Sound, Soundtracks and Scores
I have researched into various different soundtracks within different horror movies and their genres to show how different music can have different affects on the audience.
The first track I looked at from The Shining was the Main Title The Shining by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind.
What I discovered with this piece was that it is mainly composed using low horns in simple patterns to give a low tense feel to the piece. It then goes into a "wailing" sound which gives off the effect of more tension and that people are in danger. The introduction of piano emphasises the previous pattern. Having said all this, all is played in a minor key which makes the music scarier. The piano is being played in quite a low key but it then moves up so it gets a bit stranger and more panicked. An organ is then introduced which adds to the atmosphere.
I then looked at Krzysztof Penderecki's Polymorphia. This piece is intense and exceedingly atmospheric. It begins with one low level note played very quietly then the introduction of strings begin, growing in pitch, length and sporadic. Some violins making sharp ,loud , short notes.
The pieces is added to when multiple strings begin to get plucked which creates a low,slow tone. As the music grows in noise, the violins once again make short sharp very loud notes to add to the shock. It makes you jump because it's so sudden.
The high pitched "shrieking" noise from the strings adds to the tension. It then suddenly all stops.
Low level violins then start up again, which creates a tense humming that puts the audience on edge.
The violin that slides from minor to major this furthermore adds to the tension; and you know something bad is going to happen because of the music.
When looking as music performed by artists that are chosen for films (soundtracks), The Devil's Reject is an excellent example of how music can change a scene completely. As shown, the music of this scene from The Devil's Reject shows the end of the villains journey. They're about to be caught by the police, but they plan to go out with a bang. Within the piece of music, it's slow and nostalgic; so the film flashes back to past times that the villains have had. Oddly, you sympathise with these mass murderers purely down to the soundtrack. When the music gets into the guitars and fast paced, the battle begins. Due to the sympathy you have still for the villains, as they are shot you have a sense of sadness for them, even though they are shooting back at the cops that are trying to save the country theyre in from these murderers.
What I found so effective about this clip was the use of music. I feel if something had been composed for it, it would have had a different feel to it. But because of the choice of Free Bird it made the pre fight time create this acceptance that death is inevitable for these characters and I find it fascinating that you have this sympathy towards them.
When comparing The Blair Witch Project to these other two
films, the contrast is huge. The Shining and The Devil's Reject both rely on their soundtracks and scores to create an allround fantastic piece of horror. The Blair Witch on the other hand, purely relies on sound created by whatever is lurking out of shot. This adds serious amounts of tension; especially in the ending scene. I'm completely terrified of film, and that's a pretty big thing for me to be afraid of a film.
I would say, like The Shining does, music adds to jump scares- within the Blair Witch, this doesn't happen. What your mind is fathoming whilst watching these teenagers being terrorised by whatever entity the Blair Witch or whatever knocks the two cameras to the ground is, wouldn't work if accompanied by music. The idea that this film is documentary based also explains why a soundtrack or score wouldn't work. None the less, The Blair Witch is definitely to the same exceedingly high standard that The Shining and The Devil's Reject is at.
In conclusion, I like both ideas. I love the idea of a good piece of music accompanying a scene or trailer, but I also like the unsettling, super high-strung tension no music creates.
If I had to say what I prefer for my own work, I think I will be going with some sort of music or score to create my horror trailer. I feel it will add to my work, rather than deter from it. I think because I am creating a trailer, no music might disinterest the audience- but I am interested to hear others opinion on the matter, so I may ask my pressure group to allow me to come to my decision.
The Shining (1980) directed by Stanley Kubrick
The first track I looked at from The Shining was the Main Title The Shining by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind.
What I discovered with this piece was that it is mainly composed using low horns in simple patterns to give a low tense feel to the piece. It then goes into a "wailing" sound which gives off the effect of more tension and that people are in danger. The introduction of piano emphasises the previous pattern. Having said all this, all is played in a minor key which makes the music scarier. The piano is being played in quite a low key but it then moves up so it gets a bit stranger and more panicked. An organ is then introduced which adds to the atmosphere.
I then looked at Krzysztof Penderecki's Polymorphia. This piece is intense and exceedingly atmospheric. It begins with one low level note played very quietly then the introduction of strings begin, growing in pitch, length and sporadic. Some violins making sharp ,loud , short notes.
The pieces is added to when multiple strings begin to get plucked which creates a low,slow tone. As the music grows in noise, the violins once again make short sharp very loud notes to add to the shock. It makes you jump because it's so sudden.
The high pitched "shrieking" noise from the strings adds to the tension. It then suddenly all stops.
Low level violins then start up again, which creates a tense humming that puts the audience on edge.
The violin that slides from minor to major this furthermore adds to the tension; and you know something bad is going to happen because of the music.
The Devil's Reject (2005) directed by Rob Zombie
When looking as music performed by artists that are chosen for films (soundtracks), The Devil's Reject is an excellent example of how music can change a scene completely. As shown, the music of this scene from The Devil's Reject shows the end of the villains journey. They're about to be caught by the police, but they plan to go out with a bang. Within the piece of music, it's slow and nostalgic; so the film flashes back to past times that the villains have had. Oddly, you sympathise with these mass murderers purely down to the soundtrack. When the music gets into the guitars and fast paced, the battle begins. Due to the sympathy you have still for the villains, as they are shot you have a sense of sadness for them, even though they are shooting back at the cops that are trying to save the country theyre in from these murderers.
What I found so effective about this clip was the use of music. I feel if something had been composed for it, it would have had a different feel to it. But because of the choice of Free Bird it made the pre fight time create this acceptance that death is inevitable for these characters and I find it fascinating that you have this sympathy towards them.
The Blair Witch Project (1999) directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez
When comparing The Blair Witch Project to these other two
films, the contrast is huge. The Shining and The Devil's Reject both rely on their soundtracks and scores to create an allround fantastic piece of horror. The Blair Witch on the other hand, purely relies on sound created by whatever is lurking out of shot. This adds serious amounts of tension; especially in the ending scene. I'm completely terrified of film, and that's a pretty big thing for me to be afraid of a film.
I would say, like The Shining does, music adds to jump scares- within the Blair Witch, this doesn't happen. What your mind is fathoming whilst watching these teenagers being terrorised by whatever entity the Blair Witch or whatever knocks the two cameras to the ground is, wouldn't work if accompanied by music. The idea that this film is documentary based also explains why a soundtrack or score wouldn't work. None the less, The Blair Witch is definitely to the same exceedingly high standard that The Shining and The Devil's Reject is at.
In conclusion, I like both ideas. I love the idea of a good piece of music accompanying a scene or trailer, but I also like the unsettling, super high-strung tension no music creates.
If I had to say what I prefer for my own work, I think I will be going with some sort of music or score to create my horror trailer. I feel it will add to my work, rather than deter from it. I think because I am creating a trailer, no music might disinterest the audience- but I am interested to hear others opinion on the matter, so I may ask my pressure group to allow me to come to my decision.
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