if you took out the sound effects.. would horror movies be just as scary?

United States
February 17, 2009 10:27pm CST
i have found that some horror movies arent really that scary but like the sound effect make you jump.. like some one will turn around and then you will see a ghost behind them.. the ghost isnt scary but the BANG or whatever noise that sounds right when they show it will make you jump! if you took out the loud shocking noises they use when things jump out at you in the movie would it be as scary?
7 people like this
32 responses
@celticeagle (157281)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Feb 09
The old silent ones did the trick. They were creepy. I think now days it would be alittle difficult to figure out who was who. And some people are even curious as to the names of the demon.
3 people like this
• United States
19 Feb 09
yeah those ones with the exorcisms all naming off a half a dozen demons names.. like it really matters.. lol
@ROYALG333 (126)
• United States
18 Feb 09
Sound Designers have to be brilliant to bring the image to life. Movies are definitely not the same without great sound and great music to go with it.
3 people like this
• United States
19 Feb 09
yeah they are amazing with the timing and everything
@deebomb (15307)
• United States
18 Feb 09
I believe that if it was't for the music moves would be very boring. Music is what sets the mood for the movies.The music and make you ant to cry or laugh It's not all visual. And yes it can make the movie scary too. I have seen movies that the music can scar you to the point of jumping when some unexpected happens. Even when it is a small thing such as a hand appearing around the corner suddenly.
• United States
18 Feb 09
yep im watching a movie right now that is quite boring but its got the sound effects timing just perfect to where i have jumped a few times
2 people like this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
18 Feb 09
Nope, those loud sounds still make me jump even if i've seen the movie a hundred times..but how many friday the 13th movies can they make more of?
3 people like this
• United States
18 Feb 09
i have no idea.. but i guess i will wait till i see the newest one before i comment on if they should stop or not lol
2 people like this
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
18 Feb 09
No I don't think so, I think that the movie industry have gotten their studies and I'm sure that their results have proven that it takes effects on all of the senses that is possible as of right now to truly set a movie viewer into the atmosphere of the movie or storyline that they are trying to portray. The sounds and things like that on scary movies definitely add to the movies effect and helps to put you into the setting of what that movie wants you too be.
3 people like this
• United States
18 Feb 09
yeah.. makes you wonder how people watched silent movies.. i guess they didnt know any better
2 people like this
19 Feb 09
i dont think a horror movie needs sound effects, if its a good movie it shouldnt have them at all, in real life you dont have a sound effect to make things scary, it should be tension and fear of the unknown not jumping because you didnt expect a bang to happen
2 people like this
• United States
20 Feb 09
what would be a good example of that? it would be cool to see if i like that type of horror movie.. i just cant think of any that i have seen that wasnt drowned in sound
• Canada
18 Feb 09
Sure they would!!! That's like saying a stephen king book isn't scary. There are no sound effects in a book. If you ask me, all sound effects prove to do is make the program in question really really annoying!!! My husband loves the sci-fi network. I hate it. I have really sensitive hearing, and the sound effects just irritate the crap out of me.
2 people like this
• United States
19 Feb 09
yeah if its something on in the back ground or that im not watching it drives me crazy since i get migraines so easy from sound affects or certain sounds
@muru1950 (963)
• India
19 Feb 09
Hi moonlitmagikchild I am sure the horror movies won't be scary without the sound effects. It is only the music that takes us with the movie so we feel scared when there is such scenes. I suppose,with out music if you see,a horror movie it may become a comedy movie like. I have not watched any movie with out a background music.So it is only my assumption. Happy mylotting
• United States
20 Feb 09
yeah with as cheap as some of them are done and fake looking with out the sound affects it could look like a comedy lol
@johndur (3052)
• Pasig, Philippines
21 Feb 09
im sure it would still be scary as long as its a well made horror film.just like they have done in the original exorcist with linda blair.it was on my mind for quite sometime in the part that she had her head turning around...it was really a scary movie for me even if without a sound effect it would be scary as well.
