Research : The Importance Of Sound In Horror Films

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• Scientist have proved that the sound in horror films help create the atmosphere during the suspense before a jump scare they also help by warning the audience when danger is nearby. A study that looked at a class of noises called ‘non-linear' sounds. These range from the sort of distorted notes that come from a sci-fi cranked up too high, to the squeal produced by blowing too hard into a trumpet. They done this by studied the soundtracks of 102 of the world's most popular movies - from war films and dramas, to horror movies and adventure romps.
  The study involved composer Peter Kaye at Kingston University, London - looked at the music in films, as well as special effects and screams. The analysis had showed that horror films have the loudest female screams to show vulnerability as a girl is screaming for her life. While adventure films had the most screams from men as men do not normally scream to show humor and fun.
  The horror films also had a higher than expected number of abrupt shifts up and down in pitch. Dramatic films had fewer than expected screams and lower pitched sounds than other genre of movie.
  The study found that the use of these non-linear sounds was not random however it was used to 'enhance the emotional impact of scenes'. The Non-linearity’s are commonly produced when animals are under duress, such as the fear screams produced when animals are attacked by predators which is commonly used in horror films.
  Jaws
  Jaw is a classic way to illustrate how sound in horror film help create a horrifying atmosphere. As you know it starts by be a subtle sound full of low notes that picks up speed and volume as the predator gets closer to its pray and there is background music that show vulnerability of the child on a lilo who has no clue what is coming as they are completely oblivious.