The floor creaks, the music turns ominous and an uneasy quiet sets in. Then BAM! It’s the classic jump scare. This staple of horror movies, when done well, is instantly memorable. With Times film ...

Whether it’s a cat leaping out of a closet or a demon popping up from nowhere and screaming into the camera lens, everyone knows the visceral feeling of a movie jump scare. But does that sudden jolt ...