Sound of Horror Elements in Movies

By John Zhao

The question regarding to horror genre movies now days discusses what truly makes it scary and horrifying. In the past decade of experience watching horror flicks, I realized that concepts and ideas are the same regarding to this movie genre. Whether it be different types of monsters, ambience, or sound effects. In the end, the heart of the horror films is composed of "sounds." Without such sounds and sound effects, horror movies wouldn't be what it is today.

Classic films sounds that created the horror trope

So what makes sounds scary and can send chills down our spins? Take the Jaws' most infamous theme song for example. It is the considered as the one of the best soundtracks of all time with its famous simple two notes. Within our hearts, we acknowledge it as it signifies danger and impending doom. The sound of this theme is simple but yet it is not so simple. With just 2 composed notes, it was able to convey the most important message of danger and thrill. Just listening to the theme itself would just grinds you away just like how the shark would do, relentless, unstoppable, and intellectual according to CSO, Two notes that changed the film world: John Williams’ theme for 'Jaws.' Thus, this original theme took blew away crowds and added a whole new meaning of the horror movie genre.

Another film sound examples that carries a significant meanings in the horror film industry is the theme song from Michael Myers of the Halloween series of slasher films. The way that the theme song carries out feels similar to the way how Jaws' theme song plays. They both signifies impending doom to the protagonist and danger that they about to come too. It is simple but yet holds a deeper meaning within the rhythm that it repeats. As hearing it gives you chills, it also causes a strange feeling in your stomach making listeners feel uncomfortable. As you listen to the Halloween theme song below, you can feel the building of tension and fright and how much it contributes to the horror genre as a whole.

Jaws and Halloween are excellent examples of classic themes that contributed to many of the horror movies made after. The music composers of these two movies also received noticing rewards for their great works creating theses masterpieces. So what makes these themes so special and how it can affect our emotions to the point where we can feel as these sounds penetrate our bodies to the point where we can feel chills. What makes these theme songs so mortifying is that they are displayed and correlated along with the killer as they make their appearance and kill the characters. Through the suspense and tension as the music plays as the killer stalks and follows their prey, we were drawn into the scene itself as being part of the movie thus we can closely relate to the victim. We were also shown the gore and violence scenes and as we sympathize with the victim.

Early sounds that created the horror genre

Sorry, Wrong number, by Lucille Fletcher is a prime example and one of the earliest radio plays that utilize sounds and suspense that creates thrills among many listeners in the early 1900s. This intriguing radio suspense story was definitely one of a kind. Although it there were no visuals and all you can sense is sounds, the effects of such tactics has a tremendous effect upon many popular listeners at the time. Within the background noises which creates the perfect ambiance in the surrounding areas it creates many possibilities as what could happen. This type of mysteries entertain listeners by making them think what could happen next. In which we are also limited on information which thus creates a thrilling experience filled with mysteries. With the information that the character know is also all the information we have. Unlike how horror flicks are now where we can grasp the bigger picture of what's going to happen and have access to information more than the protagonist, Sorry, Wrong Number limits information to the listeners to know only what the protagonist knows.

Silence and Horror

There is an unmistakable fascination in the connection between horror films and sounds. However, theme songs and sounds are not the only way to make you jump or feel threatened in a horror movie. Silence is another great way to build suspense and it holds many mysteries, which contributes to many possibilities in the horror genre. In Listening to War by Daughtry, he discusses in war, silence are also created and can have a major impact upon many in the area. Where sounds would normally be, one finds conspicuous absences, social or physical condition having been imposed that render the act of surrounding dangerous, subversive, or impossible. But in the midst of violent acts and grown on, one would consider them as a norm and continue living in violence according to Daughtry. Under the effects of silence of such time, one would be suspicious of what's to come, as silence would be thought as the prologue before the violence, hence silence is a sign of danger. 

In the past few years the aspect of silence was added in many popular horror movies such as a successful film that received several award nominations, A Quiet Place, directed by John Krasinski. This film stressed a lot on silence and it was the only way for survivors to survive amongst the noise sensitive creatures. Audiences were treated to a horror story that features little to no sound and dialogue. The story is told primarily through actions and visuals discussed by M. L. Flood in her article of Hollywood's Fascination with Silence and Horror. In the absence of sound, and with the cast susceptible to danger, many mysteries are untold and anything can be turned in a deadly situation. In silence, suspense also builds up and it keep the audience in dark but fascinated and interesting enough begging to know what will happen next. The feeling of fear and anticipation is pleasurable while watching the film, but in real life its is very crippling. As we are accustomed to sensing and hearing voices and sounds in our everyday lives, with the sudden silence upon us, people doesn't know how to deal with it, especially with new sounds created everyday. With the loss of sounds, anticipation and anxiety builds up having one to deal with mental and psychological stress. Any sudden sounds, even branches snapping on ground can be life threatening. 

The importance of sound

Sound plays a major role in the Horror genre. It's not just the plot and creepy monsters that makes it scary, but it's the sounds that give them meaning and characteristics. Even the ambience is created and composed with sounds. Even in silent films, but they are anything but silent, sound will always be applied and constant as it is created and composed by people and nature.