Looking at other horror/thrillers -

In class today, we had decide on groups, and choose a horror or a thriller of our choice that we would like to present to the class by anaylsing the film using mise-en-scene, camera angels, editing and sound - in my group there is Me (Amber Holt), Harriet Nicholls, Harriet Long & Rebecca Roydhouse. For our presentation we have decided to the horrorr/thriller - Jennifer's body.

• starts with an establishing shot - coming closer to the house.
• jump cut to an extreme close-up of jennifers arm.
• jump cut back to paning of the camera around.
• close-up of house - extreme close-up of jennifer - idea of not revealing her eyes.
• the extreme closeup of the window - unknowing/trapped.
• POV from the window (needy) tv and feet.
• camera angle coming up from the bed - childlike - bed monsters.
• reveals jennifer -

we also looked at each other presentaions of different horrors, we took notes on our own ideas aswell -


Daryl Meadows - "The Grudge"

• When the credits appear, there is a distinctive sound; quiet, and gets louder and could resemble the building up of suspense.
• The use of the colours black and red could symbolise, blood/evil/dark which will foreshow in the film.
• The swap of the camera angles could be used to show confusion.
• The use of the low angle shot could symbolise her weakness compared to the grudge and is foreshadowing what might happen.
• The daughter constantly enters from the darkness and into light; this could represent her dark side and her innocence – mysterious?
• The use of the colours black and white could suggest bad vs. good.
• The thing that is growing in the corner of the room – not meant to be there could symbolise evil and the idea it will always be there watching over.
• The mum and the daughter are both wearing blue; they are wearing two different shades of blue which suggests to us that throughout the film, they will be affected by blue. The mum is wearing a darker blue which could symbolically represent that because the thing in the corner is growing in her house, she is more affected. Or will be targeted first.
• The use of the black tones could suggest her being evil and deadly.
• Whereas the white tones could suggest her purity and innocence.
• The use of the black and white shadows could suggest her innocence against her own evil.
• The use of the high shot, is the point of view of the thing growing in the corner this could suggest that is in control as the thing is higher up and therefore shows her vulnerability and unawareness.
• The use of the side shot of the girl suggests that we can only see half a person which could reflect the idea of a split personality.
• The use of the mid-shot, to close-up to extreme close-up could resemble the idea of intimidation as you are unable to see fewer features.
• The use of them camera angles shows that the girl is trapping the light coming through the windows which could reflect on the idea that freedom is far off, and the resemblance of the window could reflect the idea of being trapped.
• The use of the shot reverse shot could be the point of view of the girl showing frustration and suspense.
• The use of the low shot, could suggest that she feels threatened and therefore the producer has played around with the camera angels.
• The sound follows the rhythm from the start, starting off quite and low and becoming high this could suggest the destruction starting to happen.
• The use of the low base sound could suggest that there is a element of danger near.
• The use of the cobwebs could portray the idea of a spider catching his prey which could resemble the idea of the thing in the corner (grudge) catching her.
• The theme of ‘unknowing’ is explored throughout the film.
• The use of the flame flickering in the background could build up the tension.

Luke Papworth - "The Ringer"

•  clouds moving quickly - could resemble the idea of running out of time.
• car is deeper into the forest - idea of becoming more trapped.
• the girl looking through the window - red shadow - foreshadowing danger
• phone behind the girl - red shadow - danger as it is always in the background.
• the man is smashing up the place - mad/angry idea of loosing control - resembling his hair(ratty)
• soft music - misleading
• ringer - death in the film.
• smashing the floor - idea of entering hell.
• light and dark (bad about to happen) idea of seeing the light.
• looking at them - death staring at them in the face.
• tv is answering her question.
• big/sharp sound - attack.
• tv - screen - nothing to be afraid of domient.

"silent hill"-

• first part - showing snow -resembling a horror.
• ash falling from the silent hill - not snow suspcious?
• light suddenly switches on - rose (mum)
• shadow of the main character - innocense.
• non-diegetic sounds - 'cant see her'
• panical tone- engaged - upset - distressed.
• low/two shot - rose - main character.
• mum and dad constantly in the background
• could show him as a father figure.
• teddy bear - reveals child like/danger.
• dark/mysterious light - sense of foreboding.
• frightening/unsetteling.
• threatening atmosphere.
• isolation - no where.
• does society affect this?
• names on the bridge reflect the idea the characters in the game.
• thunder - danger.
• antisipation.
• suspense.
• car-tyres - running out of time (coming to the end)
• waterful - never ending (closer/louder)
• haunting music - relgious connoations.
• ariel shot - showing death/danger.
• scared/desperation.
• roles have been switched.
• innocense - contridiction not evil but causing bad things to happen.
• humour -possessed.
• camera pans around - unwilling characters.

