Every successful horror movie has to have at least one good jump scare, it's practically mandatory for the genre. However true that might be, jump scares and horror flicks are like salt and french fries. A little goes a long way, and too much takes the flavor right out of it.
While jump scares are an effective way to get a reaction from an audience, there are several horror films that use them too much and therefore lose some of their personality in the process. Here are ten such films that rely too heavily on scares instead of substance for their features.
Paranormal Activity Series
There's some wiggle room on this one due to the presence and use of grainy found-footage and home movie shooting, but after the first film, things began to get more than a little repetitive.
With The Ghost Dimension having almost 30 jump scares over the course of its running time, the novelty wears off for some viewers after a while. The original has some merit, but the series went out with the dodo.
Hell Fest
Hell Fest definitely had more than enough jump scares to go around two horror flicks, but since the events of the film are set in a Horror-Nights-esque theme park, it makes perfect sense given the fact many of the scares come from the environment rather than the masked murderer himself.
Still, occasionally the scares become repetitive, but there is still a certain balance that earns it a bit of leeway. It's a bit much, but it's at least justified by the story.
The Conjuring Series
Speaking of gratuitous, This series and all its spinoffs and related material wouldn't nearly be as popular as they are without their jump scares.
With that in mind, the films inspired by the hauntings investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren definitely play better off atmosphere and environment. Of course, to say a certain sinister doll isn't responsible for most of the ticket sales might be untrue.
Insidious Sequels
The first Insidious film was a brilliant take on the haunted house genre with just the right amount of jump scares that kept the viewer alert.
The sequels, on the other hand, upped the ante with more spirits and scares as the series went deeper into the Further. The result was definitely unnerving and unsettling, but at the same time it lost what made the first one distinct.
Evil Dead (Remake)
Any movie in the Evil Dead franchise is going to have an intense amount of jump scares, it's just the nature of the beast. So it should come as no surprise that this reboot/remake has more than enough to go around.
Demons are around every corner, as are the gross mutilations, and those infamous evil trees surrounding that fatally familiar cabin in the woods. It's still one of the better horror reboots, but there is such a thing as excess.
Scream 3
The first film was unique in its executions, the second had its charm, but the third film was where things started to get ridiculous in this otherwise distinct Wes Craven series.
The film was trying so hard to be meta and topical, the actual horror elements feel like something of a rushed job, including the number of jump scares. It's not that the series didn't have or need them, but it did feel a little phoned in. At least the final film was decent.
It (Chapters 1 and 2)
The It movies have more jump scares than Derry has demonic clowns, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing. While the scares in the first film were just fine, the sequel has things going completely off the rails.
But it's true that the films would not be the same product without the goofiness and gore. Without them, it wouldn't be nearly half as scary or enjoyable as it is.
Dead Silence
Overkill would be one way to describe the full-on freakiness of this film. Creepy puppets don't need much help when it comes to scaring audiences, but it's a lot to handle when they're paired with a vengeful spirit with a massive disgusting tongue.
Not to mention, Mary Shaw could possibly hold some sort of record for most jump scares per character. Either way, the results are both scary and repetitive, much like her signature poem.
Sinister
Sinister is as scary as water is wet, but it would be a lie to say that a certain percentage of its terror comes from Buguul's intermittent jump scares.
In all honesty, there are few places in this film that the demon isn't ready to jump out and scare the audience. Still, it's nothing compared to the final entry on the list.
Drag Me To Hell
Brought to fans by the director of The Evil Dead, Sam Raimi, This film is a veritable buffet of jump scares at the drop of a hat.
From creepy old ladies to demons possessing goats, it holds nothing back in its scares to the point it practically becomes obnoxious. It's scary enough, but the film knows absolutely nothing about the word subtle.
