Terror vs. Horror in Film Sound Design

Terror vs. Horror

• Terror creates dread by hinting at awful possibilities rather than showing explicit horror.

• Horror is revealed when the monster or danger is shown explicitly.

Sound Design

• Sound can create ambiguity and uncertainty, which builds anticipation and Terror.

• The sound of the UFO in Nope uses animal screams and morphed bird sounds blended with wind to create an unsettling, ambiguous sound.

• The film Jaws uses visual ambiguity to create suspense and anticipate the shark attacks, similar to the use of sonic ambiguity in Nope's sound design.

• The sound design of the UFO in Nope uses overlapping sounds, including horse snorts, to obscure the true source of the sound.

• The film Jaws uses visual ambiguity with a woman's feet and water splashing to create anticipation of a shark attack.

• Nope uses both sonic ambiguity and visual ambiguity.

• In Jaws, the sound designer uses the Calm Before the Storm technique, gradually decreasing the background soundscape to create heightened tension and anticipation.

• The unnatural silence in Nope builds anticipation.

• The sound of the UFO in Nope creates tension by blending screams of horror and joy with sound of a roller coaster, with the sounds of the spaceship's victims.

• The background soundscape of a film can be used create a sense of tension and anticipation.

• Nope uses naturalistic and domestic sounds within the film to create an unsettling atmosphere.

• The use of generic sounds such as banging and clunking can be more unsettling because of their mundane nature.

The Importance of Sound in Horror Films

• Sound design is crucial in horror films as it can create an immersive and terrifying experience.

• Sound can build suspense, create anticipation, and heighten the viewer's sense of anxiety.

• Sonic ambiguity, visual ambiguity, and the use of silence are important tools in horror films.

Explore the differences between terror and horror in films, focusing on how sound design contributes to building suspense. Learn about techniques used in films like Nope and Jaws, and how ambiguity in sound and visuals enhances emotional experiences for the audience.