Leitmotifs are a short, recurring, musical phrase often used to alongside and idea, concept, place or location. Using these alongside each other makes the audience associate the two of them together. By doing this the film can guide the audience to feeling certain emotions when the music is played.

For example if the main villain has a leitmotif, the audience knows they are nearby whenever the music is played, without even needing to show them on screen yet which can be used to create tension for the audience.

An example of this is in Jaws, whenever he is nearby the audience hears his Leitmotif, warning them of his presence before the characters.