Iconic Sounds in the Horror Genre
Throughout horror films there are common conventions used for the sound, these include:
-Long, suspenseful notes that contrast with short, sharp ones that surprise the audience
-Extreme changes in the pitch of notes
-Squeaking door and floorboards
-Screaming
-Orchestral music is the most popular sound used in horror films as it has great dynamic range, and can easily be varied in compositions for different films. It has been used since the birth of the genre and is still renowned today.
-Films such as Psycho include infamous sounds like the violin screech which is automatically associated with stabbing in the shower scene.
-Other famous music includes the piano notes from The Exorcist and the two low notes from Jaws.
