Research into Sound - Miss Miller

Saw 3D(7): The Pain Train

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPz3gXA89Jw  

Sounds are used in films to create an understanding for the audience and to create more meaning about the characters and their emotions. Sound is also used to create a response from the audience and engage them in what they are watching.

Throughout this scene different elements of sound are used to create tension and to also draw the audience into the film, of what's happening.

Non-diegetic sound is used at the beginning of the scene when the woman opens the door, there is a constant mysterious sound being played in the background. Also, once she sees the bike another type of background music starts to play, as the woman's walking towards the bike the music is building up sounding spooky. Furthermore it could be seen like a warning to the audience of a dangerous situation she may be in, this is seen typical in thrillers as there is a typical blonde female who is alone at night - setting the scene as eerie. This illustrates that something negative is going to happen as the background music is very constant and in a stable position, keeping the audience engaged. The non-diegetic sound is seen typical in thriller films as it is the main part of the thriller film that gives feelings and emotions to the characters, as it emphasises their feelings further for the audience to understand and relate to.

0:01, 0:10

Diegetic sound is used just before the woman is kidnapped by an unknown antagonist, this is conventional to a thriller genre. The audience can suddenly hear two or three footsteps before the antagonist reaches her (this could be a two or three second warning for the audience - that something dangerous or shocking might happen). Once the unknown antagonist covers her mouth, the woman screams, sounding shocked which is very loud and high-pitched enabling the audience to jump and keeping them at the edge of their seats. The audience can relate to this as they would also be shocked watching that, as well as the victim being in that situation.

0:18 - 0:20

Once the woman is kidnapped a parallel sound is used when the machine is shown on screen, as the machine starts to spin faster and faster the sound becomes high-pitched and louder. Moreover, when the full image of the machine is shown and the antagonist, the high-pitched sound continues and becomes even louder when the camera is filming along the trails towards the victim. Once the victim is shown trapped the music becomes very  slow and quiet - making it shocking for the audience, also frightened at the same time. On-screen sound is also used when the woman is shocked and starts to say "Oh God" in a whisper, her emotions on her face and the sound both match on screen - making the audience understand and envy her. This allows the audience to be able to understand her feeling of being afraid, shocked and frightened at the same time.

0:28 - 0:30

Furthermore, diegetic sound is used again when the antagonist pulls the handle for the machine to start, moving very loudly ( the machine size and  the sound given off from the machine both complement each other, sounding very hard and rigid ), the importance which is given to the machine in that particular shot could connote the countdown of the woman's death. It also gives the audience strange feelings - keeping them on the edge as the victim is about to die gruesomely, also the audience would keep their eyes on screen eager to find out what's going to happen to the female victim in a matter of seconds. As the machine starts to move vigorously towards the female victim on-screen and non diegetic sound is used for the emphasise of the machine creating tension for the audience. The background music gradually starts to become faster equalling with the speed of the machine, doubling the audiences tension. This starts to create further tension and surprise for the audience as well as the victim, as the audience can witness that there is no way out for her, and death is coming her way in matter of a few seconds.

0:52 - 0:54, 1:03

Additionally when the machine is two seconds away from the victim, it is a sign that the audience should be prepared for her death and a big loud noise, making them feel devastated. Moreover, the use of non-diegetic sound is used when the machine rips the victim's body into pieces. The noise sounds like something when the insides of a body is being stabbed and ripped open, just like the machine did to the female victim in this scene. The audience would feel for the woman as she is being tortured without reason. Once the woman is dead within a second the sound goes very high-pitched and then suddenly stops when the woman is seen in bed. Between those two scenes there is a matter of one second silence, creating suspense for the audience as they would be eager to know what's next. Finally, an on-screen sound is used once the woman wakes up from a bad dream - the audience can only hear her breathing heavily without any background music, creating tension and also a feeling of shock and panic.

1:12, 1:17

Overall, sound is seen as the key element in films especially in thrillers, as different types of level of sounds can be used to create different types of emotions. Within my analysis of sound I found many things useful such as, how important sound is needed within a thriller as it is one of the main elements which portrays and creates emotions, feelings and a relationship between the audience and the characters within a film.