Research into Sound - Ms Miller

I will be researching the use of sound in Thriller films and how it is used for the desired effect. The use of sound is important in films as it makes it easier to understand what is happening as well as help provoke a response from the audience. In thriller films sound is used to build tension and suspense as well as allowing the audience to connect with the characters. The film I have chosen to analyse is The Silence of the Lambs. I chose this as it is the highest grossing thriller film of all time.

Most of music in this scene is actually diegetic or on screen sound as at the start of the scene we see a cassette player playing music cassette player.

This is uncommon but is used to create the contrapuntal sound effect which features near the end of the scene. Throughout the scene music is used to mirror Hannibal's mental state. The music playing from the cassette player is classical which usually indicates calmness and relaxation and matches how Hannibal is feeling at the start of the scene. When Hannibal attacks the prison guards the music changes and becomes louder and faster paced. This illustrates the adrenaline rush Hannibal is feeling as he fights to win his freedom. The increased tempo mirrors Hannibal's increased heart rate. When both guards are dead the music goes back to the calm classical music while we see the guards dead and bloody on the floor, this is the contrapuntal sound effect. The calm relaxing music juxtaposes the brutal sight of the murdered guards. The music mirrors how calm and relaxed Hannibal feels now he is free. This juxtaposition is used to trivialise the brutal deaths and show how murder is normal to Hannibal and even something he enjoys. This shows the audience how sick and twisted he is. The audience see for themselves how cold and emotionless he is and are left in awe. During the attack when the music suddenly increases in tempo it also gives the audience a rush of adrenaline and even excitement.  It is normal for thriller films to present the antagonist as cold and emotionless as it makes them more fearful as the audience are left on edge knowing that the antagonist has no morals or ethics and would have no qualms harming the films protagonist the audience is usually made to care for.

The on screen sound is used to great effect in this scene. All the sounds relating to Hannibal's attacks on the officers are emphasised. We clearly hear the sounds of Hannibal using his mouth to tear one of the guards flesh, the sound of the pepper spray being sprayed into his eyes as well as the thuds from him being beaten with the baton. These exaggerated sounds are used to emphasize the damage and harm Hannibal is doing to these guards.This makes the audience feel uneasy as they are forced to imagine how much damage is being done and how much pain these guards must be suffering. This is typical for thriller films as the antagonist is usually much more powerful than all the characters besides the main protagonist and the emphasis on the damage they cause is used to show the audience how powerful the antagonist is.

The diegetic sound including the dialogue and the screams of the guards are used for a similar effect. At the start of the scene the dialogue between the guards is used to show their relationship with Hannibal and how they feel about him. We see that they consider him a "son of a bitch" but their laughter suggests that they don't see him as any kind of threat. Their underestimation is used to show that Hannibal is much stronger than he looks making him seem more powerful as the audience see that he is much stronger than people who don't even consider him a threat. When they are attacked both guards are constantly screaming in pain which like the on screen sound makes the audience feel sorry for them as they hear how much pain Hannibal is causing. The audience fear Hannibal which is typical for thrillers as they usually attempt to make the antagonist appear as powerful making the audience uneasy as they think the antagonist may be powerful enough to succeed in their plans.

To conclude I think the film was successful in it's attempts to create shock and make the antagonist seem powerful. My research taught me the large effect sound can have on the audience and how engaged they are with the film. I learnt how dialogue can be used to show the relationship between various characters and how certain sounds can be exaggerated to make the antagonist appear more powerful. When creating my own thriller film I may emphasise the sounds of a certain characters pain to make my own audience sympathise them and feel hatred towards my antagonist. I learnt that sound plays an important part in the creation of a successful thriller film.