Sound Textual Analysis-Silence of the Lambs

At the beginning of the scene and throughout the first half,  there is a clam non-diegetic track of piano music. This carries on when switching from shots which suggests to the audience that the different shot are in the same setting, with the same mood. The calm music is shown when establishing the scene to be in a prison cell which is contrapuntal to the setting which suggests unease within the scene. The fact that the music is peaceful when showing the character within the prison cell (who we assume is the prisoner) paintings, may show that he finds peace within his painting and drawing. The music also gives quite a sinister atmosphere where there is calmness in the prisoners mind because he has a plan which he knows will benefit him.

When the other characters enter the scene, there is diegetic sound of quite purposeful footsteps which interrupts the music, this shows the authority that the new characters have over the original character in the scene. This gives the impression that the new two characters are police officers by their authoritative presence. When the prisoner begins to speak, the footsteps stop, this could suggest that in fact the prisoner has more of a dominant personality over the other two as he is instructing and directing them and affecting their actions. The significant sound of the keys firstly: supports the previous suggestion of the setting from what we have already seen of the prisoner in a cell. The noise of the keys and the sound of footsteps suggests the atmosphere of the cell; any diegetic sound is significant to the prisoner as he usually only has the sound of what is created by himself and it suggests that any form of sound that is linked to him having company, is dominant, which portrays the loneliness within that setting of the prison cell.

The non-diegetic piano music gets louder as the image of the prisoner is revealed, this shows that this character has a significant presence within the scene.

The diegetic sound of the clicking and rustling from the officers is exaggerated to emphasise the danger of the prisoner and that they have to equip and protect themselves efficiently. The emphasis on the weapons is to show later on the they are used by the prisoner on the officers and to foreshadow that there will be a need for these weapons later on in the scene. The diegetic music forces the audience to feel like they are there, hearing every little noise made. It also makes you empathise slightly with the prisoner as you are hearing what he would be hearing in his positioning in the scene.

There is diegetic sound of the paper rustling when the police officer is rearranging the items in the prisoners personal space, therefore disrupting his order of possessions. This could suggest that they are disrupting him mentally as well as physically. The fact that the diegetic sound that is being created by the officers is slow and purposeful which creates suspense and anticipation for the audience as they are waiting for something to happen. It creates suspense for the audience as they know something is about to happen, which puts them on the edge of their seat as they pre-empt the sudden change in atmosphere.

 When the weapons are being shown, the non-diegetic music slows down to make a significant change so the audience has time to look at the weapons and gives time to focus and pay attention to the items on screen.  

The non-diegetic sound increases in pace, which builds tension for the audience as is shows that something significant is about to happen and climax the sound. This is abruptly cut off with the closing of the handcuffs. The same sound was heard earlier in the scene when the officers were securing the handcuffs of the prisoner but now they vulnerability and authority has switched places. This gives an abrupt change in dynamic and an un-safe atmosphere to the scene.  This sound is accompanied by a synchronous non-diegetic sound of sudden low intense music then blended with a screeching violin sound. This combination of sounds is a convention of the horror genre which suggests to the audience the possible outcome of this scene.

The diegetic noise of the crashing of the metal bars of the cell, completely changes the dynamic and increasing the pace of the scene. Suggesting that now that the prisoner is dominant and the scene will become more hectic, portraying the stability of his mind. Which gives an unsettling atmosphere to the audience. The computer generated diegetic sound effects emphasise all the unpleasant details of the attack making the audience empathise with the struggling characters and it also conveys the sub-genre of the film as bloody-horror. Also the screams of desperation coming from the officers forces the audience to empathise with the characters in their struggle. Each strike of the beating is significantly spaced out in a beat to emphasise each brutal strike after one another.

The non-diegetic music simmers down after the beatings have finished to show a completely conquered setting from the prisoner to the officers. Then the music returns to the calm piano music from the beginning, to bring the peace back to his state of mind at the beginning of the scene.