So what's the scariest film you've ever seen, then?
From the low-level frights of kids' favourite Goosebumps right up to the out-and-out sheer terror of The Exorcist, we all have that one film that makes us reach for the light switch.
The thrill of being frightened is a curious phenomenon - and it isn't one we all share.
While some of us are more than happy to be scared witless by the latest zombie flick, others are far happier with The Antiques Roadshow and a mug of Horlicks.
Whatever your disposition, there's no denying that some films just push those petrifying buttons better than others.
And with that in mind, movie website Rotten Tomatoes has carried out a poll to determine the top ten scariest films of all time.
Do you agree with it? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Let us know in the comments below:
10. IT (2017)
Many of us have a fear of clowns, so it's a rather obvious trope to use - but few have done it better than Stephen King's IT.
This 2017 adaptation of the horror legend's infamous book was a huge box office smash, even breaking The Exorcist's 44-year record as the highest-grossing horror film of all time.
Cleverly framed in a misleadingly comfy nostalgia, IT tells the story of children scarred by trauma, with their fragile mental states not helped by a shapeshifting evil clown called Pennywise.
Unsettling, bizarre and spiced with a liberal amount of jump scares, IT features top-drawer CGI and a handful of stirring set pieces.
A deliciously well-crafted horror film fit for the 21st century.
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 84 per cent
IMDB rating: 7.3
Where to watch: Prime Video
Want to get the latest news about Netflix or Disney + direct to your inbox? Sign up for our Binge-Worthy newsletter HERE
9. Insidious (2010)
You could be forgiven for thinking the supernatural Insidious - with its tale of a young boy who slips into a coma and begins to channel an unpleasant spirit - is rather derivative.
But that would be doing this effective chiller - featuring what is frequently regarded as one of the best jump scares ever - a huge disservice.
Many audience members have actually screamed out loud while watching this. Which is quite something when you think about it.
A gripping story, with a strong plot, Insidious adds up to a thrillingly unsettling ride. We advise you to hold on tight.
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 62 per cent
IMDB rating: 6.8
Where to watch: Netflix/Prime Video
8. Sinister (2012)
True-crime writer (Ethan Hawke) discovers a snuff film involving the death of a family, and vows to solve the mystery. Thus he takes the unusual step of moving his wife and kids into the victims' home and gets to work.
However, things go awry when it's clear there's a rather evil, supernatural tenant at play.
With its dramatic reveals and creepy set pieces, Sinister truly transcends its rather hackneyed plot. Many have deemed this one of the scariest films ever made - so that must count for something!
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 62 per cent
IMDB rating: 6.8
Where to watch: Netflix
7. Halloween (1978)
This John Carpenter masterclass is the very film that propelled Jamie Lee Curtis right to the top of the scream-queen tree.
One of the earliest slasher movies, it's notoriously light on gore but steeped in tension and inventive thrills.
The story tells the tale of six-year-old Michael Myers brutally murdering his 17-year-old sister on the titular Halloween.
He was locked away for 15 years but at 21 managed to escape and return to his hometown.
Myers and his freakish mask have become the stuff of legend, with the unstoppable killer narrative and screaming 'final victim' trope now firmly engraved in horror folklore.
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 89 per cent
IMDB rating: 7.7
Where to watch: All 4, Lionsgate
6. The Ring (2002)
Rotten Tomatoes readers opted for this remake of the truly distressing Japanese original as one of their top ten scares.
The acclaimed thriller concerns a cursed videotape eerily foretelling the viewer's death in precisely seven days.
And while it may not sound like much, the frankly terrifying ghost of a young girl in a white dress with long black hair covering her face has to be seen to be believed. The way she moves ... it's giving us the jitters just thinking about it!
Not as well-regarded as its predecessor, this more accessible remake still packs a sizeably shocking punch.
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: A bizarrely low 48 per cent - but it obviously scared a lot of Rotten Tomatoes readers!
IMDB rating: 7.1
Where to watch: All 4
5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Notoriously unpleasant low-budget slasher directed and co-written by Tobe Hooper is very loosely inspired by the crimes of serial killer Ed Gein.
Chainsaw's genius lies in the grimy, realistic way it is shot - lending it a stunning authenticity which really preys on your mind.
This over-the-top, power-tool inspired tale of terror centres around a group of friends who happen upon a farm-dwelling group of crazed, murderous outcasts.
With some distressingly brutal scenes and exceedingly bleak story, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is definitely not one for the faint hearted.
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 82 per cent
IMDB rating: 7.4
Where to watch: Prime Video
4. The Shining (1980)
There's that man again - horror writer extraordinaire Stephen King, though this time with the masterful Stanley Kubrick at the helm for this chilling big screen adaptation of chilling novel The Shining.
A genuinely unnerving take on the traditional haunted house story, this classic horror features an unforgettable Jack Nicholson performance and an incredible array of memorable imagery and scenes.
The traditional jump scares are few and far between, but when they land they really land.
The Shining tells the story of writer Jack Torrance (Nicholson) who becomes the caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado. He settles in for the winter along with his wife and child but things rapidly take a sinsister turn when the hotel's dark secrets begin to make themselves known through a series of terrifying revelations.
The film’s relatively few jumps scares are still bone-chilling, and the way it makes you experience Jack Torrance’s steady descent into insanity is simply genius.
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 93 per cent
IMDB rating: 8.4
Where to watch: Available to rent through Amazon and Apple TV
3. The Conjuring (2013)
This intriguing tale is inspired by the experiences of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.
The pair are summoned to a secluded farmhouse beset by a supernatural presence. The manifestations start out relatively sedate but rapidly escalate into an absolute horror show.
Again, this is not a film for the faint hearted, with many viewers left rather rattled by its effective use of jump scares and genuinely freakish moments.
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 83 per cent
IMDB rating: 7.5
Where to watch: Sky Go and Now TV Cinema
2. Hereditary (2018)
Oh my word, is this a fantastically disturbing film.
A dark family drama about the nature of grief cleverly wrapped up in a supernatural horror flick, Hereditary is simply breathtaking in its ability to unnerve.
In fact, it once topped a study of being one of the most heart-racing films out there, sending average pulse rates skyrocketing to an average 115bpm.
This exceptionally eerie supernatural tale, which stars Gabriel Byrne, follows the aftermath of a household trying to come to terms with the family matriarch's death. Confused by recent developments, her daughter and grandchildren begin a quest to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry.
A slow pot-boiler, this uniquely unsettling movie is infamous for leaving even the most hardened of horror lovers desperately reaching for the light switch. With its subtle jump-scares and sneaky ability to get right under your skin, Hereditary really is something else. Good luck trying to get some sleep after watching it, and don't say we didn't warn you ...
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: A surprisingly harsh 69 per cent
IMDB rating: 7.3
Where to watch: Available to rent through Amazon
1. The Exorcist (1973)
A sizeable 19 per cent voted William Friedkin's skin-crawlingly sinister The Exorcist as their top frightful film.
Based on the chilling eponymous novel about a priest battling to free a demon-possessed child, it became the highest-grossing R-rated horror film of all time, as well as the first to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
Upon its release, The Exorcist caused mass hysteria across the world, with reports of people feeling sick and even fainting in the audience.
It's hard to imagine that happening now, but the film does still possess an other-worldly power and in many ways is every bit as unsettling as it was back in the 70s.
With stunning visuals, believable characters, and an inherently disturbing plot, The Exorcist still remains the quintessential horror film.
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 92 per cent
IMDB rating: 8.1
Where to watch: BBC iplayer
