Background Noise in Thrillers Pt: I

Thriller films rarely have an excess of sound in each scene. In fact, for many it appears that most background sound is either quietened or gone altogether. Normally, the only sounds you will be likely to hear (excluding actors speaking or the soundtrack) would be sounds that are viewed important or sounds that will add suspense/drama to a scene.

Take for instance the opening to The Dark Knight. I am using this film again (along with the other members of my group) to provide a deep analysis into multiple parts of its anatomy. You may be thinking that there isn't a lack of sound and that you are hearing what you would hear anyway, you would be incorrect to assume this. If you listen closely, what do you hear? Strangely quiet for one of the busiest (fictional) cities in the world isn't it? This is not shoddy editing, this is great editing. The lack of sound makes you focus on the soundtrack and its effects that add to the suspense of the current situation, it gives you an idea that something is about to happen, not happened, or happening. The lack of other background sound means that more of your brain is being devoted to the other sounds you are hearing, more attention is spent on the spoken words and their emphasis, the soundtrack and its complexity and impact on the scene and finally the key background noises the editor either added or kept in.
The first i will point out is the smashing glass and subsequent sounds up until they reach the alternate rooftop. The smash is the first background noise we are given and it immediately thrusts us into the idea that we are witnessing a key event, after this there is only the sound of the two joker henchmen preparing their grapple, the lack of other sounds makes this a tense moment while maintaining a sense that the event that is happening was planned.It then cuts to another of the jokers henchmen (later revealed to be the joker himself) and all background sounds are removed again. While doing this the camera slowly zooms in on the clown mask with the chilling soundtrack playing in the background which furthers the suspense already acquired and gives a hint that this particular henchman or the symbolism of this mask is important in this event. After the close up, a car pulls up next to him. the sharp sudden sound along with the change in tempo of the soundtrack acts as a jump-start so that we, the viewers, would know that the event that is happening has just kicked into a higher gear. Then, while the two original henchmen are zip-gliding over the street to the other rooftop it does include normal city background noises. This is to show to viewers that these henchmen are doing a suspenseful event, on an ordinary day, where there are no changes to cause what they are doing.
All in all, these uses of background noise (and lack of) is to lay out an idea of what is happening to the viewer without having to say or do anything else, while also adding to the suspense and mystery of what is happening and making us curious to what happens after this.