It’s one of the most well-worn tricks in the horror handbook: An innocent victim is minding their own business, nothing happening, and then…something happens to make the watcher’s heart skip a beat.

Sometimes, it's not about atmosphere in a horror game — it's about the perfect time to ambush you with a jump scare.

As long as horror movies have existed, they've all figured out different ways to scare the viewer. Be it by building a slow sense of dread over time that culminates in an anxiety-fueled climax, or by ...

If you've ever seen a horror film, you've likely experienced a jump scare. A mix of cinematic build-up, sonic tension, play on expectations and intent to scare, the jump scare is a classic building ...

Jump scares are a contentious topic in horror. Some people love them, others feel that they're cheap. It's an easy way to elicit a fear response, and sometimes, it can feel like a storyteller is ...