Task 3: Thriller Scenes

How is sound used to create suspense and other effects in the scene?

Title: Watchmen
Director: Zack Snyder
Release Date: 6th March 2009
Location: UK
Star Rating: 4/5
Running Time: 162
Worldwide Gross: $185,258,983

Sound is used to create suspense very explicitly in this scene. The non-diegetic music has a very fast paced beat which allows the audience to anticipate that action is about to occur. What's more this beat is very heavily accompanied by guitars which add a sense of urgency and pace to the overall soundscape. Moreover, suspense is also created by the over the top diegetic sound effects that have been used. Essentially, these create suspense by being predominant over the non-diegetic sounds of the music and thus making the audience expect that something will happen. The diegetic sounds are also very harsh and violent and therefore signal to the audience that this scene mirrors this effect; hence building suspense in what is going to happen to the protagonists in this scene. 

However, the sound doesn't only create suspense; it magnifies how the two protagonists are represented. The diegetic sounds of them swooping in the air and punching/kicking the prisoners allows the audience to convey them as powerful and strong. This is because the sounds mimic the forcefulness of their actions. Also, one might suggest that the fast paced, non-diegetic, beat at the end of the scene portrays the characters as physically fit due to the fact that it sounds like a heart rate after intense exercise. So, the sound portrays the two protagonists as powerful, strong and physically fit.

In addition, the non-diegetic futuristic sounds at the outset of the scene implicitly create a sense of suspense due to the fact that they are not typical sounds that the audience are familiar with. The robotic swooping sounds of the space shuttle and the protagonist flying out of it all make the audience feel tension as to what might happen as they cannot relate to the non-diegetic sounds. One might imply that the futuristic sounds also create a sense of mystery for the same reason; the audience aren't sure what the space shuttle might do and are therefore surprised when the protagonist flies out. 

In conclusion, the sound in this scene from Watchmen is used to create suspense and many other effects in various ways. The music builds up to create a sense of suspense and urgency, the harsh and violent sounds create tension as to what might happen to the protagonists. Moreover, the protagonists are represented as powerful and strong due to the sound mimicking the forcefulness of their actions. Finally, the futuristic sounds create suspense for the audience as they are not familiar with them and therefore don't know what to expect.