4.4 Unidentifiable Sound Objects

Unidentifiable sound objects — so-called USOs — lead to an unpleasant sense of uncertainty.^[4] They are to be considered as underdetermined signs whose vagueness creates a degree of openness and at the same time tension, because one cannot immediately classify them. One of the main characteristics of a USO is its emancipation from its source, which is neither visible in the image nor identifiable from the context. In addition, the recipient is also denied the assistance of recognition, so that in general he or she cannot reduce the ambiguity. Thus, the USO activates an instinctive reaction, as dangers in nature often announce themselves through sounds. The horror film Cube (CA, 1997, directed by Vincenzo Natali) relies heavily on the unsettling effect of USOs in order to create a threatening atmosphere.