This week, we discussed the power of sound design in a film, which Film Art describes as “a world in the background”. Different aspects of sound design can change how the audience interprets a scene. For example, volume can give us a perception of distance, but can also be used to draw the viewer’s attention to a certain sound or dialogue line.
A film that came to mind while I was reading through the chapter that shows the power of sound design perfectly is Jordan Peele’s Nope (Peele, 2022). A good source to check out regarding the effectiveness of its sound design is Thomas Flight’s video, “How Nope Tricks Your Ears” (https://youtu.be/cWPFMmuagQ4?si=l04q3J3dWclvuuUy). I also felt it was fitting to talk about this video, considering how we’ll be watching Nope as a class later in the semester. Semi major spoilers ahead, so read and watch at your own risk!
One thing Thomas Flight discusses in his video is how Peele employs a technique he (Flight) calls “sonic ambiguity”. He brings up how Spielberg does this technique exceptionally well in Jaws. In fact, he cites the sequence of Brody keeping watch at the beach, which we actually watched in class. Throughout the sequence, Spielberg adds in sounds that could be attributed to a shark attack, such as a woman screaming or frantic splashing. These sounds, buried in the ambience of a crowded beach, are paired with the observer-esque editing of the sequence to instill a feeling of anxiousness in the viewer.
Nope does something similar. During a nighttime scene shortly after the first alien attack, OJ sits outside with his horse. He begins to notice strange noises above him and realizes the alien has been circling the farm. The sounds of the alien in the scene are present, just very faint. Instead, Peele masks the screams of the alien’s victims behind the much louder sounds of cicadas, nighttime wind, or a horse’s snort. As Thomas Flight says, though at some point, viewers are able to discern between the sounds of the night and the sounds of the alien, the beginning few moments leave us on the edge of our seats. Is the alien there, or is it just sounds in the night? What’s going to happen?
Another thing Nope uses sound design for is to trigger a psychological response in the viewer. In the flashback scenes, where Gordy brutally kills his castmates, most of the carnage is obscured by doors, furniture, or tablecloths. Instead, Poole utilizes sound. With every sound of skin tearing, bones breaking, or people crying out, viewers are forced to listen to the carnage and come to a conclusion on what’s happening themselves. The terror of this scene is almost personalized in a way: each member of the audience has a different image of the violence in their head, and to them, that’s the scariest outcome there is.
If this sounds interesting, I wholeheartedly recommend Thomas Flight’s video that’s linked earlier in the blog. I also recommend going through Flight’s entire channel, as it’s a gold mine for video essays on film and TV.
I look forward to watching Nope with you all after midterms!
Leave a Reply