If you’re a fan of horror movies then you know that there are some truly iconic scenes of silence. Whether it’s the characters hiding from the killer in the darkness or the eerie feeling of being alone in a strange place these moments can be truly chilling. But why is it that some of the most suspenseful scenes in horror movies are also the most silent?
It turns out that there’s a reason for this and it has to do with the way our brains process sound. When we hear a sudden noise our brains automatically go into “alert mode” and start trying to figure out what the source of the noise is. This gives us a split-second advantage in potentially dangerous situations as we’re able to quickly identify whether the noise is something harmless or a potential threat.
However our brains can only process so much information at once and when we’re trying to focus on something else like a scary movie the sudden noise can be distracting. This is why dead silence can be so effective in creating suspense; it gives our brains a break from processing all the other sounds and allows us to focus on the task at hand which in this case is being scared out of our wits!
Of course not all silence is created equal. A truly effective silence is one that is unexpected as this is the type of silence that will jarringly grab our attention and force us to focus on what’s happening on screen. So next time you’re watching a horror movie take note of the scenes where the sound suddenly drops out; chances are they’re some of the most suspenseful moments in the film.
What is the reason behind dead silence being rated R?
The movie is rated R due to its graphic and disturbing images.
