Sound

Scream 4 - Sound analysis

In a thriller film, sound is one of the key tools used to create suspense and convey drama, as the different types of sound connote different things to the audience.
For example, dramatic non-diegetic sound may be used to enhance the drama and bloodshed during a fight scene, captivating the audience's attention and making the scene even more entertaining for the audience.

 Slower music which builds steadily may be used to show that the scene is leading up to an important event, which will involve a viscous attack. An example of this may be if an attacker slowly raises a knife behind the back of their victim, building the tension felt in the scene as the audience waits for the events to unfold.

During the scene where Kirby Reed is attacked, she is on the phone to the masked killer who torments her over the phone. This is a clever use of on screen sound, as we can clearly see where the sound is coming from, but still feel the fear inspired by this choice of sound as they have no idea where the attacker is, or when he will attack. The audience is taunted by the fact that he is talking to Kirby on the phone and is watching her every move. It is important for the director to create an enigma with in the storyline. In the case of the Scream films the enigma is the identity of the attacker, which is always kept hidden until the climax of the film. This ambiguity surrounding the attacker creates an even more intense feeling of fear for the audience, fully captivating their attention.

The enigma surrounding the attacker further enhances the chilling nature of the phone call that Kirby has received. It causes the audience to feel the building suspense within the scene, as she desperately tries to answer the questions of the attacker and save her friend. This is a clear example of how on screen sound can be used to create fear and tension as the audience sits and watches as the events unfold. 

The phone call is not the only sound used within this scene, as you can also detect non-diagetic sound, which begins as Kirby answers a question wrongly, putting the life of her friend at risk. The music is recognisable to the audience as the warning of an impending attack, and again builds the suspense for what is about to follow the phone call. Audience members will know that the scene cannot remain on this knife edge any more, before something will happen to one of the characters. It is similar to the conventional music used in other thriller films to create tension and suspense for similar types of scenes. The music is an easy way for the director to build a sense of foreboding for the rest of the scene to play out, hinting at a gory end to Kirby’s life.

As well as these two types of sound, the audience can clearly see Kirby’s friend struggling against the ropes which are holding him in place. This is another example of natural, on screen suound. The sounds of his attempted screams are muffled by the tape covering his mouth, yet they are clear for the audience to hear, clearly conveying his fear. This constant sound from his mouth builds a sense of urgency, as time is running out to make an attempt to escape with their lives.
Natural sound is often used to make the events of the film seem even more real to the audience, which makes the fear and anxiety felt become even more intense. The more realistic and lifelike the situation appears, the more tension can be felt by the audience as it is imagniable what it would be like to be in that situation yourself.
The sense of urgency is a common convention of a thriller film as the audience feels the anxiety building in anticipation of what is going to happen next. They will know that time is running out for the character, and through knowing what is conventional to a thriller film, they will realise that the scene will culminate in a violent demise for the character. 

Parallel sound is also used in this scene when Charlie attacks Kirby, stabbing her in the stomach. You can clearly hear the sounds of the attack, as the knife is pushed in and out of her stomach. These sounds fit into the scene as it is obvious where the sound is coming from. The sounds fit in with the images and help to shock the audience with the graphic action taking place in the scene, making them even more lifelike and realistic.

The audience may be left confused about the plot twist which is revealed in this scene further building the suspense for the climatic reveal about the identity of the attacker. 

Through the analysis of the use of sound in this scene, I learnt how powerful the use of sound can be on the whole scene, adding suspense and instigating fear within the audience. 
Without the impact sound has on a scene, someone talking on the phone about horror films may not be too scary for the audience, but with the non diagetic sound added on top of the camera work and editing, the audience can clearly see that something is about to happen, and the suspense is built. 

Cinematography

Cinematography analysis - Psycho: The Shower Scene

Cinematography is everything to do with the creation of a film, including the camera shots. The camera shots used help the director to create the well known conventions of a film of the thriller genre. They help the audience to understand what the character is feeling, as well as inspiring feelings of fear in the members of the audience.
An example of a camera shot which is commonly used in thriller films is a point of view shot. This is used to show the audience the scene taking place, but as the way the character sees it, putting the audience in their shoes. This may make a scene appear even more dramatic and terrifying, especially during an attack sequence, as the audience will be made to feel trapped, just like the character does. This helps to enforce the convention of escapism, as the audience knows there is no way out of the situation.
Another example is a high angle shot, which are featured a lot in thriller films as they are positioned above a person/object and make the image look smaller. This is commonly used when shooting a scene with the victim, as they are made to seem weak and vulnerable. The vulnerability of the victim is a common convention of thriller films to make the attacker seem even more powerful. 

A wide range of camera shots can be seen in the original slasher film, Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960. Due to the lack of technology at the time, camera shots and editing were vital to making the attack scenes seem as realistic as possible. In the shower scene, during the attack alone, over 100 different camera shots and edits were featured.

During this scene, Hitchcock chose to use a mid shot, focusing on the shower curtain behind the female protagonist Marion Crane. Through the use of this camera shot the audience is able to clearly see the approaching shadow of ‘Mother’ as she walks towards Marion, knife raised. This allows the use of dramatic irony within the scene as the audience knows what is about to take place before the character does. This causes the audience to experience feelings of fear, as they know from the stereotypes of thriller films that there is no hope for the vulnerable female protagonist. Dramatic irony is a commonly used convention of a thriller film, as the audience usually knows what is about to happen before the character has realised, with the killer normally choosing to attack their victim from behind.

