With spooky season lurking around the corner, it should come as no surprise Americans are catching up on some of their favorite scary flicks. Did you know the Garden State has served as the backdrop for many bone-chilling scenes throughout cinematic history? If your streaming queue needs some inspiration, a new study recently revealed what horror movie New Jersey locals are searching for the most.
The Research
The research, conducted Kill the Cable Bill in partnership with Mindnet Analytics, examined the horror movie viewing habits throughout all 50 states. The findings came from first narrowing the top 200 best-ranked horror movies on Rotten Tomatoes. Then, that information was cross-referenced using Google Trends to determine the search frequency by state from October 1, 2019, to October 1, 2020.
The research was also able to gauge each state’s level of interest in horror movies.
The Findings
Throughout the country, an early Guillermo del Toro film stands out above the rest. “The Devil’s Backbone” was favorited by three states in addition to DC. South Korean horror film “Bakjwi” and “Freaks” by Tod Browning we’re tied for second place with two states each.
In the mood for a good ghost story? Check out the trailer for “The Devil’s Backbone” below:
Some findings, however, come across as less random. A few searches were influenced by place. For example, “The Shining” was most popular in Colorado where the film was set.
More recent horror films made it onto the list too. Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” was a favorite in Alaska. “A Quiet Place” won over Wyoming residents. And my personal favorite, “Zombieland,” took the state of Oklahoma.
In terms of who’s most into horror movies, it turns out that Florida is the least enthused. This sparked a trend among other Southeastern states including Georgia, the Carolinas and Mississippi, who all fell at the bottom of the pack. Leading the way, on the other hand, was Oregon, followed by Alaska in second. Other top states included Utah and Wyoming.
Chart and research by Kill the Cable Bill
The Most Searched Horror Movie in New Jersey
Without further ado, let’s get into the specifics of our home state. It was found that similar to the rest of the country, New Jersey viewers are turning to “The Devil’s Backbone” as their preferred horror movie. The film, dating back 20 years now, is still referred to as Del Toro’s greatest horror flick. Although, if you’re not a cinephile, you may be more familiar with his later work including “The Shape of Water” (2017).
Photo by Richard Loader
About the Author/s
Abby is The Digest's Managing Editor. She spends her time looking at dogs on Instagram and eating her way around Jersey City.
