Sound use in Get Out

by Jenn

Sound use in Get Out

Get out directed by Jordan Peele is a film that uses a lot of sounds to create a certain atmosphere for the scenes. Sound is used a lot to build the tone of the scenes. The movie is about Chris and his girlfriend Rose. Rose invites Chris for a weekend getaway in which he will meet her parents for the first time. At first, Chris believes that her family is simply nervous about their interracial relationship but as the weekend continues, Chris learns more and more about her family.

In most scenes, we build tension based on the music played in the background. We are able to feel as the story progresses with dialogue and background music. When Chris sits down for a conversation with Rose’s mother, their dialogue is given with instrumental music and rain sound in the background. The sound of the spoon as the mother spins it in the cup is also added. In every scene, Chris is more and more involved with the truth about Rose and her family. Thorugh the scenes of social interaction to the scenes of Chris alone, we are able to hear the slightest sounds that add to the image. 

When a new discovery is made by Chris, the music tenses up just like the character’s situation. There is a moment where Chris takes a picture of Logan, another black male in a party, the moment the photo is taken we hear the click and the flash goes off. For that quick moment, after the photo is taken, there is complete silence until a ringing begins to play. That moment creates great tension in the scene. The moment of silence makes us wonder what is going to happen next.

Other than the dialogue, the music selection has the main role in this film. Every beat creates a different intention and a different environment in the scene. Most thrillers have a very strong soundtrack to accompany the scene, but in this movie, we are more than engaged in only the soundtrack, we have the sound effects that add to every detail and minute.