Filmmaker Curry Barker, director of the upcoming horror release Obsession, has stated that his goal is to move away from cheap jump scares. In a recent interview, he explained that he seeks a modern fright: a feeling of discomfort and strangeness that lingers with the viewer, rather than the classic sound blast when an object falls. Barker criticizes those predictable techniques which, according to him, today's audiences no longer tolerate.
Sound design as a tool for unease 🎧
To achieve this effect, Barker bets on an ambient sound design that plays with low frequencies and uncomfortable silences. Instead of sudden volume spikes, the team works with layers of audio that generate gradual tension. The lighting also moves away from direct spotlights, using moving shadows to create an oppressive atmosphere. The goal is for fear to arise from what is not fully seen or heard, not from a drum hit.
Goodbye to the cat jumping out of the closet 🐈
It seems Barker has declared war on the cat jumping out of a closet, the classic door slam, and the friend who suddenly appears in the mirror. The director assures that these tricks no longer scare even your grandmother, who probably watches them in afternoon soap operas. His formula is simple: if you want the audience to be scared shitless, it's better to make the closet have no cat, but instead be empty and move on its own. Of course, without a loud noise, that bothers the neighbors.