There is important terminology when it comes to describing sound in film. Sound plays an imperative role in films, and could potentially set aside a good film and a bad film. They did exposition to explain situations as they are focusing on action instead of words; it creates a particular atmosphere they want the viewer to experience.
Alfred Hitchcock is famously known for using sound well and appropriately. The high pitched tone in "Psycho" whenever the killer is introduced is a classic sound effect. Films with just dialogue miss a certain touch which makes a film brilliant. With sound, you're enable to feel emotion, a way in which dialogue alone could not fully help you reach that emotion the director wants. Same way with just music alone. The mix of the two together creates a picture containing qualities which does not just illustrate a film, but tell a story.
Did that scare you?
Diegetic sound occurs when the character hears the same sound we are able to hear; referring to the world of texts. This includes voices of characters, objects in the film, music coming from that story space (source music). Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound originated from the film's world. Ratcatcher includes other diegetic sounds such as glass shattering, screaming, grunting and breathing to follow the thriller theme. Non-diegetic refers to the outside word of the text; the sound is not visible on the screen. Examples of this includes, the narrators commentary, sound added for dramatic effect, mood music and voice overs. The Ratcatcher's background music (mood music) involves a deep bass, with a low to which gradually speeds up with added low strings and violin. The Ratcatcher does not have much non-diegetic sounds to emphasises the way the film maker wants us to see. It makes the audience feel close to reality, as if we are really there with the characters. It does not have the sort of glamorised Hollywood sheen added to it like in most American films.
"Brilliant… Wholly original… Completely mesmerizing."
Also, there is on and off screen sound. With on screen sound, the audience can see the source if the sound. However with off screen sound, the audience cannot see the source of the sound. Off screen sound enables the extension if the diegetic world. When watching, Butch Cassidy and The Sun Dance Kid, the on screen sounds included, the talking, sound of the wind and the horses. On the other hand, the off screen sounds were the low rumbling. A sound bridge helps create a smooth transition, from one scene to another.
Parallel sound comes from the idea of the action matching the sound directly, however contrapuntal pursues the complete opposite; not matching the action. For e.g in Jaws, the beach is suppose to represent strong elements of enjoynent, therefore the audience would expect happy, upbeat music or even relaxing, calm music. However, the music does not fit at all and creates a perculiar, scary tone therefore it is contrapuntal.
It enhances the film's motive; to frighten.
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