From Psycho to Suspiria: The Industry's Favourite Horror Movie Scores

Tanya Mills – junior producer, Wonder
The scene in 'Insidious' where the little ghost boy darts through the house to ‘Tiptoe Through the Tulips’ still gives me chills to this day. The song isn’t scary on its own – it’s light, cheery and almost silly, which is exactly why it works. The juxtaposition between the sound and scene is what makes your stomach twist, making something that should feel safe suddenly feel eerily wrong.

The sound design is what really drives the storytelling here. The scratchy, high-pitched vintage quality gives the song a false sense of innocence – something nostalgic that suddenly feels unsafe. The steady tempo against growing visual tension creates emotional dissonance, making your brain feel off-balance. You’re stuck between comfort and fear, and that tension keeps you locked in the moment. It’s a brilliant example of how sound can completely reshape how we experience a scene.

Sound builds emotional context - it tells people how to feel. The right score can calm a room, heighten anticipation, or make an audience feel connected without a single visual cue. When used intentionally, it doesn’t just support a story - it creates an experience.