Perhaps one of my personal favorite attributes of a horror film, is the horror film scream. While to some, this may seem like a small part of a the entire movie, many of the great horror movies of our time have climbed their way to this spot through the convincing and chilling screams of its performers. Throughout my professional experience as an actor and casting director, I have found that it is the small actions that can be truly difficult. When you’re acting in a horror film, you must be able to scream in a realistic and convincing manner. Although this is easier said than done, and while the process to deliver a realistic scream can differ from one person to another, you can follow several tips cultivated out of my professional experience and training.
Your Scream:
Ah, the scream. Like many things in life, not all screams are created equally. There are many different variations to screams, such as the “I’m about to get my head chopped off scream” to the “I can’t believe what I’m seeing” to my personal favorite “Oh my gosh, that scared me.” Each of these screams has a different dynamic, volume and characteristic to its sound. When you’re prepping for a horror film role where you must scream, do your research and watch the great horror movies. Study the different types of screams.
Next, review your script. Why is your character screaming? What emotions are behind the scream? While it is easy to say, “oh, I’m screaming because I’m terrified.” However, there are more emotions behind a vocal display of horror than simply terror. Once you discover these other emotions, you can deliver a truly convincing and believable scream.
Your Eyes:
The effectiveness of a scream is not strictly within your voice. When you scream, your vocal chords are not the only thing expressing distress and horror. As you watch the great horror films, you’ll notice that the scream acts like a foundation to the rest of the emotions found within the face. It has been said that true horror is only conveyed within the eyes. When you’re screaming, make sure to concentrate your emotions within your eyes. This will add believability to your performance, and if done correctly, will strike terror into the audience as well.
Your Mouth:
When you scream, the audience members are not only watching the emotion within your eyes, but also your mouth – as this is where the sound is coming from. I remember watching an independent horror movie, and the actress began screaming, but there was something lackluster about her mouth. The way she formed her scream was, well, boring and fake. You could tell it was a rehearsed scream, and she was tired of doing it. While you’re preparing for your screaming scene, spend time in front of the mirror practicing the shape of your mouth. Do not actually scream as you’ll need to save the power of your voice for the set; however, focus on your mouth. Will you open it as wide as it will go, or will it be a small opening? While this may seem like an arbitrary detail to review, by focusing on the small details you will deliver a truly chilling scream.
Your Body Language:
As stated earlier, the actual scream is only one part of the whole performance. The positioning of your body will add a dramatic and believability to your scream. When you are actually scared, and you actually scream, your entire body reacts. I remember visiting a haunted house in Atlanta this past Halloween. Throughout the event, I kept being startled and truly scared. It was probably the fifth or sixth time I screamed when I began to notice. My entire body reacted to the situation, and my scream was the vocal aspect of my reaction. When scared, my arms moved upward – almost in an attempt to protect my heart. My feet also moved closer together and my posture straightened. Creating a realistic scream is one part vocal and five parts body language. Practice your bodily movements. Read your script to uncover the emotions behind the scream, and use your entire body to help convey these thoughts.