Halloween. Another year of scares. Another year of screams. And nothing delivers those bone-chilling shivers more than the blood-curdling shrieks of the perfect horror movie. Whether it be a classic slasher like Scream or a psychological horror like Psycho, scary movies are truly the heartbeat of the season. But what makes a movie truly terrifying? Is it the creepy music, the blood and gore, the jump scares or just the feeling that something, or someone is watching you when no one is there? So sit back, grab your popcorn and your blankets, and let’s dive into what makes a scary movie so scary.
Component 1: Set the Scene
There are three key components needed that can leave an audience terrified even after the credits. The first one, which also is considered the most important, is setting the scene. Where are we? What are we doing there? And what knowledge should we know prior? A good scary movie knows to set the tone early. Scream is known for its famous opening scene, Friday the 13th for its early implication of the lore, and Nightmare on Elm Street with its introduction of Freddie Kruger. Each one quickly establishes the stakes, while also hooking the audience in with its nefarious hijinx.
Component 2: Meet the Characters
The second component is characters. How many are there? Why are they here? Do they all make it to the end? In The Shining, Jack Torrence is in desperate need of a job, leading him to work at the infamous Overlook Hotel, where he, spoiler alert, falls into a hallucinationary murderous frenzy. And no, he does not make it to the end. It is important to also create characters whom the audience can relate to and sympathize with, like Jack’s wife Wendy, and their son Danny. This allows the audience to have people they care about, and ultimately fear the danger that may come to them.
Component 3: Everything Else
The third and final component is a mix of suspense, jump scares, and plot twists. Too many jump scares or a predictable plot can make the movie seem boring and erase any suspense that may have been built early on. Scream does a great job of incorporating multiple sub plots that all tie together into one big mystery. It includes shocking components that make the audience guess as to who the masked killer is without revealing their true identity. It also doesn’t overdo the amount of jumpscares, only utilizing them when necessary to keep the audience on their feet.
All in all, the perfect horror movie doesn’t exist without these three components. It’s all about establishing the stakes early and introducing characters the audience can either fear or love while also catching them off guard with twists and scares. Without this, is a scary movie really so scary?
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