The Strangers Analysis - Miss Frisender

"How does editing inform the audience of the generic conventions of the film and enhance the tension within the scene with the use of sound."

 

Editing in The Strangers is used in certain ways to inform the audience of  the generic conventions of the film and to enhance the tension the audience experience when watching a scene, with the use of sound. Throughout the scene slow pace editing is used to drag out the anticipation of the audience so they feel exactly how the character does. We see an example of this as the female character is walking towards the door. The slow pace editing shows that she is hesitant to open the door, which connotes she is scared. In effect this means the viewers also experience the feeling of being frightened.

Diegetic sounds are used within the scene to create suspense and tension for the viewers, an example of this is when the fire alarm goes off. The fire alarm going off gives the victim a slight fright as she is already on edge, therefore the audience experience the same shock as they are feeling the same way as the female at this moment in time. The use of the significant sound allows the audience to experience a sense of suspense also, as they are awaiting something thrilling to happen. They are then given an insight into a surprise as they are shocked by the loud sound of the alarm ringing. The suspense is increased yet again when there's a loud knock at the door as the female drops the fire alarm. The audience are aware of how scared the victim is now which is conventional to a thriller film. The sequence of these diegetic sounds are incorporated to create maximum impact on the audience which means the viewers are left on edge and anticipating the real shock of the scene. Also the incorporation of silence is key to this thriller film to leave the audience on the edge of their seats anticipating the next scene in the film, which also heightens their experience while watching.

The editing style which is most seen throughout the scene is the straight cut. The audience see this when there's a close up shot of her phone charger which then directly cuts to a close up shot of her face. The use of this editing style shows the significance of the object or person in each shot. In this particular scene it illustrates to the audience how scared the woman is and that the fact someone or something is in her home is very true. The viewers respond to her emotions by experiencing what she is feeling at that exact moment which in result makes the scene feel very realistic to them. This is conventional to a thriller film as straight cuts are used to increase suspense.

 At the end of the scene non-diegetic sounds are used when the victim reaches to look out of the window. High pitched sounds are used as she edges to move the curtain with the knife for the first time, to increase the viewers suspense levels. The sounds shock the audience into thinking something is going to be there when in actual fact she doesn't open the curtain. The sounds also prepare the viewers for when she next opens the curtain and comes face to face with someone wearing a mask. This is conventional to a thriller film as sounds are used to pre shock the viewers.