2 Hudson Valley Filmed Movies Declared the Scariest of 2025

Horror Movie Films Across Hudson Valley

Between 2022 and 2024 a horror movie and it's sequel hit the big screen.

Smile (2022) and Smile 2 (2024) captivated and spooked audiences worldwide. Both Smile films follow characters who are being followed and haunted by visions of a smiling entity while dealing with strange and frightening experiences.

While the first Smile filmed mostly in New Jersey, Smile 2 filmed across the Hudson Valley and Albany region.

Towns like Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Wappingers Falls, and Ellenville were all used for filming locations. Watch the trailer below and you'll catch a glimpse of your hometown:

Scary right?

We'll it turns out that these 2 Hudson Valley filmed horror films might be some of the scariest and it's scientifically proven.

According to Science 2 Of the Scariest Movies Filmed in the Hudson Valley

A company recently put together a science project of sorts to figure out the top scary movies of 2025.

The Science of Scare Project gathers "test subjects" and straps them with heart monitors, then the test subjects will sit and watch a handful of horror movies. Their heart rate data is collected and are used to rank the scariest movies...according to science.

The results are in and Smile and Smile 2 crack the Top 10 list of Scariest Movies in 2025. They come in at #7 and #8. The website MoneySuperMarket.com, "The Smile franchise becomes the second franchise ever (and the only current franchise) to hold multiple spots in the top 10."

Resting heartrates start at 64 beats per minute. While watching Smile and Smile 2 the average heartrate was clocked at 83 BPM. The highest spike was 114 BPM for Smile and 110 BPM for Smile 2.

Haunted Hudson Valley

The Hudson Valley is rich with history and of course, some of that history is haunted.

Allegedly.

Take a look below at some of the spookier stories with origins around the Hudson Valley and New York State below:

Your Ghost Guide to The 50 Most Haunted Places in New York State

Gallery Credit: Traci Taylor

17 Unique, and kind of Creepy, Legends & Lore Hudson Valley Historical Markers

Have you ever wondered what those historical markers on the side of the road say? Did you know there are a handful in the Hudson Valley that focus on local legends and lore? Take a close look at some of these unique historical markers across the region.

Gallery Credit: Jess

6 Terrifying Haunted Attractions to Visit This Fall in the Hudson Valley

Nothing says Spooky Season quite like a good jump scare! Luckily, there's no shortage of haunted attractions in the Hudson Valley. Take a look at 6 of the spine tingling attractions you can visit this fall.