One of the many joys of being an audience member in a movie theater is the chance to have an experience outside of the film. Audience reactions are achieved in various ways, but the most precise way to get some sort of reaction lies in an essential aspect of almost every spectator's experience: music. The music in the film achieves a number of things. It establishes the setting, creates atmosphere, calls attention to elements, foreshadows narrative developments, gives meaning to a character's actions or translates his thoughts, and creates emotions. In this short essay I will discuss the role that music plays in the film A Quiet Place. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay A Quiet Place came out of nowhere earlier this year to become one of the best films of 2018 and certainly one of the best horror films of all time thanks to its use of sound. If you haven't seen the movie yet, you can probably guess from the title that sound, or lack thereof, is a big part of the plot. Director John Krasinski, who also starred in the film, revealed that music played a bigger role than most people probably imagined. A Quiet Place is a thriller about a family of four who must navigate their lives in silence after mysterious creatures that hunt by sound threaten their survival. The music in the film increases the tension a thousand times. Whether it's a simple scene where the family walks along a disused railway track through the woods or reacts to distant noises in the night, the music allows the viewer to live in the skin of the characters, feel their constant wariness and hear the thud of a heartbeat in my chest. There was a scene where music played a huge role in intensifying the pain of stepping on a nail. The music made the audience anticipate a character stepping on a nail, making it much more emotional and painful. As soon as the character stepped on the nail, the music stopped, signifying the danger of the horrible creatures and the importance of remaining silent. This effective use of music ultimately keeps audience members watching with bated breath. If there was no music in the film, the audience would not be able to put themselves in the shoes of the characters as effectively. In the film, music was also used to represent perspective. Perspective played a key role in heightening the tension, especially from the perspective of the daughter, who was deaf. Addressing his inability to hear, sounds were removed during visually intense moments to exaggerate the thrill and realistic nature. Entering the daughter's perspective sonically allows the audience to feel what she experiences and at the same time see what lies behind her. Another way music was used in the film was to amplify a sad scene and elicit sympathy from the audience. There was a scene in the film where the father sacrificed himself for his children, and slow, pleasant music was playing in the background. The music helped the audience to empathize even more with the characters and feel part of the scene. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Therefore, music determines the emotions audience members will experience during what may be the most memorable moments of a film. It adds life to the story and can ultimately make or break the audience's experience. Sound is an instrument.