Conventional music in thriller films

Silence of the lambs

     The start of the trailer begins with a low rumble which is continuous throughout the trailer; it can be heard below the voices and the sound effects. This noise raises and lowers in pitch which creates tension, the high pitched note creates an eerie atmosphere and the audience become aware that something is going to happen. On top of the music there are various sound effects many which are clanging and metallic crashes. This grates on the audiences ears making them nervous. At around 33 seconds there is a series of 3 beats each are joined with a flash of an image, the audience are left wondering what the image was. When the murderer is on the screen there is an almost metallic swoosh which shows the audience that the character is someone to be feared. At 58 seconds the music starts to have a repetitive cymbal which shows the audience that something is building up; something is going to happen. The music becomes fast paced to match the action on the screen; there are more camera positions and faster changes of scenery. When the title of the film is shown at 1 minute 18 seconds the music fades out and goes to silence. This is then interrupted with a clang and then an image of the murderer’s face, because of the silence the audience’s attention is attached to the dialogue another clang then resumes the music to show the credits. Each name is accompanied with a metallic clang to bring attention to each name.

The Shining

     The start of the trailer also begins with a low rumble but, on top of this is the sound of a cymbal being hit softly. Over the top of the music is a voice over of a man explaining the back story of the film, accompanied with the setting and some action of the film. At 28 seconds a high pitched ringing begins to sound as we are shown the main character turning mad. This ringing then begins to rise in volume until 33 seconds where it ends with a loud beat. It also ends when he smashes the axe into the door; the music fits with the action on the screen. The music then dies out to silence as the audience’s attention is now focused on the dialogue. After a fade to black the music then begins to fade in again, it is a low rumble sound. At around 1 minute 5 seconds the music is again rejoined by the voiceover at the beginning. At 1 minute 18 seconds the music begins to quicken in pace and is joined by a cymbal type sound. The action on the screen also matches the tempo of the music.

Posted by Hannah