The 40 TV And Films That Are Most Likely To Give You Nightmares

(GayWebSource.com – Gay News & Press Network) – Posted by Jake Simpson – TheGayUK.com

Crimewatch is the TV show most likely to give you nightmares, a study has revealed.

Researchers found 61 per cent of Brits have struggled to sleep after watching something scary before heading to bed.

And the reconstruction show, which ironically has the catch phrase ‘don’t have nightmares’, has been named the TV show most likely to give you nightmares.

‘Most Haunted’, hosted by Yvette Fielding came second in the poll, followed by ‘The Walking Dead’ and the critically acclaimed ‘American Horror Story’, created by openly gay writer and producer Ryan Murphy.

Even the doom and gloom of the daily news updates saw it voted into eighth place.

It also emerged some have been left so scared by a TV or film before bed, they have resorted to sleeping with the light on.

Sally Hotchin, Brand Manager from Slumberdown, which commissioned the research, said: “Often, what you see, hear or do before going to bed can affect what you end up dreaming about and affect your quality of sleep.

“But this is bad news if you watch something which is a little on the scary or even gruesome side before you turn in for bed.

“I’ve always found real-life shows like Crimewatch have even more of an effect on my sleep as you know the things which are shown in this programme have actually happened – they aren’t just events a group of scriptwriters have suggested to make a top drama.

“If you are prone to nightmares after watching a scary show before bed, I’d suggest recording it to watch during the daytime, to avoid the creepy fear of the midnight run to the toilet.

“Try getting stuck into a good book before bed to help you sleep, as not only will this help you get a better night’s sleep, but studies have shown that overall memory improves if you learn right before falling asleep.”

The study of 2,000 Brits saw Crimewatch top the poll, followed by ‘Most Haunted’, ‘The Walking Dead’ and ‘American Horror Story’.

‘Ghost Hunters’ completed the top five.

Other TV shows to feature in the top ten include ‘Autopsy: The Last Hours of…’, nineties paranormal favourite ‘The X Files’, the news, ‘Silent Witness’ and ‘The Fall’, which stars Fifty Shades of Grey’s Jamie Dornan.

‘True Blood’, ‘Doctor Who’ and 1990s documentary series ‘Strange But True’ are also among the programmes which can give grown adults nightmares.

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Almost half of those polled admitted they had changed the channel while watching a chilling film or TV show because they were worried they were going to end up having nightmares when they eventually went to bed.

And just over a quarter end up sleeping with the light on because they can’t face the dark after a scary viewing session.

Forty per cent have even resorted to watching a kids’ TV show or something light-hearted to calm them down before finally switching off for the night.

It also emerged 1973 horror ‘The Exorcist’ is the film most likely to leave you having nightmares, follwed by ‘The Texas Chainshaw Massacre’ and “found footage” style supernatural film series ‘Paranormal Activity’.

Other films to feature in the list include ‘The Shining’, ‘Poltergeist’, ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ and ‘The Blair Witch Project’.

‘The Ring’, ‘Scream’, ‘Carrie’ and ‘The Woman in Black’ can also leave grown adults struggling to sleep.

Top 20 TV shows to give you nightmares

Crimewatch

Most Haunted

The Walking Dead

American Horror Story

Ghost Hunters

Autopsy The Last Hours of…

The X-Files

The news

Silent Witness