New Netflix horror series breaks world record for most jump scares in one episode

A new horror series on Netflix has broken the world record for having the most jump scares in a single episode.

The Midnight Club, which made its debut on the streaming service last week, tells the chilling tale of a gang of young adults all living together in an end-of-life hospice.

One night, the friends make a pact to make contact from beyond the grave once they’ve passed away from their terminal illnesses – but when one of the group does die, strange and sinister happenings begin to occur. 

The series, produced, directed and written by The Haunting of Hill House writer Mike Flanagan and The Haunting of Bly Manor writer Leah Fong, has enjoyed a successful first weekend, and even managed to break a world record in the process.

The Midnight Club has earned itself a spot in the Guinness World Records for the highest number of jump scares, with a whopping twenty-one in a single episode. 

This may come as a surprise to many Flanagan’s fan base, however, with the film maker recently admitting to not being too fond of a good old fashioned jump scare.

He said during the show’s New York Comic Con panel: “My whole career I completely s**t on jump scares as a concept.

“I wanted to make sure it was pinned to me, too, as much as it is to the show, to Netflix, and all of us who have inflicted this on everyone.

“Now, I have my name in the Guinness Book of World Records for jump scares, which means next time I get the note, I can say, ‘You know, as the current world record holder for jump scares, I don’t think we need one here’.”

Netflix’s official synopsis for the ten-part series reads: “At a hospice for terminally ill young adults, eight patients come together every night at midnight to tell each other stories – and make a pact that the next of them to die will give the group a sign from the beyond.”

Actors include Adia, Igby Rigney, Ruth Codd, Aya Furukawa, Annarah Shephard, William Chris Sumpter and Sauriyan Sapkota, with Heather Langenkamp as the enigmatic doctor presiding over Rotterdam Home.

The Midnight Club is available to watch now on Netflix.