Drive Opening Scene — How Refn Builds Suspense with Sound Design & Editing
Introduction: Setting the Stage for Suspense
Picture this: a dark night in Los Angeles, a silver Chevy Impala, and a driver with nerves of steel. This is how Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive” begins, plunging us into a world of tension and anticipation. But what makes this opening scene so captivating? It’s not just the visuals that keep us on the edge of our seats—it’s the masterful use of sound design and editing that truly drives the suspense.
In this deep dive, we’ll explore how Refn and his team craft a nail-biting sequence that showcases the power of audio in filmmaking. We’ll break down the elements that create tension, analyze the layering of sounds, and discover how these auditory cues are intricately tied to the concept of time. So, buckle up and tune in—we’re about to take a thrilling ride through the soundscape of “Drive”.
The Three Pillars of Suspense
Before we hit the gas on our analysis, let’s take a moment to understand what makes a scene truly suspenseful. There are three key ingredients that, when combined, create the perfect recipe for edge-of-your-seat tension:
- Consequences: There must be something at stake, a risk or potential outcome that matters to the characters and, by extension, to the audience.
- Uncertainty: The audience needs to be unsure about what will happen next. Without this element of unpredictability, suspense falls flat.
- Time: A ticking clock, whether literal or figurative, adds pressure and urgency to the situation.
In “Drive”, screenwriter Hossein Amini and director Nicolas Winding Refn have expertly woven these elements together. The opening scene serves as a masterclass in suspense-building, with sound design and editing playing crucial roles in bringing these elements to life.
Setting the Tone: The Power of Audio Cues
The Heartbeat of the Scene
As the scene opens, before we see a single frame, our ears are treated to a low, rhythmic sound. This isn’t just background noise—it’s a carefully chosen audio cue that sets the tone for everything that follows. The rhythm resembles a quickened heartbeat, immediately putting us on alert. Yet, it’s also controlled and steady, mirroring the calm demeanor of our protagonist.
This audio choice is our first glimpse into the character of the Driver. Without a word of dialogue or a single image, we already sense that we’re dealing with someone who can remain composed under pressure.
Visual Meets Audio: Introducing the Driver
When the visuals finally appear, they work in perfect harmony with the sound design. We see a map, hinting at meticulous planning. The Driver’s voice-over establishes the rules of his operation, including the crucial five-minute window. This dialogue not only provides exposition but also introduces the element of time constraint—a key factor in building suspense.
The camera movement is slow and subtle, matching the Driver’s collected attitude. It’s a perfect example of how visual and audio elements can work together to create a cohesive atmosphere.
Layering Sounds: Building Tension Through Audio
As the scene progresses, Refn and his sound team begin to layer in additional audio elements. Each new sound serves a purpose, ratcheting up the tension notch by notch.
The Tick of the Clock
The background music, aptly titled “Tick Of The Clock”, adds a clicking sound reminiscent of a metronome. This isn’t just a stylistic choice—it’s a constant reminder of the passage of time, tying directly into the theme of the Driver’s precise timing.
Interestingly, this musical choice was inspired by a specific piece of the Driver’s wardrobe—his watch. It’s a brilliant example of how even small visual details can influence the broader audioscape of a film.
The Basketball Game: Time in the Background
Another crucial audio element is introduced when the Driver turns on the car radio: a basketball game commentary. This might seem like an odd choice at first, but it serves multiple purposes:
- It provides a real-time clock for the audience, as the commentators frequently mention how much time is left in the game.
- It adds to the layering of sounds, increasing the auditory complexity of the scene.
- It creates a stark contrast between the mundane (a sports game) and the high-stakes situation the Driver is in.
The Cacophony of the Heist
As the heist begins, even more sounds are added to the mix:
- The analog stopwatch
- The building’s alarm
- A police scanner
Each of these sounds contributes to the mounting tension. The stopwatch is a direct representation of the Driver’s five-minute window. The alarm signals that the heist has begun and adds urgency. The police scanner provides real-time updates on the threat closing in on our protagonists.
Editing Rhythm: Pacing Through Sound
The editing of the scene works hand-in-hand with the sound design to control the pacing and build suspense. Notice how the intensity of the sounds rises and falls with the action:
- When the Driver is waiting in the car, the layered sounds create a sense of mounting tension.
- As the thieves rush to the car, the sounds reach a crescendo.
- During moments of potential discovery, like when the police car passes by, the sound drops to near silence, making us hold our breath along with the characters.
This ebb and flow of sound intensity, perfectly timed with the visual edits, creates a rhythmic tension that keeps the audience engaged throughout the scene.
The Climax: A Symphony of Suspense
As the chase reaches its peak, all the audio elements come together in a symphony of suspense:
- The basketball game commentary counts down the final seconds, directly mirroring the Driver’s own race against time.
- The drone of police sirens and the whir of helicopter blades add to the sense of pursuit.
- The engine of the Impala roars as the Driver makes his final move.
The climax of the scene is a perfect storm of visual and audio elements, with the sound design doing much of the heavy lifting in terms of creating tension and excitement.
Conclusion: The Art of Auditory Storytelling
The opening scene of “Drive” is a masterclass in using sound design and editing to build suspense. Nicolas Winding Refn and his team demonstrate that suspense isn’t just about what we see—it’s equally, if not more, about what we hear.
By layering sounds, tying audio cues to the passage of time, and using editing to control the rhythm of the scene, they create a tense, nail-biting sequence that hooks the audience from the very first frame. The careful balance of consequences, uncertainty, and time—all conveyed largely through audio—results in a scene that’s pure cinema at its finest.
Next time you watch a suspenseful scene in a movie, pay close attention to the sound design. You might be surprised at how much of the tension you feel is coming through your ears rather than your eyes. In the world of filmmaking, sometimes what you hear is just as important as what you see—if not more so.
Remember, in the journey of great filmmaking, the visuals might be the car, but the sound design and editing? They’re the engine that truly drives the experience.