A Belfast Film Festival audience found itself part of a science experiment last night.

Selected guinea pigs found themselves hooked up to sensors to monitor their physiological reactions during two films. Small electrodes were attached to the fingertips though, thankfully, all they did was take readings.

The first film was a local short starring Stella McCusker and Richard Dormer, the second was the 1981 cult classic Scanners.

Both films were horror movies in order to monitor audience reactions from their pulse rates and skin responses to both the sounds and images.

While Unsound was certainly full of suspense, it elicited more giggles than gasps from the audience. It did, however, feature some wonderful photography.

Scanners is a David Cronenberg classic gore fest. Although dated, it did provide the audience with some gruesome sights.

Horror fans got a treat being able to watch this one on the big screen. The results of the experiment have yet to be revealed.

^{KERRY McKITTRICK}