Thursday, February 27, 2025

Building Suspense: Tension Through Sound

Sound can change everything. A normal scene can feel creepy just by using the right audio. In my film opening, I’m not using dramatic music, I’m letting small, realistic sounds build the tension. The goal is to make the audience feel uneasy without even realizing why.

1. The Car Scene – Quiet but Tense

Christina sits in her car, doing calculations. It’s silent, but not in a peaceful way. Every little sound feels important.

2. The Hardware Store – Normal Sounds, Unsettling Feeling

She walks through the aisles, grabbing what she needs. These sounds make simple actions feel eerie:

  • Cart Squeak – A small, weirdly creepy noise in the silence.

3. The Parking Lot – No Turning Back

She loads the trunk and slams it shut. It’s a simple action, but it feels important.

4. The Digging Scene – No Hesitation

This is where the tension peaks. The sounds make it feel real and unsettling.

  • Shovel in Dirt Steady, like she knows exactly what she’s doing.
  • Dragging a Heavy Object – Muffled and slow, like dead weight. For this one, I made a foley sound of myself dragging a plastic bag through dirt.

Why This Matters

This movie isn’t about the murder, it’s about her mind. Instead of telling the audience what to feel with music, I want them to pick up on the tension just from the sounds. Every little noise makes it feel more real, unsettling, and personal. This is my plan, but honestly, until I finish editing I don't know if things will change.



Source:

Pixabay. (n.d.). Royalty-free music. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/music/

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