Jump-scares have been a staple of horror for almost as long as the genre has existed. And yet, it’s one of the hardest filming techniques to execute effectively, as more often than not these moments aren’t nuanced or necessary, making them come across as desperate, cheap, or unintentionally hilarious – especially when they can be seen coming a mile away.
However, if performed with the right imagery, lighting, and sound, this scaring technique can be the most memorable part of a movie. For example, certain sequences in Insidious, Jaws, and The Descent managed to traumatise an entire generation, despite appearing on screen for less than a second.
With 2024 being another killer year for horror, there is a whole new batch of Boo! moments to add to the pile. Although Smile 2 and Late Night with the Devil should be commended for their tight scripts and solid performances, it’s their blink-and-you-will-miss-it shots that are sure to become iconic. Even if a movie is god-awful, one solid screamer can save it from being unwatchable.
It may be a hated trope to some, but these ten entries prove how truly skin-crawling a jump-scare can be.
Produced by Sam Raimi, this Netflix exclusive opens with a grieving woman, Iris (Kelsey Asbille), who’s preparing to take her life by jumping off a cliff. After speaking to a stranger called Richard (Finn Wittrock), Iris starts feeling hopeful again and decides to give life another chance.
But when she notices Richard is holding an umbrella, Iris becomes wary, since there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Before Iris has a chance to react, Richard electrocutes her with a device concealed in the umbrella’s handle.
Although it’s obvious that Richard has ulterior motives the instant the umbrella is spotted, this moment is still pretty blindsiding, since it’s unclear how he intends to use it as a weapon.
Several frames are removed when Richard launches himself at Iris, making the attack look more unnatural and therefore more frightening. Just to amplify the fear factor further, the shot is followed with an ear-splitting sound and a flickering effect.
Even though this set-up is fairly straightforward, it’s guaranteed to leave a major impact, purely because of how perfectly executed it is.