Question 1.

In the film Clown Train how does sound contribute to the atmosphere of this film? Describe what you heard? Can you make reference to another genre film and how they utilise sound to create tension and a unique filmic space?

Sound in Clown Train helps to create the mood in the film as well as to inform audiences the genre, horror films. Especially at the beginning of the film, starts off on a black screen along with high pitched noise of the train going on the rail and sound from the flow of wind, it builds up a gloomy atmosphere and a sense of anxiety. It also makes me aware of where the setting is in the film. Moved to the scenes happening in the train, sounds become hollow, with an echo feeling which emphasises the spacious and empty carriage. Besides, it gives a sense of the protagonist being isolated, all by his own and the clown in the train. The inconstant flickering of electric light is some sort of the typical sounds in horror films which adds on to the unpleasant and terrifying feeling. Audiences can’t help but feel fear. Like in any other horror movies, this film has made use of the silence between conversations. It has heightened the tension in the story and draw audiences’ attention. I focused more deeply and had much more anticipation of the things going to happen next. I reckon sounds in the thriller film Gravity have contributed a lot to the atmosphere as well. The setting in Gravity is the space where there is no air, so is completely silence since nothing to carry sound. Audience hears the sound in the same way of the characters did. We hear nothing much when the spacecraft breaks into small parts. We can’t hear a bang when things collide with each other. Audience is like totally immersed in the massive space where we hear protagonists’ breath and their conversation through their space suits only.  It heightened the sense of the terrifying space- where we don’t have sound to get alert with the surrounding even we see it.