Diegetic and Non Diegetic Sounds in Horror

Diegetic Sound
Diegetic sound is sound with a source that is visible on the screen or is implied to be present within the action. Diegetic sound can include:

- Voices of characters
- Sounds made by objects in the story
- Music represented as coming from instruments in the film

It can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within or outside the frame.

Non Diegetic Sound
Non Diegetic Sound is sound with a source that is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present within the action. Non Diegetic sound can include:

- Narrator's commentary
- Sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
- Mood music

Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story space.
The distinction between diegetic or non-diegetic sound depends on our understanding of the conventions of film viewing and listening. We know of that certain sounds are represented as coming from the story world, while others are represented as coming from outside the space of the story events.

Non Diegetic and Diegetic Sounds in Horror
I recently watched Dawn of the Dead (2004) and Dawn of the Dead (1978) to help myself grasp how the use of diegetic and non diegetic sound has benefited the films, and contributed to the scenes it has contained.

Throughout watching these two films I noticed various aspects of non diegetic/diegetic sound contributed greatly too scenes. In particular, it helps create a sense of tension and helps the viewer become immersed within the film. Such as the diegetic sound of the buzzing of flies around rotten corpses, water running down a river, dripping from a tap or birds scattering from a tree. Or non diegetic sounds ranging from sound effects like the barking of dogs or gunshots in the background during urban environments, or music placed over scenes to create a certain mood.

They certainly make the film a lot more interesting to watch and to listen too. Without some sort of ambience, mix of music and sound effects, the world in which the story is taking place would be a very boring one, and become tiresome quickly.

As I feel that these contributed a significant amount to the films, I think it would be a good idea to implement various non diegetic and diegetic sound effects to our opening sequence. It would benefit the scenes greatly, especially our scenes of nature that build up to the chase scene. It will provide a sense of tension.

- Will