10 Subtle Tricks Horror Movies Use To Scare You

Another of better known entries on this list, this is a diverse trick which can be used in all manner of forms by horror filmmakers hoping to unsettle and unnerve viewers.

The Dutch tilt refers to an off-kilter angle used by filmmakers to engender a scene with an intense sense of disorientation and discomfort. At its most blatant the Dutch angle is used to signify a character passing out or losing consciousness, but used more subtly this odd angle can leave the viewer with a vague and unshakeable sense that the film's perspective is "off".

This can be seen in Dario Argento's classic Suspiria, where odd angles warn the viewer that something is deeply out of place in the film well before the witches put in their first in person appearance.

However, that's not the only psychological trickery than lens and angles can create for directors. High angles leave the viewer (subconsciously) feeling small and defenceless, whilst empty spaces in the frame lead the viewer to wonder what will appear there and build tension as a result.