Music is an important tool to convey the story in a movie. Music gives a clue to the viewer and helps to identify a scene or a character. It can dramatize the scene or calm it down. The main character in Pan’s Labyrinth– Ophelia is assigned to enter a lair and open one of the three locked doors to get a dagger. Pale Man is a legendary creature: he lacks a nose, his eyes are on the plate, and his skin is pale and saggy. When Ophelia comes closer to the Pale Man, the sound is rather quiet- it symbolizes his inactiveness. Looking up, she sees pictures of him killing and eating children- here, one can hear distant cries of children. This sound helps to identify him as a cruel, merciless monster.
As Ophelia enters the lair, the echoic sound in the background indicates that it is a dangerous place. While Ophelia is pulling out the key, there is a sharp tinkling sound, which emphasizes its significance. Next, music changes to triumphant and high pitch- it indicates the greatness of the dagger and that the primary mission is accomplished. However, right after that, sound cues that something bad is to happen as it becomes bizarre and intimidating.
Sound motifs represent the Pale man as a danger: loud, creaky, and crunching sound effects accompany the Pale Man’s awakening as his hands start moving, and he takes a deep breath; music gets louder and more intense when he gets up to catch Ophelia. Other sounds, like sand in a glass hour, door closing, chalk dropping, chair shaking, and more, supplement the drama of the scene.
This scene successfully combines a variety of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds, SFX, and music to enhance the visual experience, identify the character of the antagonist, and trigger certain emotions in a viewer.