Poll: Enough with the Wilhelm Scream!

[Unsilenced]

Maybe it's just because I know what it is, but I hear it way too often and it's just an instantaneous drop of all immersion in the film. It feels less like part of the film in question and more like it's someone's obnoxious ringtone went off in the audience and covered whatever audio was actually supposed to be there. Easter eggs can be cool and all, but at this point it's basically as if one of the characters just stopped what they were doing to look directly at the audience. It's a dead stop for whatever weight a scene might have had.

 

[HardkorSB]

Imagine if people on the internet were using the same meme for decades.
It would be awesome, wouldn't it?

If I was making movies, I would create my own trademark silly sound effects to put in as a joke in my movies, not rely on someone else's.

 

[Unsilenced]

The Hobbit movies did a lot of stupid crap like that.

Remember the go pro footage they used to capture the river chase sequence from the barrel's perspective? It's the single stupidest, most baffling, directing decision I've ever witnessed, and I've watched all of The Room.

Have you ever watched the extended editions? Especially of the first one? It's almost surreal. There's an entire song and dance routine at goblin town that made me seriously wonder what movie I was watching. Then you remember that it probably took millions of dollars to film that sequence, and you have to wonder how nobody there said, "Um, excuse me? Guys? Isn't this just a little bit stupid?"

Also, chrome doesn't like quotes for some reason, so this entire post may be a mess because I had to do it manually.

 

[Queen Michael]

I think it heightens the realism. In real life everybody screams the exact same way. In the exact same voice. That's just how the world works.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I'm not sick of it but in saying so howcome in this day of age we have not come up with any new iconic screams??? I guess that screams is a classic for a reason.

 

[RJ 17]

I used to enjoy the Wilhelm Scream...then I took an arrow in the knee...



On that note, though, is the Wilhelm Scream really a meme? I'd think it's more of a cliche, or perhaps a trope at best, considering the scream predates the concept of a meme by quite a long while.

 

[Private Custard]

On that note, though, is the Wilhelm Scream really a meme? I'd think it's more of a cliche, or perhaps a trope at best, considering the scream predates the concept of a meme by quite a long while.

It's a pain in the arse, that's what it is. It's the quickest and most efficient way to pull your viewers out of any kind of immersion they had in your film, and ruins every moment that it appears in.

There are easter-eggs all over the place (such as A113), but the Wilhelm scream is just fucking obnoxious. Hell, it's not even a good sample. I can't think of one instance in which it's ever gotten close to not sounding out of place.

Too much....waaay too much!

 

[RJ 17]

Seems I'm one of the unfortunates for whom the quote function isn't working today.

Private Custard
It's a pain in the arse, that's what it is.

Honestly I've never been taken out of a movie after hearing the Wilhelm Screm, but that's just me.

As for the video, a couple things.
1: That's one of the best and most entertaining compilation videos I've ever seen.
2: To be fair, not all of those were the Wilhelm Scream.

 

[pearcinator]

When used right it's ok but in most cases it's so prominent and out of place that it does bother me.

Example when used correctly - Inglourious Basterds. It is used during a scene in the 'Nation's Pride' film - the film is complete Nazi Propaganda schlock that was entirely one action scene where one Nazi shoots hundreds of people. The scream suited it well because it was designed as a comedy for the audience (and Hitler).

 

[Aerosteam]

I fucking hate it. When I hear it I immediately get taken out of the experience of whatever I'm watching.

 

[The Eupho Guy_v1legacy]

... the howie scream...

Wait, that's a thing?

I just thought it was the Starcraft end-of-level sound. That's the only place I can remember hearing it.

Yup, that's a thing. I don't know why I remember it, but it happens at the end of Broken Arrow, for example. Tried to find a video of it on youtube, but no such luck

 

[FalloutJack]

I find it rather amusing, myself. Something to chuckle over.

 

[Username Redacted]

I used to enjoy the Wilhelm Scream...then I took an arrow in the knee...



On that note, though, is the Wilhelm Scream really a meme? I'd think it's more of a cliche, or perhaps a trope at best, considering the scream predates the concept of a meme by quite a long while.

Its use started off as a sort of in joke for Hollywood and has since progressed IMO to immersion breaking irritant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_scream

 

[Veldel]

I'm say another Wilhelm bites the dust when i hear it. But yes it is way overused

 

[Private Custard]

This is why we can't have nice things!

 

[ObserverStatus]

... the howie scream...

Wait, that's a thing?

I just thought it was the Starcraft end-of-level sound. That's the only place I can remember hearing it.

Terran academies also make howie screams when you click on them.

 

[Mcupobob]

I never noticed it till, I think it was the big picture that brought it up. I like to give myself a pat on the back when I notice it. I'm one of those people that like to exam a movie and find all the little extra bits and hidden jokes.

 

[soren7550]

I tend to not mind it. However, this thread has inspired me to make a film where any and all yells will be replaced with the Wilhelm Scream. >

 

[Erttheking]

The Hobbit movies did a lot of stupid crap like that.

Remember the go pro footage they used to capture the river chase sequence from the barrel's perspective? It's the single stupidest, most baffling, directing decision I've ever witnessed, and I've watched all of The Room.

Have you ever watched the extended editions? Especially of the first one? It's almost surreal. There's an entire song and dance routine at goblin town that made me seriously wonder what movie I was watching. Then you remember that it probably took millions of dollars to film that sequence, and you have to wonder how nobody there said, "Um, excuse me? Guys? Isn't this just a little bit stupid?"

Also, chrome doesn't like quotes for some reason, so this entire post may be a mess because I had to do it manually.

To be fair, that DOES kind of sound like the Hobbit book. Tolken really loved putting in songs for some reason. That bit with everyone stuck in the on fire trees? The Goblins were supposed to sing then. "Fifteen birds in five fir trees"