The makers have successfully used sound in ‘Clown Train’ to create an atmosphere that is unsettling and stressful. The film uses classic horror sound conventions to build suspense, to create unease and to scare. A sustained high note can be heard for much of the film, ending in phases of absolute silence to a louder more abrupt stinger. A state of stress is created by the repitition of a screeching, unpleasant noise that is reminiscent of the screeching train noise at the start of the film. At points of, and sometimes just prior to, points of high drama all atmospheric noise in cut completely. This forces us to become completely aware of the silence, aiding in our empathy for the character but also to build suspense through the awareness of this developed horror film technique.

In the 1963 film ‘The Haunting’ sound is used similarly to create suspense in an unsettling atmosphere. Similar to the notion of visual ’empty space’ in a shot where the majority of the frame is left empty for possible action, The Haunting could be said to also use empty noise. Sound is kept minimal, atmospheric noise is almost inaudible to leave space for an intensifying pounding. Once the pounding stops, silence is utilized to create a high-stress atmosphere.