What is a jump scare?

How it works

A jump scare usually follows a pattern: a quiet build-up that draws attention, a pause, then a sudden loud sound and a fast change on screen. The sound does most of the work. The sudden noise triggers the startle response - a reflex that makes people flinch, blink and tense before they have consciously understood what happened.

The "Lewton bus"

One of the earliest celebrated examples comes from the 1942 film Cat People, produced by Val Lewton. A woman walking alone at night believes she is being stalked; the tension peaks, and a loud hiss makes the audience jump - it is only a bus stopping, its air brakes releasing. A false scare like this, where the shock turns out to be harmless, is still called a "Lewton bus".

Jump scare vs dread

	Jump scare	Dread
Speed	Instant	Slow build
Cause	Startle reflex	Anticipation and uncertainty
Lasts	Seconds	Minutes to the whole evening
Wears off when overused?	Yes, quickly	Much more slowly

The two are often combined: a long build-up of dread released by one well-timed jump scare. See slow burn vs jump scare.

A word of caution

Jump scares rely on sudden loud sounds and often on flashing light. They can be genuinely distressing for young children, and flashing effects can be a problem for people with photosensitive epilepsy. At a party, think about who is in the room - how scary is too scary for kids has guidance by age.