The Role of Soundtracks in Film!

In the film world, the soundtrack is the unsung hero of the entire industry. Films rely primarily on the visual aspects, sound effects and even silence in the right circumstances, which all play a significant role in shaping a narrative. The secondary aspect, and maybe the most important, is the soundtrack. It does more than just fill the silence in films; it enhances the entire experience, deepens emotional impacts, and can even shape the audience's connection to the narrative, character, and themes. 

Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider in Jaws (1975)

The most powerful effect of film soundtracks is their ability to embed a certain emotion in an audience. Think of Jaws (1975), dir. Steven Spielberg and John Williams were able to compose a two-note theme that can instantly trigger a feeling of danger even without the visuals of a shark. This music can amplify emotions in an audience without much happening on the screen, making a character in itself. 

Ian McKellen in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

A similarly beautiful and enticing score is that of The Lord of the Rings (2001) dir. Peter Jackson. It was composed by Howard Shore, who uses the music to elicit many different emotions, from travel to Middle-earth to personal moments between characters. Tender moments like these are some of the important scenes in a film, and accompanying that with a beautiful theme just enhances the experience. A thrilling chase sequence would have a fast-paced, pulsing score, while an emotional scene may have a more delicate orchestral score, which makes it even more of an art than ever. 

Charmian Carr, Angela Cartwright, Duane Chase, Nicholas Hammond, Kym Karath, Heather Menzies-Urich, and Debbie Turner in The Sound of Music (1965)

Soundtracks also serve as a tool to immerse the audience deeper into a film. A great score can make a film feel like it is a real-world story that an audience can witness on a big screen. For example, the orchestral score in The Sound of Music (1965), dir. Robert Wise reinforces the idyllic setting of the Alps and the beautiful scenery. A soundtrack is there to help define a time or place the story is set in. Whether it’s a period piece or a modern-day film, the soundtrack can gauge what music may be playing at that time – this is important so that the audience can picture how the character's life would feel. 

Furthermore, a well-crafted score can provide subtle cues or a sort of foreshadowing, adding layers of meaning to a film. Another great example of this is the music from Inception (2010), dir. Christopher Nolan. Hans Zimmer, a very well-known composer, was able to integrate themes of time manipulation to mirror the themes going on in the film. With this music, the film was able to explore a multi-layered structure, and the audience still feels such a deep connection to all the plot points.