What do you think of when you think “scariest voice over“? Spooky season is fast approaching! Get into the Halloween spirit by listening to the voices that dubbed 4 of the creepiest/sweetest characters from our favourite horror content!
Don’t miss out the poll at the end! We’d love to know your favourite Halloween spooky voices.
The Nightmare Before Christmas – Jack Skellington
My skull’s so full, it’s tearing me apart.
–Chris Sarandon–
Chris Sarandon is an American actor who played several famous roles including Jerry Dandrige in Fright Night (1985), Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride (1987), Detective Mike Norris in Child’s Play (1988). He dubbed one of the most appreciated Halloween characters: Jack Skellington. He also dubbed Jim and Attendant in episode 12 of Adventures from the Book of Virtues (1997), as well as Myka in episode 90 of The Wild Thornberrys (2003).
Chris is not the only one who lent his voice to Jack – Danny Elfman, an American film composer/singer/songwriter. He is the one who provided the singing voice for Jack, in addition to writing all the songs from the cartoon. He also provided the scary voice over for Barrel and the Clown with the Tear-Away Face from that same movie. Dany gained international recognition for composing over 100 feature film scores which involve the following popular movies: Edward Scissorhands (1990), Batman Returns (1992), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Big Fish (2003) and Alice in Wonderland (2010).
Jack is represented as being a very optimistic character, he is also pretty empathetic and can sometimes be seen as being a little naive. Chris Sanderson did a great job at reflecting Jack’s personality by using a rather enthusiastic voice.
Chucky
Hi, I’m Chucky. Wanna Play?
Many voice over artists have lent their voices to Chucky, this includes:
– Edan Gross (Friendly Chucky): a former American child actor who dubbed many popular cartoon voices. For example, the “Corky doll” from the Cricket doll series, the title character of Little Dracula, and Flounder from The Little Mermaid.
– John Franklin ( Walkabout): an American actor, writer and former school teacher who has played several popular roles. This includes Isaac Chroner in Children of the Corn (1984), and Cousin Itt in The Addams Family (1991).
– Mark Hamill (Reboot film and Robot Chicken): you will for sure have recognised this voice as Hamill is well known for dubbing the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series. His starring role as Luke Skywalker in the little series of films Star Wars also made him very popular.
– Nick Fisher (Friendly Chucky and the tv series): an American actor not as well-known as the ones above.
However, Brad Dourif’s voice is referred as being Chucky’s original voice. He is also famous for his role as Gríma Wormtongue in The Lord of the Rings series (2002–2003).
The voice over artists mentioned above did an amazing job at representing Chucky’s deranged personality. He enjoys killing and is very smart, he is fascinated by the technical details of killings, and he is also a deep and avid thinker. The voice used adapt well to these different personality traits throughout the movies.
Saw – Billy the Puppet (Jigsaw)
Death Is A Surprise Party. Unless Of Course, You’re Already Dead On The Inside.
Another popular American actor, Tobin Bell, also worked in the theatre industry. He is known to be a lifetime member of The Actors Studio as well as a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He his the voice behind Jigsaw in the Saw series.
Like most horror movies, the purpose of the move Saw is to bring fright, tension and terror to the audience. Tobin enables us to feel all of those emotions through his voice when dubbing Jigsaw.
Casper
Uh…boo?
Malachi Pearson is an American actor who is well-known for his roles in Now and Then (1995) and Family Matters (1989). Most importantly, he has dubbed several cartoon characters – Casper (1995), Young Koala in episode 40 of Aladdin (1994), James in episode 10 of Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles (1996). He is also the slightly less scary voice over artist for one of The Crab Scouts from The Little Mermaid (1993-1994).
Casper is also considered to have an optimistic persona, as the title of the movie says well, he also very friendly and caring, and is always seeking to make new friends. Malachi’s voice highlights well these traits throughout the movie.
Let us know which one you considered to be the scariest voice over by completing the poll below:
FUN FACT! Did you know that Tobin Bell donated some of his blood which got mixed with some red ink for 1000 posters to help promote Saw III (2006)?
FAQs
What are the key characteristics that make a voice over particularly scary?
A scary voice over often features a deep tone, slow and deliberate pacing, and a raspiness or breathiness that adds an element of eeriness. The ability to inflect the voice in unexpected ways also contributes to creating a sense of unease or fear.
How can a voice actor effectively convey fear or horror through their voice?
Voice actors can convey fear or horror by modulating their pitch and volume, using pauses effectively, and emphasising certain words or sounds that heighten tension. Embodying the character’s emotions and mindset is crucial to delivering a genuinely scary performance.
Are there any specific techniques used in post-production to enhance the scariness of a voice over?
Yes, in post-production, techniques like echo, reverb, pitch modulation, and layering multiple tracks can be used to amplify the scariness of a voice over. However, these should be used judiciously to ensure they complement the performance rather than overshadow it.
What types of projects typically require scary voice overs?
Scary voice overs are commonly sought after for horror films, spooky video games, Halloween advertisements, haunted house attractions, and certain genres of audiobooks or podcasts that delve into horror or suspenseful storytelling.
Can any voice actor perform a scary voice over, or does it require specialised training?
While many voice actors can adapt their performance to be scarier, specialised training or experience in horror and suspense genres can be beneficial. Understanding how to use one’s voice to create tension and fear without straining it is a skill that can be honed with practice and guidance.
What are the challenges in delivering a scary voice over?
The main challenges include maintaining the right balance between being frightening and not overacting, ensuring vocal health when using harsh or strained vocal techniques, and effectively conveying the desired level of scariness without becoming comical or exaggerated.
Remember, if you’d like to discuss your next project, then give us call on +44 (0) 207 095 5730 or email projects@golocalise.com for a quote. As well as providing voice over services for several decades now, we also provide translations and subtitling services. Whether you need voice overs or subtitles, we’d love to hear from you.
