10 Greatest Horror Films That Don't Rely On Jump Scares

Digging deep into the mirky depths of grief, loss, trauma, and family secrets, Ari Aster’s Herreditary is hailed as one of the scariest outings in recent memory – and all without relying on jump scares to do the heavy horror lifting.

In the aftermath of the Graham family matriarch, grieving mother Annie (Toni Colette in a powerhouse performance) struggles to cope. With mounting tension already hanging over the family, things are brought to a braking point when their daughter Charlie (Milly Shapiro) is killed in a tragic – and utterly horrific – accident. But could there be something more sinister be pulling the strings behind the scenes?

There are jump scares in Hereditary – particularly as it reaches its nerve-shattering climax – but these brief and frightening moments are only a fraction of what has made Hereditary so nightmarish.

Alongside a spectacularly intense performance from Collette to drive the plot forward, it’s the hidden details lurking in the background that add to Aster’s slow-burn terror. You might not see them on your first watch, but when you do you won’t be able to unsee them.

Throw in a phantasmagoric score by Colin Stetson and you have a phenomenal modern horror masterpiece.