Research: The Importance of Sound in Horror Films

All films, not just horror films, use a variety of different sound techniques in order to convey or enhance the emotion in the scene.; such as subtle music cues. It is often the most overlooked aspect of the film, even though it is the most important part of setting the mood of the scene. Music may progressively build to a crescendo to signify that an important event is about to happen in the scene or trail away to silence in order to show that the action of that particular scene has ended. In the context of horror films, sound is used to build the suspense before a jump scare.

For example, it was the use of the screeching violins that made the Shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" of the most recognizable scenes in the history of Horror films and without sound, Psycho's shower scene would not be as dramatic (or iconic) as it is with the score. When Music is used in films it is put in at critical moments in order to elevate the mood of the scene and change how the audience perceives the scene.

Another example is Jaws, in which sound starts of subtly before picking up in speed and volume as the predator gets closer to its pray and the background music that expresses the child's vulnerability of the child on the lilo, who is completely oblivious to what is coming.