I get it. They want the audience to feel the same fear the character is feeling in the moment. But to me, a jump scare is pretty much the laziest way to do that. And for people like me with already existing anxiety issues, it makes the rest of the movie an unpleasant experience. Instead of engaging with the story, I’m just trying to protect myself against the next time this mystery movie, or whatever, wants to scare the shit out of me. I’ve been an avid movie goer for years, but the problem has me thinking I might start watching most movies at home now where I can control the volume.
I have always admired John Carpenter for working in the opposite direction. He likes to show you a scene where you gradually realize that something is wrong. When you do, you get the same adrenaline jolt as from a jump scare. Or he will show you something terrifying that is going to happen, then make you wait while watching it arrive.
I haven’t watched much of John Carpenter’s work, so I can’t comment on this sentiment particularly, but I have always liked a psychological trick Terry Pratchett used to describe the machinations of Granny Weatherwax and her approach to stealth. (Yeesh, I need to read those books again, it’s been years.)
I can’t remember the exact quote and won’t do it justice, but the message is something like “over time you noticed a familiar shape in the darkness, something like a coat, then you noticed what might have been a boot, then suddenly you realized she has always been there.”
Sir Pterry doesn’t use it in the context of horror, at least not for the reader, but I feel like it would fit that well.