Sound used in Thrillers
From the opening sequences we analysed the sound used was
mostly non diegetic with music playing in the background. The music used was eerie and high pitched; this
creates a dysfunctional atmosphere alerting the audience that the film is a
thriller. The music also builds suspense within in the audience building up to
the climax. In the opening sequence the music will start off at a slow pace and
speed up more into the opening sequence with the volume also increasing. Once
the film starts the music starts to fade off. The volume increases to create
tension and build suspense, the volume then reduces to alert the audience that
the film is starting. The opening sequence for Shutter Island starts off at a
low pitch creating a shivering atmosphere as if something is about to approach.
The music even fades out completely to create a shock and suspense when a
sudden exaggeration of music approaches. Before the gates open in the opening
sequence of Shutter Island the music volume increase to build suspense before
the camera enters the gates.
Diegetic sound is commonly used in Thrillers, diegetic
sounds in thrillers are often sudden and brutal such as bangs and screaming.
The sound exaggerates the atmosphere building suspense and tension. The sounds
can be heard by us and the characters usually causing the audience to jump.
A dialogue is sometimes used in opening sequences of thrillers;
this gives an insight to the characters motives or their relationships with
other characters in the film. It can also make the audience support certain
characters as they see the opening sequence between two characters. In the opening sequence of American Psycho the
antagonist introduces himself giving the audience an idea of what his role is
in the film.
Silence and sonic exaggeration is commonly used in
thrillers. An example is in The Butterfly effect which builds suspense and is
thought provoking. The silence allows the audience to think about the scenario
of the film.
Definitions
Non diegetic: Sounds, such as music or a narrator’s voices
that come from outside the space of the narrative.
- Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from a source outside story space.
Diegetic: Any sound, voice or piece of music that comes from
within the world of the narrative.
- Diegetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame.
