Thriller sound research

Thrillers have there own conventions and stereotypes for the sound that will be used to achieve the effects and to encompass the narrative to evoke emotions in the audience. Sound is vital as it is a useful tool to create tension and suspense but different sounds can convey different meanings. Without sound many films would not be able to achieve the goal they wished.

Diegetic sounds:
-Diegetic sounds are the sounds that the characters can hear themselves as well as the audience and is to be imagined that is what the scene would sounds like if it were to be real.
-In a Thriller diegetic sounds usually relates to the characters themselves and there surroundings so may be heavy breathing or rustling leaves as this emphasises the situation the character is in.
-So this type of sound can be used to build upon the tension in the scene. Such as dramatic weather such as thunderstorms or heavy rain which can increase in volume coupled with the characters footsteps and breathing all go together to create a tense and suspenseful scene.
-At the start of a thriller film the sounds may be more calm and relaxing so may feature birds or nature or the typical city noises of cars and people. This is because it shows a state of safety and calm in the character that will destroyed later on in the film. These sounds may also be used at the end of a thriller film as it can show a resolution to the conflict between the antagonist or protagonist.
-The non diegetic sounds can also be enhanced by Foley to five the film a more verisimilitude effect or to create a surreal response in the audience. Such as footsteps, gunshots etc.


Non diegetic sounds:
-Non diegetic sounds are sounds that the character cannot hear and only the audience can. These are generally added in post production and typically is the music or soundtrack in the film.
-The music in a thriller film tends to fluctuate in pitch, temp and volume as to create moments of high and lows to create drama and tension.
-Slower and lower volume music are often overlays for moments that feature little tension.
-Whereas in scenes of tension the music may be a high pitch orchestral style string music that would be used to unnerve the audience. The music may also begin to crescendo as the action the scene builds creating even more tension.
-Sometimes high pitched noises or a break in sound may be used to break from the normality in a scene or to express a repercussion to something that has occurred, which could be the protagonist falling over while being chased or a character death.