Scene Analysis | Angels & Demons

How is sound used to create suspense and other effects in the scene?

The scene begins with the sound of sirens (diegetic) rushing towards a location. This sound of sirens is often associated with the idea of police or fire service or hospital vehicles. When we hear that sound we often instantly think of danger or that something has gone wrong. This gives the audience an initial idea that something bad is happening within this scene. This sound is accompanied by the sound (diegetic) of the church bells ringing. We often associate the sound of church bells to signify a certain time. We know that in this scene, the bells are indicating the time of the strategic murder taking place. It helps create the idea of tension as it is almost as though it is saying, "Times up". After they enter the church, soon following are the sound of suppressed gun shots (diegetic). Much like the sirens, we often associate this sound with the element of danger. However, because the shots are suppressed it creates more of a tense feel to the scene. Throughout the scene, we can also hear the sound of the bishop screaming until his inevitable death.

The music throughout this scene (non-diegetic) is mostly composed of string instruments, percussion and choir chants. The music is predominantly loud throughout the scene and is extremely fast paced. This helps create the idea of tension throughout the scene and accompanies the action that is taking place very well. However, there are also sudden drops in the speed and texture of the music. This also helps create the idea of tension as it builds up and then suddenly stops. It's an extreme change that gets the audience's heart beating.