12 Incredible Horror Movies With No Jump Scares

Roman Polanski's classic psychological horror has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score on this list, with a near-perfect 99% rating. Based on a novel by Ira Levin (think The Stepford Wives), it tells the story of a woman who grows increasingly paranoid that her husband and neighbors are plotting against her and her unborn child.

Not only does Rosemary's Baby contain no jump scares, it also contains none of the gore or violence often associated with horror films. Most of the fear comes from Rosemary's own paranoia, with simple moments such as a one-shot scene in a phone booth tricking the viewer into thinking they know what's going to happen next. Much like Rosemary, those watching this film for the first time will wonder at times if the central conflict is actually real, and those answers won't arrive until the very end.

This approach actually stems from loyalty to the source material. Levin's novels are deeply psychological, and Polanski uses that to his advantage in a way that other filmmakers don't. For instance, both film adaptations of The Stepford Wives make the protagonist's fate explicit, whereas the novel's ambiguity is largely responsible for its suspense.

Rosemary's Baby, meanwhile, never truly shows the child that plays such an important role in the story. Explicit answers are given regarding Rosemary's suspicions and the child's ultimate fate, but the true source of terror from beginning to end is simply fear itself. Other paranoia-driven films have tried to achieve something similar, but Polanski - aided by Mia Farrow's excellent performance as Rosemary - pulls it off with incredible success.