Startle Effect Flashcards
What is a startle effect?
A startle effect is a sudden burst of sound, music or unexpected images.
Psychology affects of a startle effect?
Sudden increase in heart rate, shock, tension, and the ability for it to make you jump.
Cat People
Cat People (1942) directed by Jacques Tourner and produced by Val Lewton. Characters: Alice and Irena
Why did Val Lewton want to us startle effect?
Val Lewton watched a sneak preview of a film and he saw the whole audience jump in unison.
Neurocinematics
According to Michael Grabowski “Filmmakers Tap into a part of our brain that relies on instinct we jump we yell, because the film bypasses our tranquillised state and taps into primary instinct reacting immediately to protect or warn others, this happens before our brain has time to process what has scared us”
Evolution of Horrors
- what is a Slasher film?
Horrors have evolved overtime they were first artistic and suspenseful. However then Slashers were introduced in the 80s - a horror sub-genre involving a psychopath stalking and murder using sharp weapons to kill. This began the horror pace quickening, audience becoming aware of startles. So director had to keep them off guard by either increasing the pace or using of screen space, making horror for mechanical. Critics argue today’s Horrors are ‘tacky’.
Example if Mechanical Horror
Dead Silence (2009) directed by James Wan
What is a threat Scene?
A Threat scene is the scene directly before a startle effect, where the audience had time to feel empathy and pain for the character.
Example of a Threat Scene
Insidious (2013) directed by James Wan
Why Startle effects were used in found footage films so effectively?
Found footage films were very prominent for startles is because the director had the ability to frighten the audience easier because according to C.Robert Cargill, a horror film writer, “The audience put themselves in the mindset that what they were watching could actually happen”
