Fear versus Scare

One of the most frustrating things about modern horror movies and books are their inability or unwillingness to build up tension. There is a big difference between fear and scaring someone. You can scare someone easily enough. All you have to do is hide in a closet and then jump out at them when they least expect it. You’ll get slapped and the other person will walk off shaking their head.

And that’s what most horror resorts to; a brief scare where something shocks the viewer into jumping. Aft...