Genre research: Psychological thrillers- Sound

Scores used in psychological thrillers are often low pitched and ominous with a few high notes/ key notes usually without any clear structure, rhythm or melody. Atmospheric sounds and sound effects are also used to create  eerie sounds as well as to build tension within a scene.

Tension music is also used within psychological thrillers to build to the atmosphere created for the audience, as it would make the audience feel tense too.

An example of tense music used in a psychological thriller would be the shower scene in Hitchcock's movie 'Psycho'.


 


The sharp high pitched sounds built the tension and 'fear factor' of the murder scene as the music would shock the audience as well as what was actually happening in the scene.