The Effect of Editing and Sound Features on Audience Response in The Usual Suspects

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The Effect of Editing and Sound Features on Audience Response in The Usual Suspects 'The Usual Suspects' was directed by Brian Singer and released in 1995. Singer has directed several films including 'X-Men' and (earlier) 'Public Access''. Although Public Access was his first film it did not receive significant recognition, which is why the explosive success of The Usual |Suspects established him as something of a maverick. This film is predominantly a crime thriller which examines the mystery of a sinister crime-lord (Keyser Soze) and an explosion on a boat. This analysis will examine the concluding sequence of the film with particular focus on the use of editing and sound. After Detective Kujan has finished his forceful, yet sympathetic interrogation, Kint leaves the office. At this point the camera is subjective; it is on Kujan's side. This serves to accentuate Kujan's powerful demeanor in contrast to the pitiful Kint. The sound here is only diegetic, as Kint leaves he looks reproachfully at Kujan and says "Fuckin' cops" in a pathetic, broken voice. The audience feels pity for Verbal, as they have throughout the film. Not only is he physically crippled, he also appears to be weak-minded making him (in the eyes of the other criminals) the least important and least useful of the 'Usual Suspects'. Kujan watches Verbal leave and then the camera cuts to the other side of the door where it slowly zooms out from the office with Kujan stood in the doorway. The slow pace of the editing implies a sense of calm during this scene, suggesting to the audience that the film is about to end. The scene changes back to the hospital. ... ... middle of paper ... ...ctive ending as it provokes many different responses in the audience. The montage sequence is particularly effective, as a variety of different editing and sound techniques are used to provoke a strong audience response. Such as when Kint is first leaving the editing is slow-paced and casual, lulling the unsuspecting audience into a false belief of the film coming to a rather anti-climactic end. However, this is turned on its head as the editing gets faster and faster during and after the montage sequence, amplifying the shock of the truth. Sound is also used very effectively. The voiceovers from earlier in the film which are used in the montage not only draws the viewer's attention to previous statements made in the film, but the overlapping also helps to promote the feeling of bewilderment and shock at the discovery.

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