As a homework task, we were asked to present to the class the opening scene to a thriller film. I chose to do my presentation on Scream.
I looked at the scene in the same way that we have been taught to analyise scenes from TV dramas (which we will meet in our final exam).
MISE-EN-SCENE
- Shadows cast across the girl’s face add an element of horror and help set the scene – we are aware she is hiding and that it is night time.
- The scene is set inside an average home which makes it a real experience for the audience as it could happen to them.
- The car moving towards us, gives us a sense of the distance she is from her parents (who are figures of safety).
- The smoky room obstructs our view so we are in suspense as we don’t know where the killer is.
- The killer’s black suit and white mask protects his/her identity and gives a sense of uncertainty.
SOUND
- The sound of her breathing and the creaking of the door are soft and are contrasted against the slam of the door as it closes. This makes us scared that the killer has also heard the door close.
- Soft music is used as a non-diegetic sound to build up suspense, which is a well known technique to many horror and thriller films.
- Every time a shot of the killer is shown, there is an increase in the tempo and volume of the music which helps to scare the viewer.
- The quietness and safety of the road is shown through contrast of music. The music gets much calmer when the focus goes to the road.
- String instruments played with a quick and steady beat increases the audience’s heart rate.
- Loud, non-diegetic music mixed with the diegetic screams and breaking of glass adds panic to the moment when the killer turns around.
EDITING
• The camera focuses on the main girl for a long time at the beginning with no cuts, which helps the audience to empathise with her as they wouldn’t want to be in her position
• There is a jump cut from one place to another – the house to the road, which shows the contrast in the two different areas.
• This same cut is then used to show how slowly time is going for the girl who just wants her parents to get home already. This is shown through the time it takes the car to make distance down the road.
• POV shots are used through the window before quickly cutting back to her face which shows her panic as she hides and does not want to be seen.
• Quick cuts between the girl and the killer as he attacks her speeds up the situation and adds a sense of panic.
• Slow motion is used to emphasise the danger as she has now been caught by a man with a knife. This shows a sense of defeat compared to her running beforehand as now she knows she cannot get away.
• A cut is made from when the knife is stabbed into her, to her father inside as he realises something is wrong, this is an example of dramatic irony.
• The camera focuses on the main girl for a long time at the beginning with no cuts, which helps the audience to empathise with her as they wouldn’t want to be in her position
• There is a jump cut from one place to another – the house to the road, which shows the contrast in the two different areas.
• This same cut is then used to show how slowly time is going for the girl who just wants her parents to get home already. This is shown through the time it takes the car to make distance down the road.
• POV shots are used through the window before quickly cutting back to her face which shows her panic as she hides and does not want to be seen.
• Quick cuts between the girl and the killer as he attacks her speeds up the situation and adds a sense of panic.
• Slow motion is used to emphasise the danger as she has now been caught by a man with a knife. This shows a sense of defeat compared to her running beforehand as now she knows she cannot get away.
• A cut is made from when the knife is stabbed into her, to her father inside as he realises something is wrong, this is an example of dramatic irony.
CAMERAWORK
• The girl at first has a lot of camera time which helps us as the audience to empathise with her and we are immediately put on her side.
• POV shots through the window add a sense of reality and we are put in the girl’s shoes making us imagine ourselves in the situation.
• The camera follows the girl as she runs from the killer which emphasises the panic.
• Medium shots of the girl lying on the floor are used to show her injuries and to therefore show how serious the bleeding is.
• A shot taken from a camera which appears to be lying in the grass above the girl shows her struggling on the ground and because of the low height of the camera, this emphasises her helplessness.
• Another POV shot is used, this time it is of her looking up at her parents as the enter the house, oblivious of her dying just metres away.
• The camera also follows the girl’s mum as she searches the house for her daughter, giving a sense of desperation.
• Initially an extra long shot shows the body hanging from the trees, however the camera shakily zooms in with speed, as if we are the father running in panic towards his daughter’s body.
