A Glean movie guide
The Ultimate Jump Scare Guide
Don't forget to breathe.
Brace yourself for the most effective, heart-pounding shocks in modern horror.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Insidious
A relentless barrage of sharp musical stings and sudden, terrifying visual reveals.
A family discovers that dark spirits have invaded their home after their son inexplicably falls into an endless sleep. When they reach out to a professional for help, they learn things are a lot more personal than they thought.
- 02
The Conjuring
Expertly crafted sequences that turn heavy silence into high-tension, heart-stopping scares.
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives.
- 03
Sinister
Disturbing found-footage segments deliver some of the most effective and lingering shocks in the genre.
True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt is in a slump; he hasn't had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.
- 04
Smile
Utilizes aggressive modern techniques and 'fake-out' scares to keep you constantly on edge.
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain.
- 05
Lights Out
A clever, high-frequency horror film built entirely around the terrifying mechanic of light and shadow.
Rebecca must unlock the terror behind her little brother's experiences that once tested her sanity, bringing her face to face with a supernatural spirit attached to their mother.
- 06
The Descent
Combines suffocating claustrophobia with sudden, visceral creature reveals that will leave you breathless.
After a personal tragedy, Sarah joins her friends on a caving expedition in the Appalachian Mountains. But when a rockfall traps them deep underground, their adventure turns into a nightmare. As they search for a way out, the group discovers they are not alone—lurking in the darkness are savage, cave-dwelling creatures. With rising tension and dwindling trust, the women must fight to survive against both the predators and each other.
- 07
Talk to Me
A fresh take on possession featuring sharp, unexpected visual scares that hit with brutal precision.
When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
- 08
Barbarian
A wild, unpredictable ride that uses subverted expectations to deliver jarring and effective shocks.
In town for a job interview, a young woman arrives at her Airbnb late at night only to find that it has been mistakenly double-booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to stay the night anyway.
- 09
A Quiet Place
A unique sound-based premise where every accidental noise leads to a heart-pounding jump scare.
A family is forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound.
- 10
The Ring
A masterclass in building dread that culminates in some of the most iconic visual scares in cinema.
Journalist Rachel Keller investigates a strange videotape that may be behind the untimely deaths of four teenagers. There is an urban legend about this tape: the viewer will die seven days after watching it. Rachel tracks down the video... and watches it. Now she has just seven days to unravel the mystery of the Ring in order to save herself and her son.
- 11
Evil Dead Rise
An aggressive, high-intensity experience packed with loud sound design and sudden, violent movements.
A reunion between two estranged sisters gets cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.
- 12
Paranormal Activity
The definitive slow-burn horror that turns subtle household movements into massive, startling payoffs.
After a young, middle-class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic but is certainly the most active in the middle of the night.