Use Of Sound Within A Thriller

In this essay I will be analysing the sound that is used in “Orphan”, in the “Esther’s Secret” scene. The scene is in the end of the film, it is when the little innocent girl swaps roles from a protagonist, into a antagonist. I will be talking about how sound changes the way that we peace

Ten seconds into the clip a one note non-diegetic sound starts to play, this connotes that the girl has not taken the telling off very well, this is contrapuntal, because it seems that she is fine, from her reaction, but the sound makes the audience notice something is not quite right. The sound continues, and then adds some more notes, but still continuing the general erie background noise with the addition of the girl crying, this displays the connotations that the girl is possibly dangerous, and something dramatic, and big is going to occur. After the woman picks up the phone and the man answers the music increases in pace, this connotes that the man is going to tell her something that is going to be significant to the scene.  After the doctor said that the little girl is not really a little girl the music develops rhythm, and pace, this further connotes that a  significant event is going to occur, and builds tension. The doctors voice sways in between being diegetic, and non diegetic in the sound bridge, this adds confusion and adds connotes that this girl is not normal.  When the doctor says “you do not have time” the music reaches a climax and the instruments are sped up, this connotes to the audience that action is going to occur shortly, and the girl is going to change drastically. Once the first thing in the girls room is thrown a strobe like audio affect is played further adding to the distress and severity of the girls anger, causing bamboozlement, and dismay. As the girl starts to unwrap the bandage like material, that is changing her bodily shape the sound starts to turn into a screeching like sound connoting that the girl is going to get violent.

The ringtone on the woman phone helps the audience to understand the situation the woman is in, she is in a dark hospital room, and attached to a drip. The ringtone that is used is a dark, dull and creepy noise, that reflects the dark and twisted knowledge that she is about to be told. The ringtone also reflects the sleepy state that the woman is in. 

When the door is franticly opened it makes a large banging noise, the use of the banging noise signifies that the race for saving her husband has began. The diegetic noise makes the audience jump, and scares them, this is done intentionally to prepare them for the significant scene which follows. 

When Esther starts throwing items across her room it creates a racket, this noise creates a sense of fear, and a realisation of the girls intents, we already know that the girl is not really a girl, and is a woman, and has severe mental issues, the use of the loud noises adds to our portrayal of her as a psychopath, but because of her still childish behavior we can still sympathise for her.

In the extract sound bridges are used to a great effect. The sound bridges allow us to see the transformation of Esther whilst the man dictates to us what her actual background is, and why she is this way. The sound starts of being diegetic when you can see the man on the phone, but when clip the cuts to Esther then there is a synchronous, non-diegtic, sound bridge. The sound bridges make the audience feel scared, and creates a gripping scene, forcing viewers to want to consume more of the media.

In conclusion fear, and a gripping revealing scene is conveyed through clever audio, and diegetic, and non-diegetic sound. During the clip non-diegetic sound is played that reflects the  general direction of the clip, sounds such as doors slamming, erie ring tones, and clashes signify the begging of a significant violent scene. The diegetic sounds are varied, and has  a element of both dialogue, and sound effects. ambient noise is omitted to add tension, and to allow the audience to focus on every little piece of diegetic, and non-diegetic sound that is played, and to add tension.