What Makes a Good Scary Movie?

Hey Creepy Crew

I thought I'd make a change from movie reviews to an opinion based blog (because you know, that's not what they are already(!) )

Today I'm going to share my top 5 tips on how to make a good horror film.

Now, I'm in no way shape or form qualified to give my two cents about this, but this is MY blog - so there.

1. Creepy Ass Music

Does your score help keep tension up? For example, does it cut to absolutely nothing when the viewer thinks that something terrifying is going to jump out? If it does, then great - if it doesn't how is the viewer meant to hear their own shallow breathing and feel their heart beating even faster with anticipation?

Do you use high pitched notes in your musical horror, as well as deep booming notes? Then well done, you're getting there! this helps to pierce the ears of the viewer, which whilst they are wincing in pain is the ideal time to BAM hit them with a jump scare. The deep booming notes are to let the viewer know that a jump scare is ooooooooooooon its waaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

2. Dark Enough to be Creepy, Light Enough to See What's Going On

So, this is something that I really get bugged by if it is done badly. I am so freaked out by the dark, and it is a great tool because it adds to the suspense of, 'What the freakin' hell is lurking amongst the shadows...?' However, I feel if you can see just a slight indication of what is there, the terror will be REAL. I'm going to tell you all an embarrassing secret of mine; I must admit this particular scene in a Disney movie (yes, I told you it was embarrassing) terrified the bejesus out of me, and even Now at the grand old age of 28, I still get nightmares because of it.




I may have just wet myself.


I think this scene is PERFECT to instill terror, you can see the shape of Maleficent, as well as the obvious addition of creepy yellow eyes and glowing murder stick of death. There is a movie coming out called Lights Out - I reviewed the trailer here - and this uses the same tools that terrified me as a child. But with real people. Ew.

How to combat this problem. Leave the lights on.

I Recently reviewed  the movie Hush and one of the downsides of this (even though it was an amazing movie and you should watch it) was that it was so darn dark in places which really did my head in. Things happened and I didn't catch what they were purely because I couldn't see. So basically what I am saying is, the best way to use the dark is to either go pitch black - or leave enough light so you can see what is going on. somewhere in the middle just isn't great.

3. Gore Fests

Ok, we have all watch Hostel, or some of the Saw franchise, and MAN they are gory to the max - however, in my humble opinion, if gore isn't needed for a particular scene, then don't use it - sometimes just the thought of soemthing happening to you is enough to turn your stomach rather than blood and guts spilling all over the place. Don't get me wrong, neither of these two franchises would have worked if there was no gore. For example:



Nothing says terror like a melted eyeball.



However on saying this, out of all of the Saw franchises there was ONE torture which totally makes me want to puke every time I think about it. And that's right, no gore involved. Remember this scene?



God I feel like throwing my intestines up.

4. 'Based on a True Story.'

Those five words are really helpful in making an already scary ass story (for example, the Amityville Horror, or Annabelle) utterly soul destroying. I mean I know 'based on a true story' could literally be the same names as people displayed in the movie, or it could be almost word for word - the scale is ever sliding. But if there is even the slightest possibilty is there that your child could be possessed by an evil demon á la The Exorcist (which if you didn't know is based on the true story of Roland Doe) then this will make the movie ten times scarier IMHO <<< this here collection of letters is me trying to be cool.

Demonic possession gives you epic wind.

5. Unexpected Jumpy McJumperson

I am a total and utter sucker for jumpscares. Especially ones that you know are coming (see point 1). However, the best jump scares are the ones that you are really not expecting.

Heebie Jeebies for life right there.

I think to really throw viewers off is a good tactic to make them unsure of what is going to happen next, and also make them confused and not prepared for the next lot of scares you can provide! And yes, I know I picked an obvious Jump scare with the mirror gif from The Omen (one of my most hated things that really scared the crapola out of me) there are also enough of these mirror scenes that DON'T have someone stood behind you. 3

So there you go, my short list of things that make a horror movie really scary! If you would like to see me do more of these lists for different horror topics, please let me know as I do have a couple of ideas up my sleeve!

and remember,

Have a Scary Movie Sunday!