Donnie Darko - Sound Deconstruction

• Throughout the majority of the trailer, excluding the end, the sound is very subliminal, behind the diegetic sound.
• At the beginning of the trailer, the non diegetic sound almost goes unnoticed as it is simply a long, high pitched, echo-like drone beneath the diegetic sound followed by what could possibly sound like a long violin note. These sounds are not musical, but simply effective in helping the trailer build up to a sinister, foreboding atmosphere
• As an axe is swung, an exaggerated slam can be heard, which could be the diegetic sound of the axe, or a non diegetic effect to make this action more dramatic.
• This is then followed by an eerie drone as the words "They made me do it" can be seen spray painted on the concrete. This creates the idea of mystery and causes the audience to question the possible content of the movie.
• These violin notes and eerie, subliminal sounds continue throughout the first thirty seconds of the trailer, when they are then overlapped by an electronic beat, much like a heartbeat begins. This adds pace and builds up tension as the trailer becomes more intense.
• After about fifty second we hear the obscure, non diegetic voice of 'Frank' say "Don't worry, you got away with it" which brings an end to the diegetic sound we have heard throughout the trailer and ques the eerie beat as it build up speed throughout a montage of shots from the film.
• Everything goes completely silent as we hear the last piece of non diegetic dialogue; "When's it gonna stop?" followed by "You should already know that." By having no other sound during these lines makes them much more effective and dramatic.
• When the film title appears, an eerie beat sounds which then echoes until the end of the trailer, creating a very ominous atmosphere as the credits are shown.