How To Build Suspense and Scare the Audience Essay

The exact Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, was created approximately 30 years ago. It tells the story of a chisel which labialises and consumes numerous people a modality the north-east coast of the USA in a small vacation resort called Amity Island. The charges took place around the 4th of July, which in America, is analogous to the British bank holiday. During this time, many Ameri backs and tourists from abroad visit resorts such as Amity Island for a summer vacation. The director of the context, Steven Spielberg builds up consternation of the shark utilize many different techniques. One of these techniques is the character of medicament. Spielberg consumptions a non-diegetic launch of music which plays whenever the shark is ab egress to oncoming, almost like the sharks very own theme tune. A non-diegetic sound is one which tush totally be heard by the auditory modality and not by any of the characters in the strike. Spielberg uses this exceptional techn ique but before the shark attacks Alex, the young boy who is swimming on his lilo.This technique makes the ear shaft fear the shark, as whenever its played we expect another gruesome attack which adds a lot of tensity to the film. another(prenominal) technique used to addition our fear of the shark is exhibit the trem ceaseous trauma that it can cause. For example, towards the end of the film, whilst Brody, Hooper and Quint are out at ocean attempting to catch the shark, it attacks their boat, resulting in the boat eventual(prenominal)ly sinking. Spielberg uses this method to give the audition the impression of the sharks power and to suggest to them that the shark is indestructible, and that it will continue to kill innocent victims. A tercet technique with which Spielberg builds fear of the shark is the way in which he uses tv camera tiptoes to show the sheer horror on the characters faces as they witness the attacks unfolding. For example, when Alex, the young boy is att acked, Spielberg uses a zoom, showing a pen up up of Brodys face which is overwhelmed by horror and extensive panic. By using this technique, Spielberg really gets the point across, from the characters perspective, of how terrifying the whole mail really is, which builds even much fear and stress for the audition.The choice and use of the music in the film Jaws in like manner adds to the overall fear and accent experienced by the earshot. For example, the music which is played just before the attack was chosen by Spielberg as it can be linked with the shark itself the music starts lightly with a slow tempo as the shark swims around peace all-inclusivey. Then, as the shark identifies its prey, the music begins to get some(prenominal) fleet and blaringer. Then it begins to swim faster and close in on its victim, and as this happens, the music is little by little getting faster and louder. Then the shark bites, and the music explodes. Spielbergs choice of music adds massiv ely to the overall fear and tension in the film, because as soon as the music begins playing, the audience knows that an attack is imminent, they just sit there hold anxiously. Then, the music explodes, coinciding with the attack, bragging(a) the audience a shock. Another way in which Spielberg uses the soundtrack to build tension and fear in the film is through contrasts of emotion.For example, at the start of the film before any of the attacks, a piece of diegetic music is played. This music creates a relaxed atmosphere so when the audience witness the reference attack, it conditionms to come from nowhere, familial them by surprise. Another example of this is after the first attack on Chrissie, there is silence, and all that the audience can hear is the quiet rumple of the waves as they reach the shore. This makes the audience tonicity that everything is peaceful and calm, when in feature theyve just witnessed a terrifying shark attack. Another technique to provoke secer n emotions is that of the music used just after Alex is attacked and killed by the shark. As Alex is attacked, everyone on the beach panics and rushes to get out of the water. At the same time, a young toddler is happily playing in the sand and quietly singing to himself. Again, as after the first attack on Chrissie, the audience cant believe how something so terrible is happening when the imagination set by the little boy is so calm and untroubled.This use of music and contrasting emotions builds up tension and fear affecting the audience as it makes them feel confused, as they cant lowstand how things can be so pleasant consequently suddenly so devastating. Spielberg also exploits various camera techniques to build up fear and suspense in the film Jaws. For example, during the second attack on Alex, a lot of different camera techniques and tippytoes are macrocosm used. The start of the icon is a introduce shot, showing Alex coming out of the sea and sitting next to his beg et on the beach. After some persuasion, his mother lets him acquire just 10 much minutes in the water. Then a further tracking shot is used, as we follow Alex up the beach as he goes and gets his lilo. The use of this camera angle, which focuses the audiences attention on Alex, direct makes them feel much attached to the character. The next part of the scene shows Alex rill into the sea on his lilo. The camera technique used for this part is a strong point shot from a reverse angle, showing him from behind. This camera angle builds up fear as all the audience can find is Alex on his lilo and the bearing sea in front of him with no-one else in sight.This at a time makes the audience realise that Alex is vulnerable and that if something was to go wrong, booster was a prospicient way apart. The scene then switches to a point of view shot from Brody, the police chiefs perspective. During this scene, a member of the public is talking to Brody, obscuring his and the audiences view of the water. As Brody desperately tries to keep his centre of attention on the water, the audience notice a young woman reposeful in the water. Then suddenly, she begins to scream and struggle and the audience automatically assumes she is being attacked by the shark, although it turns out that it was just her boyfriend playing around. This camera technique builds up fear as the audience realise that Brody is unable to help if an attack does take place. The next part of the scene involves a sort out of boys running into the water.The camera technique used for this part is a medium shot from a reverse angle. This camera angle shows the boys all just in the sea, making the audience realise that they are, like Alex, vulnerable. It also makes us fear for their safety as the audience have just witnessed a false alarm with the young woman, and the potential of a real attack happening is fresh in our minds. Suddenly the shot changes once more to a point of view from the sharks per spective. This shot shows the boys legs dangling under the water as well as Alexs lilo on the surface. Spielbergs choice of camera technique for this particular part builds up a lot of tension as the audience knows that an attack is coming, and that its almost as if we are just waiting for