10 Horror Films With Terrifying Sound Design

If you still need proof of how much power sound holds in horror cinema, then Berberian Sound Studio is the film for you.

Set predominately in a sound studio, the film follows mild-mannered English sound engineer Gilderoy (Toby Jones) travel to Italy to work on a film titled The Equestrian Vortex. To Gilderoy’s dismay, however, this project is a visceral and extremely graphic horror leagues away from the tranquil nature documentaries he’s used to working on.

Though viewers never actually get to see any of the footage from this fictional film, they do get the displeasure of hearing the engineers create and record the sound effects to accompany the horrific actions which we can only imagine. And, going by the severe impact that bringing these sickening scenes to life with sound has on the poor Foley Artist, we’d be better off not seeing what’s being projected.

A love letter to old-school Italian horror, film fans will revel in getting a peak at the creativity used in creating some of these horrific sounds. However, there's an uncanny aspect of seeing these sounds being recorded that’s just as weird as it is fascinating. And it's in this uncanniness where the terror of the film lies.