Byline: E.L. Hall
It's that time of year and Rotten Tomatoes has just posted its 10 Scariest Horror Films list. Have any favorites or notice any omissions? Personally, I miss The Omen (1976), and Don't Look Now. Post your thoughts in the comments!
From chilling narratives to binge-worthy franchises, the horror genre thrives on its unique ability to evoke fear and intrigue. Behind spine-tingling films lie a combination of talented filmmakers and evolving technology.
Horror filmmaking is a masterclass in visual storytelling, with both practical and digital effects playing pivotal roles. Practical effects- makeup, prosthetics, animatronics, and mechanical rigs-are foundational elements in creating terrifying creatures and immersive environments. Meanwhile, digital visual effects (VFX) allow filmmakers to craft supernatural elements, from ghostly apparitions to elaborate settings that would be dangerous or costly to produce physically. The success of these films depends upon how well these are blended.
Ari Aster, the visionary behind Hereditary and Midsommar, effectively used miniatures which were meticulously handcrafted by artist Steve Newburn, to portray the characters' loss of control in Hereditary, creating an unsettling, artificially constructed reality. Newburg also created the prosthetics for the film. In the hauntingly elegant The Others, director Alejandro Amen bar utilized digital fog and mist to convey isolation, enhancing the film's muted, timeless aesthetic through subtle digital manipulations that emphasized shadows and candlelight. 3D printing has also made a significant impact on physical effects, contributing to projects including Renfield, Avengers:End Game, The Mandalorian, Raised by Wolves among others).
In horror, cinematographers are key collaborators, crafting the visuals that amplify fear and unease through visual language. Rados aw adczuk, the cinematographer for The Babadook, utilized forced perspective and strategic angles to enhance the monster's looming presence. Kent and adczuk employed in-camera effects, including mirrors and reflections, to create an unsettling viewing experience that keeps audiences on edge.
The use of negative space can also provoke unease, as articulated by Kent, while renowned horror filmmaker James Wan leverages dynamic camera movements to elevate tension. Tracking shots glide through eerie environments, leading viewers into the unknown. In Midsommar, Aster and his long-time director of photography, Pawel Pogorzelski, capitalized on Sweden's perpetual summer daylight to create a disorienting brightness that sharply contrasts the film's dark themes.
Mike Flanagan, the mind behind Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House often opts for naturalistic lighting to instill realism, enhancing emotional depth and viewer engagement. Each cinematic choice, from lighting to framing, propels the narrative and immerses the audience in the horror.
The found footage genre, from The Blair Witch Project to the Paranormal Activity series, has reshaped horror filmmaking.Oren Peli's Paranormal Activity, created on a mere $15,000 budget, grossed over $194 million, showcasing how studios can achieve remarkable returns with a unique idea and inventive cinematography, effects, and editing.
Sound can be an invisible force behind the fear. In horror films, sound design is crucial in building tension and atmosphere. Foley artists enhance the auditory experience, while binaural recording and spatial audio create immersive soundscapes that pull audiences deeper into the narrative. John Carpenter's score for Halloween serves as a benchmark in horror sound design, utilizing synth pads in groundbreaking ways to heighten fear.
Editing is where the power of horror happens, shaping the pacing and structure that deliver heart-stopping moments. Whether using Adobe Premiere, Avid Media Composer, or DaVinci Resolve, editors craft jump cuts and cross cuts that amplify suspense. Jennifer Lame for Hereditary (Lame is an Oscar and HPA Award winner for Oppenheimer), Roy Lovejoy for The Shining, Lucian Johnston for Midsommar, Emilio C Perez for It Follows, Rick Shane (with Patrick McMahon) for Nightmare on Elm Street, SImon Njoo for The Babadook, and Louise Ford for The Witch are editors bring home the scares. Collaborating closely with directors, they develop scene maps and pacing plans that align with the envisioned emotional trajectory, ultimately turning raw footage into a cohesive, spine-chilling narrative.
The future? As horror continues to captivate audiences and film studios, the blend of innovative technology and creative artistry will undoubtedly shape its future. From visual effects to sound design, the tools available to filmmakers are evolving, offering endless possibilities for terrifying storytelling. The future will certainly hold more AI supported and created films. But for this Halloween season, dive into a list of classic and modern horror films and discover the artistry that brings these chilling tales to life.
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
Byline: E.L. Hall
