Jump scares in horror movies

A mini-blog/reflective journal from a self-confessed air head


Jump scares in horror movies

Photo: Alex Munsell, Unsplash

I've been a fan of horror movies ever since I managed to watch Nightmare on Elm Street at age 13!  Not that I found that film particularly scary; even at that age I found if corny enough to be humorous (and I think I may even have laughed out loud at one scene of Freddy running down the street waving his clawed glove over his head -- or perhaps that was a later re-viewing).  Something about the genre just instantly appealed to me -- it helped that Channel 4 used to run a regular 'creature feature' on a Friday night back then, so it became my end-of-the-school-week treat to myself to stay up late and watch on the TV in my bedroom (or try to -- I frequently fell asleep before the end, especially the double features!)

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I don't recall finding any of those films particularly scary (Friday the 13th, Halloween, The Fly, Hellraiser, Carrie, Amityville, Poltergeist etc etc) but just fun escapism, somehow.  In fact, I recall the scariest film I watched in those formative years was an old black and white one about witches (sadly, I can't recall the title) -- of course, it might have been because I watched that one late night the first time my parents left me home alone in my teens, so there was the added fright of being all alone in the house with just our soppy, lovable spaniel.

Photo: David Dibert, Unsplash

Latterly, I confess, I've come to realise that my true fandom is for supernatural thrillers rather than modern horror.  I've zero interest in your Saws, your Hostels or your Human Centipedes.  Your Hills Have Eyes and your Wrong Turns have excessive gore and no real plot, if you ask me.  And they're still not at all scary.  So, for me, they just don't have anything going for them at all.

Photo: Leonardo Yip, Unsplash

Until recently my favourite 'horror' films were either the comedy horror ones such as Sean of the Dead, Idle Hands and Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (Cabin in the Woods was also pretty fun), or well-made 'ghosty' ones such as The Skeleton Key, for its level of creepy atmosphere.  The Skeleton Key's recently been bumped to number two on my list and I've a new favourite: Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark.  And it's one of only very few films to have ever given me a jump scare, so it gave me the inspiration for this blog post for 'J'.

Photo: Laura Chouette, Unsplash

Bad Ben  👻
I'm not sure what made me put this film on my watch list, but I'm really glad I did; it was really fun and much to my surprise it made this very short list of movies which actually managed to give me a jump scare.

It was surprisingly spooky (not at all gory) and well put together, if perhaps a little slow in places.  The acting was certainly good enough for me, dialogue was overall okay with cinematography which was quite nicely done, especially given the slightly unusual format of this film.  It didn't try too hard and, again despite the format, it actually didn't go in for over-exposition.

I haven't really got a huge number of cons to list (from my own personal perspective - I can imagine the format and the very small cast may be somewhat offputting for some viewers).

I've yet to watch all the Bad Ben sequels, but I'm intending to, and I'm hoping they'll be almost as enjoyable as the first.

Overall I feel I can recommend this movie.

⭐⭐⭐½

Drag Me to Hell  😈
It's been a while since I watched this one, and the jump scare it gave me was, funnily enough, upon my second viewing not my first.  I can't recall the exact point in the film which resulted in the jump scare, but I do remember I almost flung a plate of fries across the room!

I felt the plot of this film was in some ways familiar and predictable & yet in other ways not so much (certainly it was original enough to keep you wanting to watch).  I recall the cinematography and acting were both good and the atmosphere was immersive.

The only note in the con side is that I know of some people who felt one scene, which was clearly meant to be chilling and otherworldly, just came across really comical and not at all scary or in keeping with the spooky atmosphere.

I feel I can recommend this movie, and in fact if you call yourself a horror fan I feel you ought to watch it at least the once.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark  🕮

I selected this film to view from my watch list recently, and I'm so glad I did because, as mentioned, it's become my new favourite.

There's lots of familiar tropes, but with enough originality not to be excessively predictable (although I've got to admit my predicting skills are not necessarily the best).  There are some visually distinctive elements, and I like that it's set in the late 60s.  It doesn't overuse the gore factor, for the most part, though there are a few moments where you realise that it doesn't shy away from a certain amount of gore, either.

I felt it was well put together, and the story worked well overall.  The acting was overall pretty good and the pacing was spot on, not too slow to get going but with sufficient build up to create a bit of suspense.


Cons: maybe a con for some folks is that there's a little bit of social commentary (but I don't feel that it's rammed down your throat, at all).

I guess it could be considered a bit on the corny side by some (although for me that just makes it better).  Oh, and if you're an arachnophobe then there's a scene approximately in the middle of the film that you're gonna find beyond scary! 🕷🕸

If you're a fan of this genre of movie (and especially if, like me, you're fond of the whole teen protagonist trope), I can't recommend this highly enough.  I've put the DVD, the books and the Diary of Sarah Bellows on my wishlist.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Vvitch  🧹

I usually really enjoy a period horror movie for maximum atmosphere, so when someone recommended this one to me I obviously went for it first opportunity I got.  And it sure is atmospheric, and despite being based on folklore tales I felt it was original too.  It's also rather intense in many places.  The ending was at the same time surprising and yet also what I was expecting (towards the conclusion, anyway), in an inexplicable way.

This took some concentration to follow the dialogue early on as it was so authentically 'olde worlde'.  And I felt that, although suspenseful, this did take a little while to get going.  But once it did it was definitely gripping.

I recommend this one to anyone who's into period horror movies of the more 'serious' variety.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Skeleton Key  🗝
I wanted to give honourable mention to this one as it was my top favourite for such a long time; I can't really give a full review, though, as it's been a while since I saw it -- so evidently, it's time for a re-watch.  If, like me, you enjoy a spooky non-gory mystery type of story then I feel sure you'll like this one.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Do you have a favourite horror movie, or one that gave you an unexpected jump scare?  Let me know in the comments.

Photo: Georgia Vagim, Unsplash

Photo: Jeremy Yap, Unsplash

Film cover images above are the copyright property of the relevant film companies; I do not own the copyrights for that content. 

Tree photo credits, left to right: Brandon Green; veeterzy; Jeremy Bishop; Annie Spratt and Lahiru Supunchandra (all from Unsplash).

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