Jumpwas used as a reference, and the site is a great resource for reviewing whether a film is packed with jump scares or not.
Updated June 15, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Halloween 2022 is right around the corner, which means the horror season is in full swing. Currently, Terrifier 2, Smile, Hellraiser, and Barbarian are making the rounds, so there are plenty of new scary flicks for people to seek out. However, when it comes tohorror movies with no jump scares, the selection is quite limited. Now, there is nothing wrong with a good jump scare, but some films do overly on the technique. This article has been expanded to include a few more movies that do not use this filmmaking device.
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Greg McLean’sWolf Creekhas had surprisingly long legs, as it went on to produce a 2013 sequel and a 2016 TV series. The 2005 original chronicles the tragic events that befall three backpackers who wind up in the hands of a vile kidnaper.
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Wolf Creekis far from a comfortable watch, with the movie incorporating plenty of violent scenes that will unsettle everyone but the most seasoned horror fans. However, it doesn’t rely on jump scares to get the job done.
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While the American adaptations andSadakomovieslean heavily into jump scare territory, that is not really the case for the Japanese originals.Ringuonly has a handful of jump scares, while its direct sequel is even more restrained in this area.Ringu 0: Birthdayeliminates this horror tool completely.
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AlthoughRingu 0: Birthdaydoesn’t come close to replicating the magic of1998’sRinguor even the 2002’sThe Ring, it is one of the better entries in the franchise. It dives into Sadako’s backstory.
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Featuring a towering performance by Vincent D’Onofrio as a serial killer,Chainedis a brutal horror film that expertly utilizes the power of the imagination. Most of the movie’s darkest moments transpire off-screen, allowing both the young, trapped protagonist and audiences to fill in the blanks themselves. As is often the case, the unseen is far scarier than the visible.
Chainedrevolves around the relationship between Bob, a serial killer, and Rabbit, his young captive. Over the course of a decade, their dynamic twists into something complex and unpredictable.
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A somewhat forgotten horror film,Session 9follows a crew tasked with clearing up a deserted mental asylum of asbestos. Naturally, things get creepy quite quickly.Session 9is predominantly concerned with establishing a tense atmosphere, something it achieves admirably.
The movie doesn’t explore much in the way of new ground, but it does the basics extremely well. With no jump scares and very little in the way of bloody sequences,Session 9is an effective mood piece that can inspire a few nightmares through its imagery.
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House of 1000 Corpses' superior sequel follows three psychopaths on a road-trip style movie filled with gore.The Devil’s Rejectsis obnoxious, unapologetically vile, and bizarrely funny.Rob Zombie’s filmographylargely reads as a tribute to ’70s exploitation and slasher flicks, and while most of these projects struggle to carve out an identity beyond “throwbacks,” this 2005 release is an exception.
The Devil’s Rejectsdoes right by its main characters, in the sense that they are treated as fully fleshed human monsters rather than vehicles for sadism. For all its grotesque imagery, the movie does rely on jump scares to frighten viewers.The Devil’s Rejectspresents its horror proudly.
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Long thought to have been lost to time,George A. Romero’sThe Amusement Parkfinally earned a full release in 2019 despite premiering in a festival all the way back in 1975. A vicious critic of ageism,The Amusement Parkis a bizarre and uncomfortable sit, one that benefits from having a lack of polish in its presentation.
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Even thoughThe Amusement Parkmight not rank among Romero’s absolute greatest films, it still demonstrates the director’s unbeatable talent forsocial commentaryand inventive storytelling.
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From two masters of horror inGeorge A. Romeroand Stephen King comesCreepshow, an anthology movie that is often equally concerned with being funny as it is with being scary. As it so happens, the film succeeds at both, creating a wildly entertaining experience that seems tailor-made for a Halloween party.
None of the shorts are bad, but there is certainly a pecking order. “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill” and “Something to Tide You Over” are the standout pieces, with the latter containing a chilling turn by Leslie Nielsen, akaNaked Gun’s Frank Drebin.
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There is no horror filmmaker quite like Frank Henelotter. The creator’s films are absurdist nightmares, typically involving a grotesque entity latching onto a far from innocent “normal” human.TheBasket Casemovies are worth marathoning, whileFrankenhookerandBad Biologyare solid horror comedies in their own right.
As good as those films are, the director’s masterpiece is probably 1988’sBrain Damage, a movie about a parasitic entity and its confused host.Brain Damageplays out like one extended bad trip, and it is glorious.
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Reminiscent ofHitchcock’s moviessuch asShadow of a Doubt,Stokercomes from respected South Korean director Park Chan-wook, who is primarily known forThe Vengeance Trilogy. Following the death of her father, India moves in with her mother, a situation that grows more peculiar once her uncle, Charlie, comes to stay with them. India instantly senses that there is something not quite right with this new resident.
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A psychological thriller,Stokerbuilds up anxiety through its slightly off performances and strong direction.Stokeris not especially scary, however, it is constantly captivating.
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A somewhat forgotten horror film,Frailtytells the gripping tale of a father who believes he has been chosen by God to eradicate demons posing as humans. He extends this mission to his two sons, although only one believes in the cause.Frailtyexpertly challenges audiences to ponder whether Dad Meiks' visions are genuine or merely the delusions of a serial killer, and the movie keeps up this mystery until the very end.
Boasting great performances by the entire cast, particularly Bill Paxton and Matthew McConaughey,Frailtyis a unique, clever, and unpredictablehorror movie without jump scares.
