DREADBERG EDITORIAL
Jump scares and psychological horror: different routes to fear
Read fear through sound, off-screen space and missing information.
Distinguish a startle from sustained tension
A sudden sound or movement creates a different experience from waiting while nothing happens. Calling a film scary does not yet explain which choice worked. Consider what you expected before and after the startling moment, not only how many times you jumped. Repeated surprises may establish a rhythm, while waiting for an anticipated event can feel more intense. Neither route is automatically more sophisticated or more effective.
Notice the space beyond the frame
A room outside the frame, a closed doorway or the direction of a character’s gaze invites the viewer to imagine what is missing. Notice when the camera reveals that space and when it leaves it unexplained. You can describe this formal choice without identifying the event that follows. Discussing empty space and restricted viewpoints gives readers useful information while preserving the discovery for those who have not seen the film.
Look at how information is withheld
Fear can arise from lacking enough information to make a judgment. A character and a viewer may know the same things or different things. Note what you trusted when dialogue and images suggested different explanations. Finding a clue does not require treating one interpretation as the only answer. Acknowledging the gaps and comparing possibilities creates a better starting point for a discussion with someone who reached another conclusion.
Apply the distinction to an iceberg
Record surprise, sustained tension and lingering impressions as separate notes. A score organizes your response; it is not an objective measurement. Explaining differences between similarly scored films makes placements more meaningful. In comments, describe the kind of response rather than declaring that a film is not scary. A disagreement about what lingered can be the material for a useful conversation rather than a reason to dismiss someone’s experience.