This article explores acclaimed jump scares from 1970s horror films, arguing that the technique can be an artfully executed tool rather than lazy filmmaking. The piece challenges the notion that jump scares are a modern invention, tracing their use back to 1942, and credits the 1970s renaissance in horror to studios willing to back experimental directors and the decade's political unease providing rich thematic material.

The article examines several films' approach to the technique: The Wicker Man demonstrates restraint and psychological tension with selective shocks; The Exorcist features the famous spider-walk scene that crystallises the protagonist's corruption; and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre uses Leatherface's sudden appearance to shock whilst maintaining a moody, disconcerting atmosphere. Each film illustrates how jump scares can enhance thematic meaning when deployed strategically rather than as mere sensory bombardment.