When it comes to psychological horror movies, sound is everything. It's what makes our skin crawl, our hearts race, and our minds trick us into seeing things that aren't really there. While visuals are important, the right use of sound can completely change how a scene feels.
Why Is Sound Important in Psychological Horror?
Builds Suspense – Creepy background noise, eerie music, and sudden silence can make a scene feel ten times scarier. When a horror movie goes quiet, we instinctively know something bad is about to happen. As noted by Anna Taborska(2024), "Sound is just as important as visuals in horror films, in creating atmosphere, but especially in crafting jump scares."
Triggers Emotional Reactions – High-pitched violins, distorted whispers, and deep, unsettling bass sounds create anxiety and tension. These sounds mess with our brains and make us feel like we're in danger—even when we're just watching a movie. Mathias Clasen explains that horror movies use sounds we naturally associate with danger to frighten audiences.
Plays with the Unknown – Psychological horror thrives on the fear of the unseen. Strange noises in the distance, whispers, or an off-key melody make us feel like something is lurking just out of sight. Our imagination fills in the blanks, often making it scarier than if we actually saw the threat. As Clint Westwood(2025) points out, "The capacity of ambient noise to toy with the imagination of the audience gives it great power."
Creates a Sense of Isolation – The absence of sound can be just as terrifying as loud, sudden noises. Dead silence in a scene makes us feel alone and vulnerable, which is a key part of psychological horror. Meredith Geaghan-Breiner, and Ben Nigh(2021) state, "Sound has been an important element in film for a long time. But in horror movies, it plays an even bigger role."
How I'll Use Sound in My Film Opening
Since my film opening is a psychological horror, I want the audience to feel uneasy from the very first second. Here's how I'll use audio to create that effect:
Distant, Unclear Noises – I'll use sounds that feel far away but unidentifiable, like muffled whispers or a soft, distorted hum. This will make the audience question what they're hearing and build tension.
Silence Before the Scare – Right before something unsettling happens, I'll drop all sound. No background music, no footsteps—just emptiness. This will make the next noise (whether it's a sudden sound or a creepy whisper) feel even more intense.
Layering Sound Effects – Instead of just adding a single sound, I'll layer multiple unsettling noises together. For example, if there's a shot of an empty car, I could mix in a faint breathing sound, an old radio static, to make it feel eerie.
Natural Sounds- I want to utilize natural noises that with the help of lighting and what's happening in the scene can make it much scarier like the wind blowing, faint footsteps, digging, etc.
By carefully crafting the audio in my film opening, I'll be able to control the audience's emotions and make them feel the fear I want them to experience. Sound isn't just background noise—it's one of the most powerful tools in psychological horror.
Sources:
Geaghan-Breiner, Meredith, and Ben Nigh. “How Sound Is Used to Build Suspense in Scary Movies.” Business Insider, 30 June 2021, www.businessinsider.com/how-sound-is-used-to-build-suspense-in-scary-movies-2021-6?
Tab.orska, Anna. “Crafting Fear: Filming Techniques to Evoke Emotion in Horror Movies.” Raindance, 17 Sept. 2024, raindance.org/crafting-fear-filming-techniques-to-evoke-emotion-in-horror-movies/.
Westwood, Clint. “The Role of Sound Design in Creating Fear in Horror Movies - Severed Cinema.” Severed Cinema, 9 Jan. 2025, severed-cinema.com/the-role-of-sound-design-in-creating-fear-in-horror-movies/.
“Why Sound Is so Important in Horror Movies.” Psychology Today, 2022, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-we-love-horror/202209/why-sound-is-so-important-in-horror-movies?
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