which boy the shark wants as its prey. Also adding to the tension in this scene is the fact that although the audience know about an attack being imminent, the eventual victim Alex doesnt. This keeps them on the edge of their seats as they are go forth almost shouting at the television screen for Alex to get out of the water The attack the audience suspect is then confirmed as the sharks non-diegetic theme tune begins playing and as this happens, the audience pick up the shark close in on its chosen victim.Immediately, the camera changes to a long shot. In the distance, the audience suss out the shark assume hold of Alex and hurl him into the air. As this happens, blood begins to spray from hi s body as he struggles desperately. Spielbergs choice of camera for this scene makes the audience scared, as they see the whole attack unfolding, as well as for the first time, getting a look at the shark itself and discovering how big and uncivilized it really is. Instantly, the camera changes again, this time to a technique called a close up. The shot shows Alex under the water, desperately trying to free himself from the sharks jaws before suddenly he disappears in a thick mist of his own blood. This scares the audience purely because of how gruesome it is. Once again, the camera angle changes to a medium shot, showing Alexs mangled lilo calmly wash drawing up shore in the slightly bloody water. The way in which the camera shows the lilo gently drift up shore, makes the audience feel depressed and upset for Alex, as they feel they have made a friendship with him in earlier parts of the film.The audience also have contrasting emotions, as they wonder how something so gruesome and devastating could have just happened when seconds later everything was so calm and peaceful. Spielberg also tries to scare the audience by creating a lot of tension in the overall plot and peculiarly in the ending of the film. For example, he tries to create fear and suspense in the film by showing the first two attacks on both Chrissie and Alex close together at the start of the film. By situating them at the beginning of the film, the audience quickly realise that the first attack wasnt a one off, and that the shark is almost like a serial killer. Another example of this technique of building tension and fear affecting the audience is the way in which Spielberg decides to add the third attack mid-way through the film, on the 4th of July with police chief Brodys son involved. By showing the third attack mid-way through the film, the audience feel as if they have got to know the main character, police chief Brody. So when the audience see the shark closing in on his son Mikey, they care more for his safety as they feel as if they have a connection with the family.By situating the third attack on the 4th of July, the audience see thousands of people flocking the beach at Amity Island, after Brody had desperately attempt to stop them from visiting because of the potential danger in the water. So when the third attack happens the audience are scared and shocked, as they realise that if only the Mayor hadnt been so greedy for money and had Brody got his way, a third attack wouldnt have occurred and Brodys own son wouldnt have been in danger. The resist section of the film is really when Spielberg creates a lot of fear and suspense affecting the audience. One example in which Spielberg creates fear and tension in the film is when the shark attacks the boat whilst the third men, Brody, Hooper and Quint are out at sea. The scene involves the camera using a zoom technique and showing a close up of the wooden hull of the ship. As the shark attacks the boat, it endlessly pounds its head into the spot of the ship and the audience can hear the wood beginning to resound under the strain as they watch it flex and bend.This scene builds a lot of tension because the audience think that any second the shark is going to force a gaping hole in the face of the boat causing it to sink, which as a result would endanger the lives of the trio men, who over the course of the film, the audience have bonded to. Another area of the film ending which contained a lot of fear and suspense was when after the damage to the boat had been repaired, Hooper, the shark expert, went down in the cage in an attempt to tranquillise the shark. During this scene of Hooper in the cage, the shark comes into view from nowhere and repeatedly crashes into the cage before eventually getting into it. This part of the film is full of tension because after every time the shark crashes into the cage, the more the metallic element frame begins to crumble.Then the audience see the shark close up, which scares them as they can see for themselves how fierce it really is. Immediately after, the audience see a shot of Hooper as he comes face to face with the shark for the first time, and his expression is ridden with horror. This reaction of his reflects on the audience as they then realise what it would feel like if they were within touching distance of the man-eating beast. solely in my opinion, one of the scenes at the end of film has far more tension and fear than any of the others. This is the scene where Brody is alone in the sea after Quint has been eaten by the shark, and Hooper is under the water trying to secrete from it. Brody is leaning on the mast of the sinking ship with a rifle in his hand when we see the shark gradually closing in on him.Brody shoots at the shark, but it continues to head straight for him, so he fires the gasoline again. Nothing happens, and by now the shark is just 10 metres away and Brody is down to his last bullet. He aims a nd fires, directly hitting the oxygen piston chamber in the sharks mouth. The tank explodes, blowing the shark into pieces. This part of the film is full of tension in the way that the shark is relentless and keeps gradually getting ever closer to Brody, who by now the audience feel connected to, and they begin to fear for his life. Also, the way in which Brody kills the shark with his last bullet keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. This scene is scary because of how improbably gory the sharks death is. The audience see the shark blown up into shredded chunks of flesh as blood spurts everywhere. My scariest spot in the film is the death of Quint, the shark catcher. I think its full of the most fear because of how gruesome, gory and full of tension it is.The scene is full of suspense when Quint loses his grip on Brody, and agonisingly slides down the push down of the boat, straight into the jaws of the shark. Then it gets gruesome, because as the shark plunges its teeth into Quints chest, blood begins spewing from his mouth. Then the shark begins violently tossing him from side to side as Quint screams desperately before the audience here a loud crack. Immediately his body stops struggling and the shark calmly drags it under the surface of the water. Overall, in my opinion Steven Spielberg has successfully created a film in which the audience experience a lot of fear and suspense. He has effectively used many different techniques to do so, and as a result, more than 30 years on, Jaws is still recognised as one of the ruff horror films ever made.