Analyse the use of sound

Five Minute Sequence from the film “Jaws”

Jaws is a thriller, with one of the most famous film soundtracks of all time. 

The scene I have chosen is when the three men out hunting for the killer shark use a harpoon to fire a rope carrying empty plastic barrels into the shark so they can locate his whereabouts.

There is a feeling of mounting tension between the characters at this point, as they have been waiting for some time to get sight of the shark, and they are all very nervous.  The music enhances this feeling of nervous tension, it is fast paced and repetitive.  Two of the characters are also shouting a lot, as they are on different locations on the boat doing different jobs, so their voices are very loud, but also they are the loud personalities, both of them vying to be better than the other, they are very competitive.  In contrast the third character, the policy chief, is very softly spoken, and works quietly.  Just the tone and inflection in their voices, tells the audience a lot about their personalities.  It all gets to a point where there is an awful lot going on and a lot of shouting, with the captain making fun of the scientist, and the scientist getting frustrated.  As this gets louder, the music gets faster and louder, and sounds more angry and dramatic, giving the audience the feeling that there could be a big row at any moment.  Then, when the engine fails to start on the first attempt, the music is silenced for a few seconds, and all you hear is the ocean, and as the characters become more and more aware that the shark is heading closer towards them, they also become quieter, the silence in a thriller type film is often one of the scariest parts, as when there is silence the audience does not really know what is going on, a bit like being in the dark.  As the engine starts, the captain comes of the cabin with the harpoon, quite carelessly and aggressively, and the music is back taking a sharp change in pitch from before, and creates a feeling of fear in the viewer.  Also, just after this, the scientist rushes to keep up with the captain, and his deck shoes slip, the sound of the rubber soles slipping on the wet boat is quite powerful and makes you jump, again a sharp sound which re enforces the danger of the sharp weapon.  All of the time in background of the shouting, the engine and the music, is the sound of sea, which is very strong and powerful, giving the audience a real feel that these men are totally vulnerable in a very small boat in a big ocean. 

It all comes to a head when the harpoon is eventually fired, it hits the shark, and as they three characters run about the ship loosening the ropes, the music again makes the viewer feel quite anxious and stressful, but all of a sudden the barrels are set free, and the music completely changes, the music sounds almost like a victory parade, really upbeat and free feeling, and gives the audience a feeling of relief that the mission has been successful.

The shark heads off with the barrels for some distance, then the barrels go under with the shark, and all goes quiet, the sea becomes still and quiet also, and this gives the audience a distinct feeling that deep under the water, the shark is lurking, and could come back to the surface and even attack the boat at any time.