This is the most over-used device in horror by far. It's tired, a cliche, and just a cheap easy way to scare (or attempt to scare the audience). I lost count at how many jump scares were in this film, which weren't scary because anyone watching was expecting them to happen.
I have to disagree jump scares work as long as there is a nice build up leading to it and the PA movies have done good job at doing that now the Scream movies which I love for the who done plots were famous for overuse of the jump scares.
shareI don't have a problem with jump scares per se, just the fact that they are so overused in contemporary horror films (especially mainstream films). It's all a filmmakers seems to know how to scare an audience.
shareIt is over-used, I agree, but I think most people still enjoy it!
I've spoken to a lot of people who seem to love jump-scares, and in the days when I used to go to the cinema when it wasn't empty, people got a lot of enjoyment out of them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAIJ3Rh5Qxs
Agreed with the OP. Jump scares are nice when used sparingly but they tend to be overused to a point where I just become annoyed instead of startled. This series was super guilty of that, unfortunately.
I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves.
I saw the original "Halloween" in the theater a few weeks back. In the last scene the babysitter, Laurie, is slumped against the door and Michael Myers is laying down behind her. Suddenly, and silently, he sits up and looks at her. To me, that's a lot scarier, and more interesting, than a jump scare version of this scene where the audience wouldn't see Michael get up at all. He'd suddenly grab her from out of the frame, with loud music to accompany the image. The audience would jump for a second, definitely, but the anticipation of KNOWING he is coming is much more scary to me.
Here's an audience watching that scene for the first time back in 1979:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ1M3P1isHA
I saw that, in a movie theater, in 1979. One of the best scenes ever. After watching that movie, I didn't walk on the sidewalk for MONTHS...lol
shareSupposedly critic Gene Siskel took a cab home after watching the original Halloween back in 1978. Even though he lived only three blocks from the theater he was too spooked to walk home!
shareI disagree, other than a jump scare here and there im not going to be scared watching a movie which is the entire point of watching horror movies. Sure there is a certain limit to how many you should put in a movie, but i can't think of any part in any movie that scared me that wasn't a jump scare.
shareBut that wasn't scary in the slightest.
Lets be real. Horror movies are best for an audience that shouldn't be watching (young kids)
I watched just about every horror film down to the "D" movies. I rewatch the same films as an adult and wonder what the hell was I afraid of?
Watching horror films as an adult does not have the same effect on me as an adult as it did when I was a child.
These jump scares; while at times are predictable are somewhat necessary.
Unless someone has a legitimate fear such as clowns, spiders, water I just don't see them being terrified by a horror film as an adult.
The film was creepy (as a believe in demons, ghost, hauntings, possessions) but I am a grown adult and will not be scared.
Now make a movie about being layed off or missing my mortgage then you have something truly terrifying!!!!!
I hate jumpscares too. Especially when it's overused. That's all PA relies on now.
shareI don't think I've ever seen as many jumpscares in one film.
I grew bored halfway through and logged them, y'know, just in case this is your thang.
Go nuts.
16.21
17.44
20.51
22.20
23.05
27.15.
36.09
39.09
44.45
49.16
54.10
55.22
1.00.47
1.03.30
1.04.33
1.06.20
1.07.32
1.11.02
1.11.20
1.30.54
1.31.55
Two for flinching!
Well done!
shareI agree. The writers and directors of horror movies are completely out of ideas. With the jump scares, ghostly charecters quickly turning to the camera and screaming, and the spook standing/hovering behind a clueless prop character, it's beyond stale.
shareYep. There are some interesting independent and foreign horror movies out there, made in the last decade or so, that are very much worth checking out.
Also, the new film "The Witch", which comes out next month, looks very promising.
Rule of thumb: in all these movies, the jump scares are telegraphed. Just listen for the low rumbling sound. It plays a few seconds before every single jump scare. Pretty stupid move on the filmmakers' part, but I guess it's subtle enough to go mostly unnoticed.
sharemy problem with too frequent jump scares is that I start expecting them everywhere...and then I get dissapointed when they're mistimed, or not there
I think 'ugh this movie sucks, they shoulda done a jump scare right there'
I know, right?
Why couldn't they of inserted kitchen scares like in PA2, PA3 or PA4?
Having a similar moment where the cabinets blast open, furniture levitating then dropping down to the floor, utensils disappearing then reappearing, almost hurting someone, but NOOO, they were too focused on revealing Toby's true form which was basically a black CGI mess, because apparently seeing what's in the dark is 'scarier' than what you can't see in the dark, that's why Paranormal Activity is considered scary in the first place, but then these armatures turned it into a cheap B movie Hollywood Monster Movie Antichrist cliché that is on the same quality and story direction as Sharknado.