When The Jump Scare Is Actually Clever | Vanity Fair

[theemii]

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If you've ever seen a horror film, you've likely experienced a jump scare. A mix of cinematic build-up, sonic tension, play on expectations and intent to scare, the jump scare is a classic building block in horror movies with one goal: catching the audience off guard and making them jolt. But what makes a good jump scare? Why do they feel so

Comments

[ahkna]

The head floating up in Jaws is a classic. I know it's coming and it still gets me every single time.

[tanglespiders]

YES! That scene scared the shit outta me as a kid.

[la_petite_singe]

The Sixth Sense had a few good ones, like ghost Mischa Barton under the bed. And Signs, of course.

The biggest jump scare of my life wasn't even a (traditional) horror movie, it was the ending of Enemy (2013). I shrieked in the theater. If you've seen it you know why!!!

[lamppost1911]

Maybe not the best jump scare I’ve witnessed but I experienced two of the best when I saw The Gift (the Joel Edgerton movie) - I swear we all knew it was coming but the first one was the dog jumping onto the shower doors - we all jumped/gasped then immediately started laughing. It was a moment. Can’t remember the second jump scare 😂

I went on a first date to see The Strangers and there’s this moment where one of the murderers is in the background and everyone BUT ME saw him so I heard the audience gasp and felt so lost the I saw them and had such a delayed reaction.

[lanrek]

[tifag]

Literally launched myself off my bed with the Carrie jump scare first time I saw it, nothing will be worse than that.