Research into Sound - Miss Miller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIMiqE5t1oE

In this post I will be exploring the use of sounds used within a clip of 'The hand that rocks the cradle". Within this clip various sound effects are used to create a sense of unknowing and create the eerie atmophere which is conventional to a thriller film because it can often create a sense of enigma.

In this part of the film, between 0:10 - 0:30 it shows a clear 20 seconds a heroic, non diagetic sound. This non diagetic sound sets up the scene because it allows the audience that something good is to happen rather than bad, which relieves the audience and backs them into a sense of security. The reason why it may seem that there is a positive thing about to happen is because the young child clearly takes a heroic role and trying to save herself and her younger brother. However this can be misinterpretated because of her youth and can be seen as vunerable, so the music is contrapuntal because it misleads the audience to make them think that the child is safe, however this clearly isn't the case and therefore confuses the audience. This is conventional to a thriller film because it creates a sense of relief, however there is still much to worry about.

From 0:32 - 0:37 there is a clear off screen sound of a banging. This gives the audience a sense of urgency and chaos because you can see that the children and finding somewhere to hide, whilst the criminal is banging loudly in aggression against something of which remains unknown and shows a sense of enigma because we don't know what's happening. It makes the audience feel sympathetic towards the children and slightly panicked because it shows that the children vulnerable.This is conventional to a thriller film because it appears to make the character seem  as if they are in danger, the banging continues every few seconds as it picks up pace which we can infer from this means that the scene is closer to its' end and is preparing the audience for the 3 S'... Shock, surprise and suspense.

         From the time 1:18 - 1:31 you can hear the screaming of the new born baby in distress. It creates again the sense of enigma because you think the children's safety is in jeopardy which makes the audience feel up tense and so by using this off-screen sound it is emphasizing that we are not to know what's going on and what's to happen which is a feature that is frequently found within the thriller genre. The effect it has on the audience makes them feel helpless which can be seen to be a metaphor for how the children are feeling so is conventional to a thriller film because it creates a sense of foreboding and uncertainty..

From 4:52 until the end, there is a clear diagetic sound and parallel sound in this part of the film. When the up lifting tempo is playing it lets the audience relax because in this camera shot you can see that the family are reunited and smiling. The sound is very parallel to the scene playing because the characters appear to be in an extremely happy mood, it's the end scene where the problems have been rid off so the audience feels the same as the characters.This can therefore also be open to a wider target audience because there is peace of mind at the end of the film as the criminal's dead which therefore is conventional to a thriller film and helps relax people because they feel more secure.

I have looked at this clip because I believe the idea's used within the sound such as when off screen sound and parallel sounds are used creates a true thriller genre atmosphere and I believe can be seen to be an inspiration to use within my own thriller style clip.