EDITING IN HORROR
BY MELISSA MINSHULL

PACE
• THE PACE USED IN HORROR FILM IS OFTEN FAST PACED
• THIS IS TO BUILD TENSION
• IT ALSO CREATES A SENSE OF URGENCY FOR VIEWERS
• FAST PACED EDITING ALSO DISORIENTATES THE AUDIENCE SO THAT THEY FEEL UNEASY
• HOWEVER THIS IS MIXED WITH ONE OR TWO SCENES WITH SLOW PACED EDITING
• THIS IS AS IT DRAWS IN THE AUDIENCE AND GIVES THEM A SENSE OF SECURITY BEFORE SCARING
THEM

EDITING TECHNIQUES USED
• CUT AWAY – TO SHOW CHARACTERS REACTIONS TO THE SITUATIONS THEY ARE FACING
• SMASH CUT – TO SHOCK AND SCARE THE AUDIENCE IN THE CHANGE FROM LOUD TO QUIET
• JUMP CUT – ALLOWING THE PASSAGE OF TIME TO SHOW WHILST ALSO SOMETIMES USING IT TO
SCARE THE AUDIENCE
• FADE TO BLACK – GIVES A MYSTERIOUS AND TENSE FEELING
• STRAIGHT CUT – BASIC CUTS
• ELLIPTICAL EDITING – CUTS OUT THE UNNECESSARY PARTS OF JOURNEYS OR ACTIONS TO KEEP
THE AUDIENCE GRIPPED AND ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS

SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC
• MUSIC AND SOUND EFFECTS CAN BE USED TO BUILD TENSION
• LOUD SLOW BUILDING MUSIC CAN HELP PUT THE AUDIENCE ON EDGE
• LOUD FAST MUSIC CAN HELP SHOCK AND SCARE THE AUDIENCE
• THE LACK OF MUSIC CAN CREATE AN UNEASY FEELING FOR THE AUDIENCE DUE TO THE SILENCE AND
CAN ALSO EMPHASISE THE SOUND EFFECTS ON SCREEN
• SOUND EFFECTS SUCH AS FOOTSTEPS, FLOORBOARDS/DOORS CREAKING, AND THE WIND ARE COMMON
SOUND EFFECTS FOUND IN HORROR FILMS
• SOUND EFFECTS CAN ALSO HELP MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT BELIEVABLE TO THE AUDIENCE WHICH
MAKES THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO STRONGER REACTIONS