Whether it’s the slow creak of a closet door opening, a disembodied whisper in the basement, or a shriek when you least expect it, nothing is quite as powerful as the right sound used at the right time. This is especially true in the horror movie category — cue the “Jaws” theme song. For decades, we’ve associated specific sounds with fear, and one that stands out is Wilhelm scream.
The short cry of agony has been used in over 400 movies including “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars,” and it’s all thanks to a film student in the 70’s. When Ben Burtt heard the scream in “Charge at Feather River,” something clicked. He began to use the sound in his own work as a joke, and after becoming an Academy Award-winning sound designer, he turned the 2-second clip into a pop culture staple.
Another iconic sound featured in horror is the Electro-Theremin. Modeled after a Soviet-era proximity sensor, the instrument produces an eerie warbling when players run their hands over it. Naturally, it was picked up by the sci-fi and horror genres and used in movies like “Monster House” and “The Machinist.”
Sounds elicit emotion, connection and recognition when used effectively, and in a world where video reigns supreme, they’ve never been more important. Whether we’re creating Instagram reels or launching broadcast spots, we consider every aspect of audio in our client work like music, voice talent, effects and more.
