Sound analysis on Halloween (2007)

Sound analysis of Haloween

In the exquisite movie Halloween, directed by Rob zombie, we are introduced to a vast variety of sounds all in which bind together in order to create a spacific mood and atmosphere. From diegetic sound, non diegetic sound, film music, voice overs and many other techniques which all connect to create what most horror movie intend on making; suspense.

At the start of the movie we are introduced to the mayers family and immediately we feel intimidated because on the non digeric sound of the heavy metal rock music. This is relevant because we know immediately that the scene is based in the 70's along with the helpful sub titles and typical costumes.

We can see immediately that the family is that of a lower class working family due to the way they act and the language they us. We then hear a baby crying in the background which adds more intensity to the scene as it builds up more noise and makes us as the audience feel more adgitated simply because in human nature we all feel as an instinct to take care of babies, it would be In humane to not take care of a helpless life.Instantly we know from all the sounds we are hearing that this movie isn't going to be a happy pleasant movie.

We then reach the scene where Michael mayers is in the school toilet and at first it is silent besides him using the toilet which is most likely to be a voice over. The silence is then broken by nonsynchronized sound of the boys bursting in and discussing issues of the day. It begins from non diegetic sound to diegetic as we see who are speaking. Gradually is Michael is aware of who is in the toilet who goes to leave but becomes some what caught up In the middle of these 2 bullies. Most of this scene uses synchronous sound besides times when the baby is crying or when they are yelling at eachother from different rooms. This is known as offscreen sound. We as the audience would take the film more seriously because it's as if we were actually in the scene when they use offscreen sound.

Little do they know that although they are the typical antagonists they had a bigger problem on their hands. We are aware of this as the music begins in a sort of crescendo slowly creeping on us revealing more about micheals personality. It's in a minor key so eventually we know that this movie isn't going to be some what joyful. In addition it also creates a sense of dramatic irony because we know for a fact that in the real world bully's will always be bully's, for a moment we sympathize with Michelle character but then we remember what is about to become of this angelic boy. When the boys walk in they kick the bin which creates synchronous sound as it is in the scene and not edited in. When he is taken by the head teacher the voice if the mother starts as a voice over while she is walking then cuts straight to her talking to the principle, so it starts non diegetic and ends diegetic. This makes the scene more dramatic so we don't become bored as quickly.

When the principle explains to the mother along with the physiologist what they have found in micheals bag the music slowly begins to crescendo in order to foreshadow what horrors we will discover in micheals bag. This is very useful within the scene because it's communicating with the audience making them more apart of the scene as if they are their witnessing the atrocity.

Rob zombie favourited using the theme tune of Halloween several times in the movie in order to make sure he created some momentom in our heads. The film music is now embedded in our head.  When Michael realisise that his mum,head teacher and physcyologist know what is going on the theme music immadiatley goes off as he runs away then a voice over of the physcyologist speaking carries on both offscreen which is created via voice over so we know what is to become it this little boy. This creates a sinister atmosphere as we see a cute, innocent little boy being portrayed as the anti Christ. The music is repatative just like micheals terrible habits of killing animals and soon people as we learn. It creates a sense of continuity as if nothing will ever be able to stop Michael from killing once he starts.