Sound of Terror! Technicality behind horror movie soundscapes

"There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it" - Alfred Hitchcock

In shadows of horror films, the essence of fear often resonates not through what is seen, but what is heard. The art of sound design in horror cinema is a meticulously crafted journey into the unknown, where every creak, whisper, and moment of silence is engineered to tap into our deepest anxieties. As John Carpenter, the director and composer of "Halloween," observed: "I think of music as another character in the movie. It's as much a part of the film as anything else. I try to use music to enhance the mood or the feelings of a scene."

This auditory magic doesn't just happen. Behind it are sound designers who mix bizarre noises and engineer the perfect scare. They employ techniques like infrasound—super low sounds that you can't hear but somehow make you uneasy—and dissonance, mixing sounds that don't harmonize well together to put you on edge.

And then there's the power of silence. Abruptly cutting off all sound can make you hold your breath, waiting for something terrible to happen. It's akin to the quiet before a storm that accelerates your heartbeat.

Moreover, the psychological impact of sound cannot be underestimated. The Pavlovian response elicited by certain soundtracks or sound effects in horror films triggers and manipulates the audience’s expectations of fear, even before any onscreen threat materializes. Filmmakers are well-versed in these tricks, using them to play with our emotions and make us feel scared even when we know we're just watching a movie. In this blog, let’s unravel some of the most effective sound techniques used in horror films.

Techniques and Tools

1. Pitch Manipulation : Changing the pitch of sounds can directly impact the audience's emotions. Lower pitches can create a sense of dread, while sudden high pitches can shock or alarm.
2. Dissonance : This involves using sounds that clash with each other to create tension. It's like hearing a set of musical notes that don't quite harmonize, making the listener feel uneasy.
3. Silence : Perhaps surprisingly, silence can be one of the most powerful tools in a horror film's audio arsenal. The absence of sound can build suspense and make the eventual break - usually a sudden, frightening sound - even more impactful.
4. Foley Art : This is the art of creating everyday sound effects in a studio. In horror films, Foley artists might create the sound of footsteps, doors creaking, or even more gruesome sounds, adding realism and depth to the auditory experience.
5. Sound Synthesis : This involves creating entirely new sounds with electronic devices or software. It's particularly useful for generating otherworldly or unnatural sounds that can't be recorded in the real world.
6. Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) : Modern sound design heavily relies on software that allows for recording, editing, and mixing sounds. DAWs are essential for manipulating sounds to achieve the desired effect, whether that's layering different noises, adjusting their volume, or altering their quality to fit the scene's mood.
7. Sound Effects : The process often starts with recording basic sounds, which are then altered and combined in various ways to create something completely new and unsettling. This could mean taking a recording of the wind and transforming it into the ghostly whispering of voices or turning the sound of rustling leaves into the soft footsteps of an unseen creature.

Different types of sounds

1. Infrasound and Dissonance : These sound effects use extreme bass waves or vibrations and a lack of harmony among musical notes to create feelings of unease and discomfort. The low-frequency infrasound, often inaudible to the human ear, can evoke an unsettling sensation, while dissonance creates a lack of harmony that's inherently creepy and unsettling.
2. Diegetic and Non-diegetic Sounds : Diegetic sounds are those that emanate from the film's world, like screams and ghost sound effects, while non-diegetic sounds are added in post-production, such as background music and Foley sounds. Both types can blend in horror cinema, sometimes indistinguishably, enhancing the scary ambiance.
3. Musical Instruments : Traditional and electronic instruments play significant roles in scoring horror films. Stringed instruments can create tension with their atonal sounds, while synthesizers and the Theremin produce dissonant and atonal sounds perfect for sci-fi horror films. Guitars, through effects processing, also contribute to the unsettling atmosphere of horror films.
4. Common Sound Effects : Essential horror sound effects include breathing, footsteps, monster vocalizations, and ghost sounds. These sounds can be layered, manipulated, and enhanced with effects like reverb and delay to add sonic complexity and terror.

Iconic horror film sound examples

1. Psycho's Shower Scene : The screeching violins, violas, and cellos in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho during the infamous shower scene have become synonymous with suspense and horror. Composer Bernard Herrmann's score is a perfect example of how sound can amplify fear, making this one of the most iconic sound effects in film history.
2. The Exorcist's Tubular Bells : The eerie melody of "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield, used in The Exorcist, contributes significantly to the film's chilling atmosphere. This sound effect, initially not intended as a horror movie score, has become emblematic of the genre.
3. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's Chainsaw : The roaring sound of Leatherface's chainsaw in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is terrifyingly real. This sound effect not only contributes to the sense of danger but also becomes a character of its own, representing the imminent threat posed by the film's antagonist.

Modern Techniques and Examples

Modern advancements in sound design have significantly enhanced the horror genre, pushing the boundaries of how fear is conveyed and experienced. Recent techniques such as 3D audio have opened new avenues for immersing audiences in terrifying soundscapes, making the horror more visceral than ever before.

Examples of recent advancements and their application in horror can be seen in films like "A Quiet Place" where the premise itself revolves around sound—or the lack thereof. The film meticulously uses sound to build tension, utilizing silence to amplify the fear of making any noise. The diegetic sounds within the film, such as the eerie footsteps and monster sounds, are masterfully designed to immerse and compel the audience into silence, feeling the characters' dread.

Similarly, the innovative use of sound in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" demonstrates how atonal sound design can contribute to a film's horror. The relentless, atonal soundscape alongside high-end electronic sounds for shock moments creates a chilling ambiance that's hard to forget.

These modern techniques and creative approaches in sound design have proven effective in evoking deep emotional responses from audiences, making the horror experience more immersive and terrifying. As technology continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how sound design will further innovate to scare and thrill audiences in new ways.