Dawn of the Dead Sound Analysis

The first use of sound is a piece of non-diegetic sound. It is a high-pitched screeching sound, and is used as the protagonist walks out to the ambulance. This creates a red herring because the audience expects something to happen when really it's just a paramedic doing his job. Then once the protagonist leaves her work place and is on the way home, there is a diegetic sound of a song called 'have a nice day' by the Stereophonics, which is ironic because the opposite is about to happen, yet the audience don’t know it. When she gets into her house, there is a television in the background, with an ordinary show on which tells the audience that her and her partner have got an ordinary lifestyle. While they are in the shower the television turns to a news bulletin, which makes the audience feel anxious as of what's happened or what is about to happen because the main characters do not realise what's going on around them. This makes the audience think that the characters might be in danger. When the alarm clock is shown it is all silent, and then suddenly the time flicks which could mean that the time is of some importance. Once again there is a non-diegetic sound that is tense and slow which makes the audience drawn in and creates anticipation and when the camera changes it's angle it creates a loud bang, which makes the audience jump a little. This continues as the camera tracks into their bedroom. There is then a diegetic sound of a door opening, which tells the audience that they are not alone and that they are in danger. The music then changes to a fast up beat soundtrack, which creates tension for the audience. When the little girl appears and starts attacking the man, there is a piece of diegetic sound of his neck ripping when they pull the little girl off him. It shows the horror genre within the film as it is gory and there is a lot of blood, both of which are key conventions in this genre. There's then a ticking noise in the background, which shows that the protagonist is running out of time and fighting against the clock to try and save her partner. It makes the audience feel nervous for the protagonist, as they want her to save him and empathies with her. The soundtrack then stops when she realises that her partner is dead and then the soundtrack starts again when she realises her partner comes alive again, which begins the race to survive again, yet this time she needs to escape from both the girl and her partner as they are both zombies. Once she runs into the bathroom it then goes quiet which shows she's a little bit safer there however it then creates tension because the audience are anxious about what is about to happen. When the protagonist gets out of the house there is a sting when the ambulance hits the man over, which makes the audience jump. There is police and ambulance sirens in the background, which signifies danger. There is then the same soundtrack playing throughout the scene until the opening titles appear.

By writing a short analysis of this opening I learnt about the aspect of sound and how in a horror film it is used to create tension. This gave me more knowledge of sound on its own and how it is most effective, especially in a horror film.