As Maximus walks into the arena, to face five tense and fearsome-looking gladiators...the tension is ramped up by some creepy scream-like sound effects.
I used to think it was the arena gate creaking, but it isn't, the sounds continue.
What were these, haven't heard of them before?
I think it's a Middle-Eastern wind instrument. I've heard it before in a couple of movie scenes set in the Middle East, and I recall also hearing it in Howard Shore's score for The Cell (2000).
shareThanks. That's a duduk but not the noise I meant.
There's like a weird, echo-ey electronic creaking noise put in to eerie effect just as Max steps in
There's the guy groaning from the strain of swinging the mace which is also causing a swooshing sound.
What are the times in this video where you hear the sound?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq5xDxVHbnA
No, wrong fight.
In the "Are you not entertained" fight, it is at 24 and again 34 seconds into this video
https://youtu.be/YbBiXPVKuTA?t=24
A deliberate strange, weird audio effect.
It sounds like or mimics electronic feedback to me. I don't think it's a natural sound if that's what you're looking for.
shareGood suggestion. Although I wouldn't mind using that as an effect for amateur purposes.
shareHere's an example of microphone feedback which has a slightly higher pitch than the movie example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82scBZ3h62Q
Brilliant!
This is the type of feedback which Scott's audio engineers must have used.
There's a similar effect used a lot in "Lost" when they featured Ben Linus and The Others. If you go back 20 years before Gladiator listen to the sound design used in Apocalypse Now especially up to the scene at Do Lung Bridge and afterwards.
share*This* is why I'm still mad at IMDb, and glad replacements for the boards exist. Other sound design things that stick out: the overuse of the "Wilhelm scream" and lion roars and pig squeals for monster/zombie sounds. Takes me out of the movie every time. OTOH, great sound design can make a scene, such as the neck twist in The Exorcist: dude took out his leather wallet and twisted it in his hands close to the mic. Brilliant. Wonder if this is something those more musically inclined appreciate.
shareDisney guys used to twist their squeaking wallets for the Dwarves' tiptoe feet in Snow White!
share