Research: The Importance of Sound and Music in Horror Films

Sound in horror films is very important. Sound and music are used in horror films to create tension and suspense among the audience, as well as to scare them; the ultimate aim of a horror film. Sound can increase an audience's heart rate and boost their adrenaline.

Commonly, there is little or no music before the action takes place. The 1975 horror film 'Jaws' directed by Steven Spielberg is an example of this. During the opening of 'Jaws' (as seen above), a teenage girl, Chrissie, and her male friend run down to the beach, and she is shouting at him, encouraging him to go swimming. All that can be heard during this scene is the crash in of waves and dialogue, and also music from a party that is happening away from the beach. When Chrissie jumps in the sea, and begins to swim, a gentle dinging of a bell is quietly heard. As she starts to swim in the deeper part of the ocean, the first example of a score is heard. Low strings are heard, which is juxtaposed with the increasing pitch of a xylophone. The music does not subside when Chrissie stops swimming momentarily. However, when the the camera cuts to a shot underwater, with the camera slowly moving toward her, the score takes a different approach. Drums and strings are heard as the camera moves closer, and when the creature tugs at Chrissie's feet, there is a distinct high pitched instrument. This is then interspersed with frantic strings as she tries to escape what is trying to drag her down into the water. Drums are once again introduced when the clearly distressed and hysterical teenage girl is dragged from side to side by the beast. As we leave the action briefly to see a shot of her friend lying on the beach disorientated, we hear the high pitched sound again; when we return to the scene, the added instruments are reintroduced.  However, the music is not very loud, so the victim's screams are the main thing the audience hear. When Chrissie is dragged under the water for the final time, the music completely stops, and the bell begins to ring gently again. The silence signifies the attack is over, and that Chrissie is indeed dead.

Music has a great effect on the audience, and tells them how they should be feeling during the scene (if the visuals weren't enough). Click here to read an article on how and why the music in horror films scares us.

We listened to several scores from 10 different horror films, and found that they all have similarities with each other. For example, the music in 'Suspiria' and 'The Ring' both feature sounds from a music box. This creates a haunting child like feel, which makes the piece sound even more terrifying and eerie. The films 'Children of the Corn', 'Suspiria' and 'Poltergeist' all have children singing in their music, which once again makes the audience feel more terrified, and also more uncomfortable. They all juxtapose innocence with a haunting melody and creepy, sinister singing voices. The films 'The Exorcist' and 'Halloween' both make use of a piano, which repeats the same chord sequence throughout the piece.Both have a quiet background beat or noise occurring, too. All scores also tend to reach a crescendo; this part of the music would be played during the pivotal part of the film where the action has reached its peak.