Research: The Importance of Sound in Horror Films

Why is music used in Horror Films?

• Music is used to create suspense- Slow tune getting faster or louder builds up action. 
• Its used to make scenes dramatic
• Used to scare the audience- Loud bangs make the audience jump. 
• Used to add effect- Make the action seem scarier.
• To change the mood- Eg peaceful to jumpy.

http://youtu.be/wCfWHqrYUqo  This is the Jaws theme tune. In the tune it starts off slow and as the shark gets closers and closer to it's prey the tune gets louder and faster so the audience wonder if Jaws will catch its victim or not.

http://youtu.be/vqLXIQ8YrPc  This is a tune used in Nightmare on Elm Street. Its not got a lot of backing tune but the children voices '1,2 Freddy's coming for you' its said in a sinister way which is enough to scare the audience along. With the lyrics especially '9,10 Never sleep again' it scares the audience in their mind they wonder what it means, within the lyrics it gives away the film in the way the lyrics hint 'never sleep again' its a hint that they may die in their sleep.

http://youtu.be/Rjb8NXeAuq8 This is from Halloween. The one going tune creates a dark feeling with it being repeated again and again builds up suspension. The noise on top at the beginning sounds like a clock ticking quickly which adds to the scariness. The change in the tune creates different dark feelings towards the action, throughout the tune it build suspension by using different speeds and pitches.


Why does Horror music scare us?

• Unexpected change in the tune, or pitch or loudness
• A new study has found a connection between horror movie music and the screeches of young frightened animals. Researchers believe there are biologically-ingrained reasons why sudden, dissonant sounds and minor chords make us apprehensive.
• People find nursery rhymes, with a child singing really scary as it comes across as sinister and creepy. 

Similarities between theme songs in 10 Horror films

In class we watched 10 Horror movie theme tunes. I noticed that The Ring, Suspiria and the Poltergeist included quite nursery rhyme type, just like what would be heard in a child's music box. Halloween, Psycho, Saw and the Exorcist's tune was fast and quite dramatic. Halloween, Saw and the Exorcist had a repetitive tune.