How Does The Use Of Relative Silence Contribute To The Tension And Suspense Of The Film No Country For Old Men (2007)?

In 1926 a significant change occurred in the world of cinema with the advent of the sound film. Where previously, motion pictures had been screened silently in theatres accompanied by live music and sound effects, new technology had now been developed to synchronise sound with the theatre s film projectors. The first film to benefit from this new technology would be Don Juan (1926). However it would be the film The Jazz Singer (1927) that would make a huge impact on fellow filmmakers due to its use of synchronous sound as part of the film s dramatic content.

After the release of The Jazz Singer (1927), motion picture history changed forever as the evolution of the sound film was advancing. Filmmakers started to experiment with sound in different ways in order to tell their stories as well as to create feelings, emotions and new ways to manipulate audience responses. It would not be long before visionary directors would stumble upon the effect of something that had previously not been available to them& the reconciliation of sound and silence.

The craft of relative silence has since evolved throughout the history of the sound film. Many filmmakers have used this subtle yet powerful effect to contribute to the tension and suspense of their films. There is no finer example of this technique being deployed than in the film No Country for Old Men (2007).