Arts & Culture
Chromaticism in Film Scores: Portraying Psychological Instability and Moral Ambiguity
Quick fact
Chromaticism has been used for centuries to convey sorrow or tension, but in film, it became a hallmark of psychological thrillers—think the shower scene in Psycho or the Joker's theme in The Dark Knight.
Why this is interesting
You’re watching a thriller, and the hero’s eyes dart around a dim room. The music feels 'off'—unsettling, slippery. What exactly is that music doing to your brain?