10 Greatest Horror Films That Don't Rely On Jump Scares
6. The Witch (2015)
Demonstrating the nerve-wracking effects of slow burn horror to the fullest, The Witch comes to us from prominent new voice in horror Robert Eggers in his feature debut.
When a Puritan family is exiled from their community they attempt to forge a new life for themselves on the outskirts of an incredibly foreboding looking forest. Unbeknownst to them, the surrounding wilderness is home to a witch who torments the family, beginning by taking their infant son in broad daylight.
While the slow, methodical pacing has put some audiences off from watching this indie horror, it’s precisely this approach that makes The Witch so effective.
As the family fall apart at the seams due to their devout religious superstition leading to paranoia, the menacing atmosphere gradually tightens its grip on viewers while events spiral further out of control. Aided by phenomenal performances from the cast alongside Eggers’ stringent attention to detail, The Witch pulls viewers into a world that feels authentic.
By the time some jump scares are introduced into the final act, viewers will have been fully immersed in the terror and suspense, making these unsuspecting scares hit all the harder.