Sound Research

          I've decided to do some research on sound elements and what proper sound elements to incorporate into our short film, especially because it is a Thriller, and Thrillers do rely heavily upon sound to induce fear and create anticipation or suspense. Thriller music typically is an eerie sound track leading to an event in the narrative, this aims to keep viewers on the edge of their seat and is used to create suspense.
              An important sound element that is very important to include is high pitched sounds/orchestral stabs, also known as screeches. Screeches are used in thriller hit films such a Psycho, when the main character Leigh, played by Marion Crane, in which her character was slashed to death in a motel shower in what may be one of the most memorable murder scenes in film history. The screeching of violins creates discomfort in the viewer, thus allowing them to feel the tension that a certain character may feel.
"33% of the effect of Psycho was due to the music" - Alfred Hitchcock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WtDmbr9xyY

          Other sound elements which are used to give the films their thrilling effects are: diegetic/ non-diegetic sounds, synchronous/asynchronous sounds, ambient sounds etc…
 There are many different sounds used in psychological thrillers and they are usually used in context, for example creeking floors would indicate that there is an unwanted guest sneaking around in a house. This is what my group want to use in our film to indicate that the doll is alive and is moving around within Amber's home, by herself.



Sources:

Importance of Music in "Psycho". (n.d.). Retrieved from https://dallocca.weebly.com/importance-of-music-in-psycho.html

Adamscovell. (2015, October 12). Analysis of Sound and Music in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) – Part 3 (Acousmatic Concepts). Retrieved from https://celluloidwickerman.com/2014/01/23/analysis-of-sound-and-music-in-alfred-hitchcocks-psycho-1960-part-3-acousmatic-concepts/