It’s Not Just The Plot Of Horror Movies That Truly Terrify Us: Here’s How Directors Manipulate Us Into A State Of Sheer Terror Using A Few Sneaky Film Techniques
Within the scope of cinema, horror movies are some of the most complex, captivating pieces of art. While there are plenty of awful horror films that don’t do much to evoke terror and are actually more comical than frightening, there have been many others that can truly scare an audience.
The way that directors can create a genuinely terrifying viewing experience is through a few sneaky film techniques and a thorough understanding of human psychology.
After learning about them, perhaps you’ll be less scared to watch a horror film this Halloween now that you know what techniques are behind the most terrifying scenes. Here are some of the techniques that horror movies use to manipulate you.
Negative Space
Negative space refers to everything in the frame that you don’t really pay attention to. It could be anything like a blank wall or a refrigerator.
Most movies create a balance between positive and negative space, so that’s what viewers are accustomed to. But in horror films, directors throw off that balance and use negative space to generate tension.
It causes the audience to search for the monster or murderer in the background instead of focusing on the scene in front of them. This results in paranoia as viewers grip the edges of their seats, waiting for something to happen.
Nonlinear Sounds
Horror movies aren’t just all about frightening visuals. Sound plays an important role in creating suspense and unease. To do this, directors will often incorporate nonlinear sounds, which are sounds that are much louder than usual noises.
Photo 191862068 – © Andrii Lysenko – Dreamstime.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Some examples include a woman’s high-pitched shriek, a baby’s wailing, or distressed animal calls. Humans naturally feel a sense of discomfort and danger when they hear loud, abrasive sounds, so filmmakers will play on that instinct to invoke fear.
Tight Framing
Tight frames are essentially just close-up shots where very little space is shown around the main subject. Tight framing isn’t inherently scary, but in the context of horror, this technique makes it impossible not to feel the shivers running up and down your spine.
Since the audience’s field of vision has been severely limited, they are unable to see what’s coming. The protagonist could be safe, or there could be a masked man with a machete sneaking up behind them.
Either way, not knowing what’s directly around the subject on the screen is very anxiety-inducing for viewers.
Mirrors
Mirrors are a tool often used in the horror genre. Whenever you see a mirror in a horror movie, you might automatically feel unsettled. There are many superstitions surrounding mirrors, so they’re great to use as a tension builder.
In horror films, characters who look into a mirror might see an alternate reality or find a more sinister version of themselves staring back at them.
Abrupt Color Changes
In general, the rule is to maintain a normal color palette to produce a sense of realism. So, of course, horror filmmakers will abruptly shift the lighting to alter reality and set the mood.
When the color of a scene changes, the audience is immediately alerted to the fact that something creepy is about to happen. Red is usually used to show anger, aggression, and violence. Flashing lights can stun the viewer and generate chaos.
Jump Scares
Jump scares are the oldest trick in the book and are often overused. But when done well, a jump scare can be incredibly effective and one of the best ways to get a big reaction from the audience.
Watching a horror film puts people in a hyper-vigilant state, which will make them more susceptible to jump scares. A good jump scare should be paired with a powerful soundscape to really draw out those screams from viewers.
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