More than half of adults will put on a horror movie to help them de-stress

More than half of adults will put on a horror movie to help them de-stress.

A poll of 2,000 film buffs found 54 per cent of those who watch them choose to put one on when needing to unwind, while 77 per cent say they help them escape reality.

More than 41 per cent enjoy watching horror films, with the genre experiencing a recent rise in popularity as one in four (24 per cent) fans discovered their passion for it within the last three years.

The average horror movie lover typically watches a whopping 36 of these films per year – with 53 per cent saying this increases during October.

Besides from destressing, 80 per cent enjoy the adrenaline rush it gives them, while 38 per cent are in it for the thrill.

The research was commissioned by Beavertown which is launching its Halloween film series with a spine-chilling ‘Dead Carpet’ event at London’s Prince Charles Cinema, where horror icons will stalk the blood-red carpet kicking off “Beavertown Screamings,” – a week of horror classics from 23rd to 31st October.

A spokesperson for the brand said: “Horror movies have a unique way of captivating viewers – from the suspense of the unknown to the shocking jump scares.

“Halloween and horror have always been a huge part of our DNA and this year we wanted to take it to the next level by truly celebrating the nation’s love for all things spooky – whether they’re using it to unwind or for a dose of adrenaline.”

The study also revealed the thrill and suspense are what 38 per cent find the most appealing about horror movies.

While one in three (31 per cent) love the tension, and 27 per cent get a kick out of the scares and jumps.

The chest-burster scene in Alien (1979), the iconic head spin in the 1973 Exorcist, and The Shining’s infamous “Here’s Johnny!” moment were cited as the top three jump-scare moments of all time.

A fifth (19 per cent) prefer to experience these frightful moments alone, while 46 per cent need others with them at all times.

Psychological fear (49 per cent), creepy atmospheres (44 per cent), and paranormal entities (27 per cent) were voted the best kind of scares in a horror movie.

The study also found the top 30 scary flicks of all time, with Hannibal Lecter-starring The Silence of the Lambs topping the list.

It was followed by the first Alien film from 1979, and iconic seventies scarer The Exorcist in the third place.

The OnePoll.com data also found that after watching a scary horror, 39 per cent say they feel spooked but in a good way.

The spokesperson added: “With our special screening, we are combining that passion with immersive out-of-this-world experiences that bring horror to life in the best possible way.”

TOP 30 HORROR MOVIES OF ALL TIME

1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
2. Alien (1979)
3. The Exorcist (1973)
4. The Shining (1980)
5. Scream (1996)
6. Halloween (1978)
7. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
8. The Sixth Sense (1999)
9. The Conjuring (2013)
10. Psycho (1960)
11. 28 Days Later (2002)
12. Paranormal Activity (2007)
13. Poltergeist (1982)
14. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
15. Carrie (1976)
16. The Wicker Man (1973)
17. It (2017)
18. The Thing (1982)
19. Get Out (2017)
20. The Evil Dead (1981)
21. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
22. The Ring (2002)
23. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
24. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
25. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
26. Dracula (1958)
27. The Birds (1963)
28. The Others (2001)
29. Insidious (2010)
30. Evil Dead II (1987)