1 person likes this
@johndur (3052)
• Pasig, Philippines
3 Mar 09
yeah you're right about that....i hope they can make more horror movies of that caliber...
• United States
25 Feb 09
yeah on that movie i dont think it would be any less scary!! it was well done!
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
20 Feb 09
if we watch movie we always use and big speaker to make the movie more exciting.horror or not we always do.but horror with sounds not nice its not horror anymore.sounds makes the movie amaz and exciting!remember the movie " wrong turn"? it was not realy scary but the sound of it make me scream and shaking
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Feb 09
that was a good movie!! i cant wait to see the sequel!!
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
20 Feb 09
i mean horror with out sounds is not nice.not exciting at all.
1 person likes this
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
19 Feb 09
Sound or no sound, I think that the movie The Strangers would be just as scary. There is so much gore in the movie and just the knowledge that it is baed on actual events is enough to scare anyone.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 09
that one was really good with the whole making you jump at the bumps and other noises
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
18 Feb 09
I think some would still be and others will not be as scary as with a sound. There are also scenes that make use of the sound effects to do the scaring so without the "blags", "bangs" and the "screechesss....." they would turn out boring and funny. I think I will try to watch a horror movie without the sounds to see if what I just said is true. .
2 people like this
• United States
20 Feb 09
yeah the last one i watched was mostly only sound affects and no action!!
@uicbear (1900)
• United States
18 Feb 09
No, absolutely not. The sound effects are inportant, but even more so is the background music that builds all the anticipation. I mean you usually don't even see the bad guy until the ax(or whatever slicing/dicing tool they're using) is falling on the poor stupid victim. The music primes you and works you up so that you know something is going to happen just not exactly when...and the pow, there it is. It's a part of human nature to use your other senses when one is deprived. In horror movies this is exploited by using eerie music for when we can't see anything.
2 people like this
• United States
20 Feb 09
sometimes they take so long to get to the killers appearance i think the music is about to drive me crazy! lol
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
19 Feb 09
I've sit through a horror movie with most of the time covering my eyes and I still had nightmares because of the sounds. I do think the sounds have a lot to do with the scariness!
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 09
i guess your imagination is making it more scarier than if you watched it
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I guess so! Sometimes or a lot of the times, less is more.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Feb 09
no I don't think so, the sound effects make it more scary for us, we are used to it, but then they had scary movies when there was no talking movies, but then that was all the were used to so they were scared.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 09
we're spoiled now.. i wonder what the future will bring?
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
18 Feb 09
I think it would still be scary but I think it would be rather boring too and would lose alot of it's impact. Afterall, there's nothing shocking about seeing someone walk up a flight of stairs in the dark, however the howling wind, creaking steps and moaning you could hear would certainly add to it. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 09
yep sometimes the sound affects are better than the visual once it actually shows it lol
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
18 Feb 09
Oh no! I need those sounds so I can figure out what body part is getting crushed or snapped while I close my eyes! I also think that the music in the background leading up to the loud noise builds the excitement even further. It would be pretty bland without the sound effects.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 09
although there are a few horror movies from the 70s that i wished hadnt had either! because they would bash some ones head in and it would be like a cartoon honking noise or something and then like funky redneck music
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
19 Feb 09
Hmmm i guess yes, because there are ASIAN HORROR MOVIES that are scary with less sound effects!
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 09
thats true.. i guess it makes a difference in what your used to too.. if your used to the sound affects you will miss them but if your not then it wouldnt be that big of a deal
• United States
18 Feb 09
I don't think it would be as scary anymore if you remove the sounds. The sounds most often give you more sensation to the things you see. I once saw a movie with eerie sounds and got out of the moviehouse.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 09
i forgot what movie it was but i watched one that its sound affects and music really got to me and the movie wasnt that great! but those affects gave me the chills through out the whole thing..
@tudors (1556)
• China
18 Feb 09
if a horror movie were without the sound effect, it would still be horrible but less effective. But for some people who are very imaginary and attentative when watching it, he can use his imagination, then , in this case, i guess it would be more horrible than before.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 09
yeah some people could probably do better than the movies