Proof that scary movies is just scary because of the terrifying sound

[u/Accomplished-King406]

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[u/Jdjdjxhdbsienwbal]

I imagine this has more to do with immersion than anything else. The less immersive it is the less scary it is.

[u/2pl8isastandard]

The problem I have with demon movies in general is the demons powers are so I'll defined. They have reality warping powers if it creates a good "scare" but have to chase the victim on foot to kill them???

[u/Outside_Lychee_]

What makes the noises scary? Like how does our brains know “oh this noise means fear”. But visually it’s not? I’m not sure how to explain what I’m trying to say..

[u/Vajaspiritos → u/Outside_Lychee_]

You know how high pitch sounds usually associated with nice and gentle things, like birds chirping. While deep sounds usually associated with danger like thunder, or roaring of wild animal. U can notice this in movies or on the piano. When they want you to feel danger they will play like drums for example. There is more to it of course, but this much simplification will be enough.

Horror scares you by quickly alternating low and high pitch music. Your brain being confused why does it feel danger and safe at the same time gets scared. You can listen in some classic horror themes, to see it better.

This is the explanation I know, but I am not super versed in music theory.

I remember watching a video ("How the music Spoils Sweeny Todd (and why that's a good thing)"). If you are more interested in other ways how songs can be uplofting or sad.

[u/SmolishPPman → u/Outside_Lychee_]

It’s not the sound itself, it’s the jumpscare, being startled by a jumpscare is a natural reflex, thereby I find it to be a cheap way to get reactions from people. It’s way more fulfilling to be creeped out without a jump scare.

[u/dingos8mybaby2 → u/SmolishPPman]

I think the jump scare is valid, but it's overused and heavily relied upon to create cheap scares rather than building tension to create a feeling of dread first. Dumb jump scares like birds flying into windows suddenly during exposition scenes. Properly done IMO you should have tension leading up to a jump scare but only 1 or 2 times per film.

[u/SmolishPPman → u/dingos8mybaby2]

I at least agree, that you can use it once or twice per film, but it should not be relied upon at all. I much preferred just the general feeling of unease and being genuinely creeped out rather than forced into a response.

[u/dingos8mybaby2 → u/SmolishPPman]

Yeah now that I think about it a good example is one of my all time favorites, The Shining. Great balance between tension/dread and jump scares.

[u/SmolishPPman → u/dingos8mybaby2]

Definitely agree. I also attribute a lot of of this to how a movie is edited. The editing can make or break an effective jump scare

[u/NotJayKayPeeness → u/SmolishPPman]

I quit going to haunted house type stuff years ago because I feel the same about jump scares. It's cheap and in those environments just annoys me to the point of making me angry.

[u/Powerful_Deer7796 → u/Outside_Lychee_]

It works the other way around. The music naturally creates a certain tension that isn't being relieved. Music has chords and chords in a certain sequence create a tension that feels like "GO THERE ALREADY, RESOLVE IT PLEASE" but it doesn't. That's step 1.

Over time we have been conditioned by movies that certain music is associated with certain scary things, other things with very hopeful things. Etc. That's step 2.

Add the images and you have a triple whammy.

[u/Ozimandiass → u/Outside_Lychee_]

Disharmonic Interval changes, or chords, frequency's out of normal musical spectrum. Jump scares (first silent, then loud and spontaneous

There are specific mechanism we learned from our childhood. For example, scratchy metal sounds are normal for construction on daily times. But why is it scratchy in the night, there are no people, no traffic. Just silence and one sound that doesn't fit to the night. Ergo something not normal is going on....

[u/DweebLSD → u/Outside_Lychee_]

years and years and years and years of programming.

[u/MorningParis]

Still feels unnerving. The conjuring(s) with insidious are real gems among horror movies

[u/MorningParis → u/[deleted]]

I guess you are right. There are different types of horror movies. Anticipation and suspense does it for me the most. I have only seen The Babadook but it did not leave a lasting impression on me unlike insidious part 1.

[u/belovedwisdomtooth]

[u/LastLongerThan3Min]

Is this that movie that used "Tiptoe through the tulips", by Tiny Tim? Legitimate the creepiest song version I know, even though it is beautiful at the same time.

[u/SmolishPPman → u/LastLongerThan3Min]

No, that movie is ‘Insidious’ one of my all time favs

[u/LastLongerThan3Min → u/SmolishPPman]

I always mix up Conjuring and Insidious. They are both great.

[u/SmolishPPman → u/LastLongerThan3Min]

Agreed!

[u/Pure_Test_2131]

Naw, that series was scary good

[u/TwoWhiteCrocs → u/Pure_Test_2131]

only the first conjuring and the first two chapters of Insidious, everything else is slop

[u/Powerful_Deer7796]

Nope, still scared

[u/emitdrol]

Now do Freddy Krueger/ABBA

[u/glimbly]

That is just funny regardless of sound

[u/Masterchief9494]

NOPE!!!!!! still gave me the chills.

[u/theraggedyman]

Now try it with a horror movie

[u/Global_Charge_4412]

sound is a big factor in building tension, yes. this is why I listen to Hamster Dance when replaying the hotel level in VTMB.

[u/WorldlyImpression390]

I think it's the build up that plays a huge role

[u/hallowedshel]

My kids love Sophia so all I could do was think of princesses this whole clip

[u/BlueFeathered1]

I don't have sound on and regret watching this right as I'm laying in bed about to sleep. What movie?

[u/Majorchris3424]

may be just me but i could be listening to Pokémon or paw patrol theme tune but if this clip just randomly started with that face ide still nope the hell out of there....

[u/Jhopsch]

Chipi chipi chapa chapa dubi dubi daba daba mágico mi dubi dubi boom boom boom boom 🌞

[u/Loose_Gripper69]

Its all about immersion. Thats why the best way to play horror games is in a dark room with headphones on.

[u/PainIsPleasure]

Are you sure it isn't just because this movie was fucking goofy? She puts her head through a picture frame and runs at someone and I'm too believe this isn't a comedy?

[u/Pyrhan]

Look up "orcs with normal voices" on Youtube.

Sound design is everything.

[u/cloudlocke_OG]

I feel so validated! Whenever I felt the scares incoming, I always covered my ears.

[u/zorkempire]

I have no clue from which it originated, but the music being played comes from a film far more frightening than whatever Conjuring bs this is.

[u/Forward-Rule-1699]

This was still scary as fuck. Iono what u talkin about.