Hello Readers!
This week, we will continue with our exploration of the horror movie genre. Today we will talk about how horror movies scare us. Horror movies are designed to scare us. They tap into our deepest fears and display them as entertainment. They are frightening but addictive. So this begs the question, how do horror movies continue to scare us? Let’s dive in and explore this terror together!
Subversion of Horror Movie Tropes
At this point, even people who aren’t horror fans know the classic horror movie tropes. Some of the most common are, the monster in the mirror, the abandoned place, and the final girl. From these has risen a new trope of subverting the horror cliches. For example, a person looks in a mirror only to see no monster. This technique keeps the audience on edge. When the audience doesn’t know what comes next, it’s easier to catch them off guard. Some movies that do a great job with this trope are The Cabin in the Woods, Scream, The Exorcist, Creep 2.Â
Jump Scares
One of the most popular ways a horror movie scares its audience is a jump scare. A jump scare is intended to scare the audience with an abrupt change in image or event; usually accompanied by a loud sound or scream. Jump scares are one of the most common techniques used by horror directors to scare audiences. The trope is so popular that it has now become overdone. Still, there are ways that the jump scare, if used correctly can be one of the most effective scare tactics a movie can offer. Here are some examples of good horror movie jump scares.
Nonlinear Sounds
One technique that gets overlooked the most in horror movies is sound. In addition to creepy visuals and an unsettling atmosphere, the sound is the thread that ties everything together. The greatest sound technique used to scare audiences is the use of nonlinear sounds. Some examples of nonlinear sound include people screaming, a dog yelping, and the sound of an engine. These types of sounds are used to create unease in the viewers. Some movies that do a great job with using sound to create scares are The Shining and Suspiria.
Irregular Movement
There is something creepy about irregular movement in horror movies. When a character is moving unnaturally, it creates an unsettling feeling in the viewers. This technique is not the most popular trope in horror movies but still is an effective one. The best use of irregular movement in horror movies is the film MAMA by James Wan. Watch a clip from the film below.
Anticipation
There is nothing worse than the feeling of knowing something is going to happen. Waiting for the monster or demon to reach their unsuspecting prey. Elements such as scene length, framing, and timing are all used to create tension in a horror movie. This is another trope that can come off as cliche because the viewers might be able to anticipate the scene playing out in a certain way. Even if the audience can see a scare coming doesn’t mean that the wait to get there is easy. Sometimes it’s all about the execution of the tension and not necessarily the end result. If done correctly, tension and anticipation can be one of the scariest elements of a horror movie. Let’s take a look at an example of great tension in horror movies.Â
How many of these tropes scare you? Comment below and discuss!
Until next time,
Happy Viewing!
Sources:
15 Ways You Didn’t Even Realize Horror Movies Are Manipulating You Into Fear
Filmster Blog 