Researching Sound Inspirations

Sounds Commonly used in Horror

After watching a number of supernatural horror films, in search of inspiration, with regards to sounds, I found a number of commonly used sounds, such as:

• Screams/shrieks
• Shuffling around
• Creaky doors
• Non-diegetic background music to create suspense.

Extreme Screams:

As a group, we considered incorporating an extreme scream or shriek into our opening film as in a number of horror films, extreme screams are commonly used to bring the shock factor to the audience.

I found examples of this in films such as Insidious and Paranormal Activity, where the sound of a low drum alongside a deep animalistic sound has been used in a small time frame (of only a few seconds), to create an inhumane screech and therefore highlights the supernatural genre. This can been seen at the end of the following clips:

Example from Paranoia Activity:

Making our own Scream

This animalistic sound inspired me to research the different loud noises from animals (preferably wildlife) which we could possibly use. Though I don’t plan to use this sound alone, I plan to layer it on top of several other different sounds by using special effects in order to make it be of a more believably supernatural sound to the audience.

The following clip is of 5 different animal roars:
Lion, Alligator, Tiger, Elephant and Gorilla

Creaky Doors

I have attempted to re-create the sound of a creaky door by recording the sound of my own noisy door (when pushed from a certain angle), as if we decide to put it in the opening scene, it will go well with an eerie atmosphere when trying to add suspense, which is generally in supernatural films.

Audio to be added here 

As well as this, I have also tried to recreate the mysterious shuffling 
around by scrunching together a number of  plastic bags. 

As we have been looking to possibly set our opening scene in a woody 
area, it could alternatively be used to enhance the sound of someone 
walking through the woods (in leaves).

Background Suspense Music

I have also been attempting to make my own versions of non-diegetic background music which add suspense, using my keyboard (which has a range of different instruments that I was able to play around with).

In addition to this, the following is of another example of background music which could be used. I took this inspiration from the wind instruments which can be heard in a number of non-diegetic background sounds, when the scene is at the peak of its ‘horror’ moment.