Signs Deconstruction

I found this scene from signs very effective because it made me jump and jumps are an integral part of a supernatural horror.  There is no non-diegetic sound leading up to the jump which I felt made the sound even more effective.  The silence is broken by a loud non-diegetic string instrument sound which is high pitched and sharp.  I also liked the use of a simple shadow as the antagonist.  This creates a sense of the unknown, which is a very effective way of scaring the audience.

Instead of being able to actually the see the cause of the disturbance, a diegetic sound of a rubbish bin falling over is used to show something is there.  This is a good technique to use as a big budget is not needed to create a scary creature.  This is something that can be easily recreated without any special effects.

Another easy technique to recreate is shadows of the antagonists.  This again means that you do not have to create a realistic creature through make up or special effects, the fear of the unknown is much more effective.

   At this point in the scene there is diegetic sound of animal-like feet on the roof top which makes the audience wonder what is causing all the noise around the house.  The sound then moves to behind the two men and there is diegetic sound of a swing going backwards and forwards, apparently of its own accord.  You then see the swing, this is very creepy as you know someting must have moved it but you don't know what. There is then diegetic sound of the corn rustling which tells you there is a creature of some kind, but again this plays on the fear of the
unknown.

   Throughout the film, a baby monitor is used to show signs of the aliens existence by picking up on their radio frequencies.  The off-screen diegetic sounds are strange and other-worldly to convey how weird these creatures are.

   For this scene in the cornfields there is not much non-diegetic sound as it is mostly quiet to build tension with the diegetic sounds of the corn breaking and some slight wind which is quite eerie.  The man is startled by the same strange clicking noises from the baby monitor.  Then once he has seen the alien leg in the corn, non-diegetic, futuristic sound is played which sounds like high notes from a piano.  This sound is in parallel with the alien encounter.