Most horror movies rely on sound to evoke terror and suspense in the viewer. Creating those sounds requires a unique array of instruments and skills. On this spookiest of days lets review some of the spooky instruments behind those sounds.

Waterphone

The waterphone was invented by Richard Waters in the late 1960s and since then it has become an iconic sound in the horror genre. You may recognize the sound from films such as Poltergeist, Let the Right One In, Dark Water, and Aliens.

(Jessie Pearl / Flickr)

The waterphone is made up of a stainless-steel bowl, a cylindrical neck, and bronze rods. The rods are struck or bowed to evoke haunting notes. Take a listen to a waterphone built by Brooks Hubbert and played by Todd Barton:

Theremin

Invented by Leon Theremin in 1919, the eponymous instrument has become a go-to instrument in film scores. With it’s unique sound, the theremin has been used in thriller and horror films such as Spellbound, The Thing from Another World, Monster House, and The Machinist.

Leon Theremin and the theremin in 1927

Take a listen to Carolina Eyck demonstrating the theremin’s spooky sounds:

Glass Harmonica

You’ve likely played a version of this one yourself. The concept has been around for a while; dip your finger in a glass and run it along the rim for some haunting harmonics. There are many different versions of the glass harmonica including a mechanical version invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761.

Mechanical Glass Harmonica

Take a listen to a modern version of the instrument used in the haunting mad scene of Donizetti’s opera Lucia di Lammermoor.

The Apprehension Engine

Sometimes there just isn’t an instrument for your desired sound. That was the case for Canadian composer Mark Korven. With his experience composing for horror films, Korven teamed up with Tony Duggan-Smith to create The Apprehension Engine – a multi-faceted horror-music machine. Take a listen to The Apprehension Engine in action: