(Almost) Everything You Need to Know About Dramatic Sound Effects

What does it mean for something to be dramatic? 

The (online) dictionary tells us it can mean sudden and striking or exciting and impressive. Both of those definitions are accurate, but there’s a third one that more closely describes the term: “intending to create an effect, theatrical.” 

This understanding of the word puts us closer to how filmmakers use dramatic sound effects in film. Yes, they want to make things impressive or striking. But they’re really trying to match sounds to the action on-screen in such a way that awes the audience — oftentimes because it’s so unrealistic. 

This idea of drama in movies harkens back to the theater, where the audience knew that what was happening onstage was artificial — the stage itself made that clear enough — but they were entertained all the more because it was unreal. 

Dramatic sound effects in film don’t work because they mirror reality. Instead, they create a stylized version of reality where the sudden and striking happens all the time. 

Here are a couple of examples of how filmmakers use dramatic sound effects in their work. 

Musical Flourishes 

We often think of sound effects as noises associated with objects, actions, or people. And they often are. However, in the school of dramatic sound effects, you’ll find brief bits of music that spark tension or emphasize an action. 

The most famous example is the “Dun Dun Duuun!” clip of orchestral music that’s become linked with great reveals or plot twists in film.  

Here it is (with a shiba inu for good measure): 

These flourishes aren’t developed enough to stand alone as part of the film’s score, but they do an excellent job of injecting drama where there isn’t a clear opportunity to use more traditional sound effects. 

For example, when a gopher turns around quickly, it might be surprising, but it’s not all that dramatic. Now add the right music and everything changes: 

Now let’s do a 180 and look at a more serious example: the unforgettable shower scene in Hitchcock’s Psycho. 

The scene is disturbing on its own without any artificial sound, but once the unbearable squeak of the strings is added it’s downright terrifying. 

The sound eventually develops into a longer song, but the actual moment when the killer is attacking his victim is another example of music that is less a part of a score and more a sound effect. 

The shrill, repeating notes work in concert with the killer’s hand — seemingly bringing the blade down with him. It doesn’t quite feel like music, but rather a horrifying (and therefore dramatic) noise emanating from within the faceless killer. 

Kill Bill provides another excellent example. Every time The Bride spies one of her enemies, an alarm-esque sound begins to blare. 

This noise is eventually joined by other instruments, but it’s used in the same way as the previous examples — more of an effect than a part of the score. 

That’s why the initial sound is so jarring; it’s not meant to sound like music but rather as a figurative alarm happening inside the protagonist’s mind. 

Amplified Effects

This is what we think of when we think of sound effects: amplified sounds that add drama to a scene or action. Think sky-high explosions, breakneck car crashes, bone-crunching punches, and so on. 

At their core, these sounds are exaggerations, but that’s also the essence of what makes them dramatic. By making the experience larger than life, these sound effects dramatize what’s happening on screen. 

Fight scenes are a classic example. Here’s one from Kung Fu Hustle, a movie that turns exaggeration into art. 

It doesn’t matter how strong someone is, punching another human simply doesn’t produce that loud a sound. Yet without the over-the-top sound of one man’s fist battering his opponent, every single fight scene ever recorded would be substantially diminished. 

The unrealism of these sound effects is the source of their drama. Certain films aren’t trying to mirror the exact details of the natural world; they’re trying to produce a fictional version that’s more interesting. 

One effect of that endeavour is that punches are super loud. 

Science fiction films are filled with these kinds of sound effects. Another example is space ships boosting through outer space. There’s always a big buildup before a flagship shoots off into the galaxy. 

It’s certainly dramatic. It’s also inaccurate. There are no molecules in deep space, so therefore there is no sound. 

But that’s not the world SciFi films are building. They’re inviting the audience into worlds where pushing the thrusters to full means there’s a corresponding roar of sound from the engine. 

The first part of this clip from Prometheus illustrates the point well: 

As the landing ship boosts towards its destination, there’s a satisfying blare from the engines. It’s a small thing, but we’ve become so accustomed to it that if the sound were absent, it would be immediately noticeable. 

Where to get dramatic sound effects 

Finding quality sound effects isn’t easy. You’ve got a few options: 

1. Make them yourself
2. Hire an SFX professional to make them for you
3. Subscribe to a sound effects library 

For most people, the third option is the most appropriate. Luckily, Soundstripe has over 35,000 sound effects for you to choose from.

Combine that with our royalty-free music library, and you’ve got all the stock sound design resources you could ever need for your film.