Death in the Dark The motion picture To Kill a Mockingbird, based on the Pulitzer Prize novel by Harper Lee, depicts the life of Jem and Scout Finch with their father, Atticus Finch, during the last years of the Great Depression in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. There are many scenes that aid in creating the overall tone of the film. In the scene “Death in the Dark,” Jem and Scout are on their way home from a school pageant when Bob Ewell attacks them on a pathway in front of Boo Radley’s tree. The “Death in the Dark” scene utilizes music, sound effects, setting, and various camera angles to create a histrionic tone, full of suspense and fright. While on their way home, Jem and Scout feel a presence following them. The music starts off soft and in short pauses; the music increases as the scene progresses. The soft music creates a very eerie feel, and the short pauses in between allow for the suspense to build up. The music acts as foreshadowing of the events to come; the music creates an admonitory tone. Later in the scene, Bob Ewell attacks the children and Boo Radley saves Jem and Scout by fighting off Bob Ewell. The tempo of the music increases, and is now forte. The music allows the viewer to identify the climax of the scene. The intense music instills fear and suspense in the viewers. The setting and sound effects also add to the overall tone of the scene. The scene begins with the children walking on a path that is surrounded by trees and brush. The surrounding trees create an aura of mystery and eeriness, and the crunching leaves beneath the feet of the children add a sense of creepiness. The wind rustling the leaves puts the viewer on edge and creates anxiety in the scene. Jem and Scout make their way home late at night after the pageant ends. The darkness of the night alone creates a sinister feeling and allows the viewer to imagine many