A tactic used in horror movies to scare people, the jump scare is used by unimaginative filmmakers as a cheap method of frightening the audience; i.e, making them literally "jump" out of their seats. This device is being increasingly employed in modern horror movies, along with gratuitous amounts of gore, because the directors have forgotten how to actually scare people.
A scantily clad, bosomy teenager who hears a suspicious noise in her empty house on a rainy night while watching a movie gets up from the couch to investigate its source. Walking slowly, she calls out, "Is anybody there?" As she nears the kitchen, a black cat streaks across the hallway, accompanied by a loud, piercing measure of orchestral music. "Oh, whiskers, you silly cat, you scared me!" she says, breathing a sigh of relief. She turns around, anxious to get back to her movie, when an axe suddenly buries itself in her skull.
Most of the audience screams in fright. However, the veteran horror movie fans in the theater have seen way too many cheap uses of the jump scare to be fooled. They shake their heads and think about the good old days when movies like The Shining were actually able to genuinely scare them.
Most of the audience screams in fright. However, the veteran horror movie fans in the theater have seen way too many cheap uses of the jump scare to be fooled. They shake their heads and think about the good old days when movies like The Shining were actually able to genuinely scare them.
by gimmedatsammich March 21, 2011
Random moments in movies and games where something loud and crazy happens out of nowhere, usually causing the viewers to "jump" out of excitement/fear.
Usually makes little kids and pre-teen girls crap themselves with little effort.
Usually makes little kids and pre-teen girls crap themselves with little effort.
Guy 1: "Did you see that new movie, 'Generic Horror Flick 2'?"
Guy 2: "Yeah, it was pretty shitty. There were jump scares every two nanoseconds."
Guy 2: "Yeah, it was pretty shitty. There were jump scares every two nanoseconds."
by NarooN May 31, 2011
Jafar: yo do you want to see this video I just watch
Dave: oh sure let me see
Lobster jump scare: (screaming sound effect)
Dave: (scream)
Jafar: hehehe
Dave: oh sure let me see
Lobster jump scare: (screaming sound effect)
Dave: (scream)
Jafar: hehehe
by Jeff2279 August 28, 2022
by Opalz or Libraz September 3, 2020
when you are at the fruity table and someone is close to ratting themselves out, causing a jump scare for the other members
by batergacken April 5, 2021