In this blog post, I will look into research about sound and how it is used in film.
Sound, in film, can be used in terms of the soundtrack, score, sound effects and so on. In terms of psychological thrillers, sound is used to create an eerie and tense atmosphere to build up tension in a scene or to create shock in the audience. This provides a depth to the character(s) or to the setting of a sequence. Sometimes silence is used in psychological thrillers to make the audience feel tense - which is still as effective as using music/sound.
There are many well-known/iconic sounds that are recognisably relevant to the genre of psychological thriller. Many of these sounds are also applicable to other genres (e.g. horror). The most common similarity would be the depth of the keys used on a piano or the use of low notes on different instruments. Foley can also be used to make these sound effects.
Examples of iconic sounds used in Psychological Thrillers:
Examples of iconic sounds used in Psychological Thrillers:
In relation to our own opening sequence, we hope to create the same effect and conform to the codes and conventions of psychological thrillers in terms of sound. We will use diegetic/non-digetic sound and eerie music to create that tense vibe in our opening sequence. As we have no dialogue in our opening sequence, the music/sound effects will play a vital role. Also, the use of these codes and conventions will contribute to making the plot clear to the audience and hopefully engage them.