The Importance of Sound in Media

Take a look at the two video’s above, the first is the opening scene for Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. The second is the opening scene for Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust. Both are opening’s for two well known Horror Movies, and both open with very similar imagery.

Even though both opening scene’s are wide shots gliding across a vast landscape of nature, and are both very similar, they feel very different. The Shining’s opening is often known for making people uncomfortable and on edge. While Cannibal Holocaust’s opening has been said to have the opposite effect, often lulling people into a false sense of security.

So how can this be? Two opening scene’s that are shot almost the same, that both fall under the genre of horror, have completely different tones to them? It’s because of the scenes scores, or the music they were shot with.

The music that we hear when watching a movie, is often overlooked. Especially when it doesn’t have any lyrics. But even if we don’t always notice it, it plays a whole role in setting the tone of a scene or overall film. The music that go’s along with a scene can be just as, if not more so, important as the imagery you are seeing. Making it an important tool for filmmakers.

The Shinning and Cannibal Holocaust are good examples of the soundtrack telling the viewers more then the actual imagery. For the Shinning, Kubrick uses an unsettling score that contrast’s the beautiful scenery we are seeing. As if almost warning the viewers to not be fooled by it’s beauty. That the fact that it appears beautiful and peaceful, is part of the reason it is dangerous and unsettling.

Knowing how Kubrick is using the unsettling score to let the viewers know what type of movie they are about to watch may make you question Deodato’s choice for his opening scene. Why would he choose to start a graphic unsettling horror movie with a calming peaceful score. One that matches the imagery’s tone instead of contrasting it?

It’s because he is not using the music to tell the viewers what the movie is going to be about, but to do the exact opposite. He want’s to disarm his viewers, and lull them into a sense of peace. This will help amplify the shock and gore they see later on in the film, making it far more difficult to watch.

Even though visual’s are a huge tool for Filmmakers, it’s not the only important one. When creating a film or movie, its important to pay close attention to the soundtrack as well. To create a successful soundtrack go’s beyond just finding a song that fits the tone of your scene. Instead use it as an extension of your visuals for storytelling. Use it to influence your audience, or convey the deeper meanings behind what they are seeing. Weather that be warning them, or tricking them, or something else entirely.

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash