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 ...

As long as horror movies have existed, they've all figured out different ways to scare the viewer. Be it by building a slow sense of dread over time that culminates in an anxiety-fueled climax, or by ...

As Halloween approaches, it’s getting scary out there. But, surprisingly, it’s not as jump-scary as it used to be. Since 2014, the number of jump scares cranked out by Hollywood has fallen ...

The floor creaks, the music turns ominous and an uneasy quiet sets in. Then BAM! It’s the classic jump scare. This staple of horror movies, when done well, is instantly memorable. With Times film ...

Alyssa Mertes Serio is a writer from the United States. She graduated from college with her Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications in 2014, and since then, has contributed to many digital ...

It’s one of the most well-worn tricks in the horror handbook: An innocent victim is minding their own business, nothing happening, and then…something happens to make the watcher’s heart skip a beat.