In the same scene, Hitchcock also chose to use a close up shot, to focus the audience’s attention on Marion’s facial expressions. Her face fills a large proportion of the screen, leaving a small amount of the tiled background visible. The audience can clearly see the fear on Marion’s face as she screams at her attacker, clearly conveying her fear. The use of close up shots in thriller films is extremely common as the audience is able to empathise with the character, feeling the same fear that she is displaying on screen.

The vulnerability of the female character and the dramatic way in which she meets her demise is a key convention of a thriller film, as the killer is always portrayed as the dominant and powerful character who will easily overpower their helpless female victim. 

A low angle shot is used to focus on the figure of the attacker, her face in full shadow. This low angle conveys the power that the attacker has over Marion, casting her as weak and vulnerable in comparison. This creates empathy for the character as it is clear to the audience that there is nothing she can do to save herself, leaving them with feelings of shock and anxiety. As well as this, the dark shadow connotes darkness and evil surrounding this character, as though they are hiding behind a mask, and the lack of any light on their face highlights the way in which they have been consumed by evil.
This low angle shot is another common convention of a thriller film as it enables the director to show the attacker as powerful and threatening in comparison to the protagonist. The director wants the victim to appear as weak and vulnerable as possible, to make their villain seem as twisted and evil as they can. This is a way in which they are able to increase the fear felt by the audience when watching the film. 

The same scene also features a canted angle shot when the camera focuses on the shadow consumed face of the attacker. Through this type of shot Hitchcock was able to connote the instability of the attackers mind, and provide a covert hint to the audience that they may be mentally unstable. This is another clever convention of a thriller film as the imbalance of the rational mind of the attacker is nearly always called into question when their identity is revealed. The bizarre motives which fuel their actions can only be explained through a mental disorder, and a canted angle is a simple and effective way for Hitchcock to hint this fact to the audience, at this early stage in the film. 

Through the analysis of this scene, I have learnt that low angle shots are a good way of making your attacker seem even more foreboding and intimidating, causing fear for the audience whenever this character is on screen.
I will try to use different camera shots to connote ideas about the characters, hidden meanings which will provide the audience with a better understanding of what may motivate the attacker in my thriller opening. Although the motive will not be revealed, different angles may connote ideas similar to Hitchcock's, about the instability of the killer's mind.
I have also learnt that a mid shot can be valuable in creating dramatic irony giving the audience a hint at what is about to take place before the character knows.
A close up shot is also valuable in conveying the fear and anxiety felt by the character to the audience.
These are all things that I would aim to include in my thriller film as they are powerful techniques used commonly in the creation of thriller films.

Editing

Editing analysis - The Strangers

Editing is used in a film to enable the director to join together scenes in a certain sequence which will give the biggest impact on the audience. In a thriller film, the director will edit scenes together in such a way that they create the maximum amount of fear for the audience, which is the main intention of the film. It enables a scene, which may not necessarily be scary on its own, to be put together with another scene, to create something which is guaranteed to scare the audience, therefore forming a successful thriller film.

In the thriller film, The Strangers, slow editing is used to extend the sequence of the female protagonist as she hesitantly walks towards the door, as someone is knocking to come in. When she fails to answer the audience can hear the sound of footsteps walking away from the door, as if the person has given up and left. 

Her hesitation to answer the door, and the slow editing used here causes tension and suspense to be built, as the audience anticipates what is going to happen next, while wondering who is outside the door. By using slow editing this scene is extended, giving the audience time to wonder what is about to happen, as their anticipation and anxiety builds. This suspense is a key convention of a film in the thriller genre as the audience begins to feel fear, which is the intention of the entire film. 

Further to this use of slow editing, a reaction shot is also used to display the anxiousness of the protagonist as she slowly looks through a gap in the curtains, trying to discover who is outside the door. It is clear to the audience that although she has seen no one there, she is still worried, and therefore keeps the audience in a state of suspense as they know that something will surely happen to her soon. The persistence of whoever is knocking will worry the audience, as it creates a sense of foreboding that this harassment will not cease, until she meets her demise. The continuation of suspense throughout is a convention of a thriller film as it keeps the audience constantly tense, and in a state of fear throughout most of the film.

A linking shot is also used to tie together a sequence of shots, which if on their own would not be as dramatic and intense. The scene with the knock on the door is followed by the reaction shot showing the protagonist looking through the window, and then another scene with more noise coming from the front door. 

This enables the suspense to be dragged out even further, as the audience wonders about the persistence of whoever is at the door, and what their intentions are. This is also a convention of a thriller film, as the intention of the director is to cause as much suspense and fear as possible.

Overall, the effect that these three editing styles have on the film is very effective, forming a scene packed with suspense and fear about who could be outside the door and what they want. The target of a thriller film is to scare and entertain, and the use of these three editing styles ensures that the director is able to convey as much tension as possible.
When making my thriller opening, I will aim to use a linking shot to connect different images building the suspense that the audience feels even further. As well as dragging out the events to build suspense, the linking shot could also be used to speed up the pace of the scene, making all of the action seem even more dramatic. This is something I will try to use in my own thriller opening, as I believe this will be an effective way of captivating the audience's attention of the scenes taking place.
I also think reaction shots are key to making the events taking place seem as realistic as possible as facial expressions are easily recognisable, and easy for the audience to identify with, increasing the fear felt when they watch the events unfold.