I listened to the Spooked video “Did my Reflection Reveal Something Sinister?” The premise is simple, yet effective: a glance into the mirror shows a face that isn’t the narrator’s, causing both him and us to wonder “What did he see?” That single question drives the piece. Spooked’s whole brand is to tell horror stories in the first person, hosted by Glynn Washington.
The story follows the “anecdote, then reflection/question, then next beat” chain Ira Glass mentioned. The narration is close mic’d, so you feel like he’s directly talking to you. The pulsing- type of music aids in providing a suspense. He talks fast in the climax of the podcast to amp up the terrifying realization, then talks slower to really get the listener on the edge of their seats; afraid.
Audio alone can sell fear when structure and layering are deliberate. The piece reminded me to keep on clear question in the forefront and to use contrasting music to signal beats. Next time I ever make an audio post, I’ll make sure to design my post around a single question as to not overwhelm the listener, and then pick a tone that rightfully matches the atmosphere. Spooked really makes you feel as if you’re part of the action; that is the kind of affect I want to have on my own listeners.
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