Research: Importance of sound

Research: Importance of sound

Sound in a horror film is vital. It creates an effect of fear for the audience watching. If the wrong sound is played at the wrong time then the audience could be feeling the wrong emotion. Eg, if there is a scene that someone i being chased, if the music isn't dramatic or doesn't show any signs of fear, then the people watching it won't have the saved effect of watching it. Both non-diegetic and diegetic sound is crucial for a successful horror film. Without having non-diegetic sound, there wouldn't be any tension. This is sound they can't here in the film but the audience can hear. The use of deep sounds in films such as jaws tells the audience that something is about to happen and builds the tension. If there wasn't a sound before the attack then the viewers would just think that the characters were just swimming in the sea. 

Before the use of sound was used in horror movies, horror films weren't as scary and didn't create enough tension for the audience. You would watch with just your eyes which lost majority of the tension. We react quicker to sound which is why the effect of sound is very important in a horror film.

The opening to jaws shows an iconic soundtrack. There is non-diegetic as well as diegetic sound being being used, Diegetic sound is used with the people talking, singing and music which will create a calm feeling and not except horror to occur. The non-diegetic sound used throughout the whole film is when the shark jaws approaches a target ready to attack. This sound brings an intense feeling and suspense and as the film goes on, the audience recognise it as danger.