How scary was that haunted house? Was that new horror movie actually terrifying, or were you just pretending to be scared because your friends were watching? There’s now an app for that. Scream Score, a free app created by zoologist and immersive experience designer Heather Doggett, uses a smartphone and compatible smartwatch or wearable to track your body’s biometric response during scary experiences and turn it into a personalized fear score. The newest version is now available on iOS and Android, just in time for Halloween.
So instead of arguing about which friend screamed the loudest, you can actually compare your scores and find out who got the most freaked out.
How does Scream Score work?
Scream Score pairs your phone with a compatible wearable device and tracks biometric responses while you’re experiencing something scary. The app can be used at haunted attractions and while watching horror movies, allowing users to see how their bodies reacted throughout the experience. The app also has a competitive element. Friends can compare their scores, create challenges, and see who handled the scares the best or, more importantly, who turned out to be the easiest person in the group to terrify.
Scream Score has been designed as entertainment rather than a medical device or diagnostic tool.
Why was Scream Score invented?
The idea for Scream Score came from a conversation Doggett had with her then-15-year-old, who wanted to visit an especially intense haunted attraction. That led to a difficult question: How scary is too scary? Doggett decided to see whether the body’s response to fear could actually be measured and turned into something people could have fun with.
“I wanted to give people a way to settle the argument,” Doggett said. “Not ‘Was that scary?’ but ‘How scared did you actually get?’ and ‘How scared are my friends?’”
Scream Score launched in 2024 with a focus on the haunted attraction industry. It has since been tested at haunted attractions around the country and used with audiences watching 28 films at the Nightmare in the Ozarks Film Festival. The technology has also been demonstrated at events including MidSummer Scream and TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show.
Now you can use Scream Score with horror movies
The latest version expands Scream Score beyond haunted attractions and makes it possible to use the app with horror movies as well. That opens up an entertaining possibility for horror fans. You could watch the same movie with a group of friends, let Scream Score track everyone’s reactions, and then find out who was actually the most scared.
Of course, there’s a potential problem with that plan. If you spend the entire movie watching your smartwatch instead of the screen, you might miss the part that was supposed to scare you. Still, being able to compare your reaction to the same movie with someone else’s could make for a fun experiment. And if you think you’re impossible to scare, Halloween is a pretty good time to put that theory to the test.
What about your heart rate data?
Because Scream Score uses biometric information, privacy is naturally part of the conversation. According to the company, scores are anonymous, and Scream Score does not sell users’ heart rate data. Participating haunted attractions receive anonymous, aggregated information rather than identifying information about individual guests.
The app’s current store listings also provide privacy information for the respective platforms. Google Play currently states that the developer does not share data with third parties, while Apple’s listing says the developer reports that the app does not collect data.
Where can you try Scream Score?
Scream Score is currently available as a free app for iOS and Android, with compatibility depending on the phone and wearable being used. Apple devices require iOS 17 or later and a compatible Apple Watch, while Android users can pair the app with compatible Wear OS smartwatches and wearables.
The company is also offering demonstrations throughout the Halloween season, including live and on-camera “measure YOUR fear” demonstrations, appearances at haunted attractions and horror events, and podcast and livestream appearances.
So the next time somebody insists that that haunted house wasn’t scary, or that that horror movie barely made them flinch, there’s a new way to settle the argument. Just strap on your smartwatch and let the fear score decide.
Will you be using the Scream Score app? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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