Sound in a horror film

SHRIEK

This high-pitched noise often comes from someone suddenly startled—think of a ghost jumping out or a character spotting a monster.

This clue plays on the classic horror movie trope where characters let out a high-pitched, panicked scream—often called a "shriek." The word fits perfectly because it describes both the sound itself and the intense reaction to something frightening, like a jump scare. No wordplay here, just a direct connection between the eerie noise you’d hear in a scary film and the answer.