Research into sound - Miss Miller

Sound in the thriller genre

Sound is an essential part of any thriller film (or anything visual for that matter) as it can have a number of affects on how the visuals are perceived, can affect how the viewer feels, and can create a number of different emotions and atmospheres as I will show through the analyse of a scene from inception.  URL link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvDba2nMv_U  (zero gravity fight scene)

At the very beginning of the sequence, the only sound that can be heard is of the world shaking (in all of the individual dream worlds), which is an example of non- diegetic sound as the first few seconds in the segment are edited (both visuals and audio) after filming as the screen is shown shaking which implies that the audio has been edited in after filming as well. It is also an example of offscreen sound as it can't be seen as to where the sound is coming from (as it has been edited in).  This is most probably done at the start of the scene to add to the surreal atmosphere which is allready present though out the film, and it would be incredibly costly and unnecessary to make the sound diegetic, as it adds a mystery element to the sequence. It also establishes what is about to occur in the following scenes (thrilling sequences) as this is the only audio that can be heard, establishing the atmosphere.  This is convectional to a thriller as the audio at the beginning of the sequence alerts the viewer as to what to expect in the following scenes, and the noise heard is of a violent nature which is suited as the scenes to follow contain fighting segments.

As soon as an unknown person comes into frame just as he walks past in the elevator, the background music (non-digetic and offscreen sound) picks ups instantly. The drastic change in music could be used to connote to the viewer that the unknown man is a threat. This scene creates suspense as the up come to the encounter is through a long empty corridor which could also connote that he is about to be attacked. This is supported by the fact that the unknown man is shown behind the other man, which shows that he is possibly vulnerable to such an attack. This is conventional in thriller films as it creates high levels of suspense for the viewer as the visuals on scene suggest that something is about to happen, accompanied by the suspenseful music makes a deadly combo in creating atmosphere suitable for a thriller sequence.

During the scenes in which the motorcyclist is shooting at the van, gun shots (diegetic and on screen sound) are fired at the vehicle. The music in the background is very slow paced and dramatic which could be a possible example of contrapuntal sound as in other action sequences in different films, faster paced background music would be used, as the one in this sequence would be often featured in different types of scenes. The background music does however stay consistent throughout the sequence and builds up gradually. This could be done to accompany the ever changing pace in visuals as the parts in the scene go from full out action to slow paced scenes. Having a constant climatic back ground music can be applicable to both different types of scenes, by doing so connecting the two types of scenes together.  By not changing the type of music it  does not lessen the suspense which could be possibly done by changing the music. This is conventional for the thriller genre as the gradual increase in speed with the music adds tension and suspense to an already climatic scene, creating a ammersive thriller atmosphere. 

At the very end of the scene in which the driver of the van quickly recovers from the fall and drives off, the audio goes completely silent (silence) apart from the noise of rain and the windscreen wipers. This could be done to signify to the viewer that it is the end of all of the madness and hectic scenes before this point, and to completely slow the pace of the scene down and to allow the viewer to access what they have just witnessed, and the sound of the rain and windscreen wipers is included to denote to the viewer that the atmosphere and surroundings has changed. This is intact not conventional to thriller sequences as a silent pause or lack of music is often used to create suspense however, as inception is an offbeat psychological thriller, the use of sound does not necessary have to be applicable to other films in its genre as it is a stand out film, one of the reasons for its huge success is because of how it doesn't follow the norms of the genre. 

This research will assist me when I go to create my own thriller sequence as I am now aware as to what different types of sound there are, there use when it comes to creating thriller conventions, and examples of such types of music with real thriller sequences. Analysing a thriller sequence in which these conventions are used will enable me know in what instances what type of sound should go with what visuals, and to what affect this will have to the viewer and film itself. I have taken many inspirations from this sequence, and the examples I intend to incorparate into my own thriller sequence is the use of silence at the end of the opening sequence, by doing so indicating to the audience that the end of the chaotic scenes have ended. Another type of sound I want to incorporate is the use of diegetic, off screen music of a instrumental, intense variation to build up tension and suspense within the opening sequence.