"silence of the lambs" -

• sound - sweet and high goes louder, lower and harsher could resemble the lambs.
• the darkness - trees - spooky could symbolise the fog unknown - establishing shot - tension.
• birds nature - good vs. evil.
• panting (mid shot) extreme close-up
• view of feet , view through the trees showing someone is watching.
• footsteps - running and the tramperling on the leaves.
• side view of people - we dot know hee.
• determination - over come by chalanges.
• behind shot - music changes by becoming lighter.
• 180 degree rule - vunrability.
• red face - women/evil.
• running away from someone?
• obsticale course - challenges she will approch.
• pan reveals the doctor.
• switching of the convosation.
• her pov shot - walking down viewing the prisioners.
• behind the bars - trapped.
• bars - glowing red - going into evil/hell decending.
• authority - long shot.
• huming to tune?
• red face - tension/evil
• no way of escaping.
• over the shoulder shot - sharing power.
• beeping tone - countdown.
• contrast of red and white - secuirty and innocense.
• bars closed - trapped.
• 360 degree angle - pov (checking surroundings)
• music - sombre/deathly.
• establishing shot - dark/scary/suspense.
• establishing shot - dark/sombre
• going down into hell - up to heaven
• chair - alone/normality.
• flicks between her and prisoner - her.
• perspective - scared/vunrability.
• pan - hannibal appears.
• cell - better than others - better class.
• has glass instead of bars - unknown?
• dangerous
• -harsh tone - swap of character.
• hannibal in control - asking questions
• closer - zoom in on hannibals face.

Terminator 2 essay

Discuss the ways in which in the film ‘terminator 2’ constructs gender using the following; camera angles, movement and composition, editing, sound and mise-en-scene.

In the film terminator 2 the use of the close-up angle in the interview scene portrays gender as the use of desperation and Sarah having to prove herself to the ‘doctor’ this cross links the idea of sexuality and how men are seen to be more superior to women and the idea of women having to prove themselves to be seen as on the same level as men. The use of the canted angle here suggests that the imbalance and instability of Sarah. The use of all the staff working at the mental institute being male here implies the transition and contrast between Sarah being a female and the staff being male. Here this could suggest the idea of male sex being dominant and known as more superior.

The use of the canted angle suggests here that it is the view from Sarah’s point of view and foreshowing her vulnerability. The use of clothing in this scene shows the gender of the characters for example Sarah is wearing a long white night dress. We assume with a women dresses and skirts whereas different personalities portray different ways of expressing yourself for example; women that are seen as more male and therefore choose to dress like that persecific sex for example a tom boy.

The contrast with the night dress shows a femine and vulnerable side to Sarah as the idea of not being able to escape the mental institute foreshows this with the idea of dressing as a tom boy as putting a guard up and being the idea of ‘Hard’ and not showing the uneasy and vulnerable side of Sarah. The use of the mental institute foreshows the helpless and defenceless character Sarah has become as she was stripped of her personal clothing and weapons which here could resemble her comfort blanket and she feels as if she is always in danger.

The location in the scene is in a office, the office is dull and the use of colours is limited. This reflects the idea of the staff being male dominated as this is reflected within the institute. The main colour reflected within the lighting is black, white and grey. This could reflect the mood within the institute as it is a uneasy atmosphere. The clothing used for the staff is a contradiction as you associate a doctor in a white coat as harmless and trustworthy whereas the doctors in the film are vulgar and dangerous for example when the man lick’s Sarah’s face this foreshows the lack of respect the patients have gained and they are not trustworthy as they mimic them, as they know they are unable to react and therefore take advantage of the patient (Sarah) being reluctant to react. As for example here; Sarah is strapped down and her mouth covered. The windows which are shown to be blacked out.

The use of gender here is not established and therefore the director is playing with the idea of neither male nor female. The light coming from the window could symbolise freedom and the lack of light could show the contrast between reality and fate. The lack of light could symbolically suggest the mysterious but threatening atmosphere and how reality has disappeared for the patients as they are treated as non-humane. The use of sound is foreshowed by gender as Sarah is panting and breathing heavily and therefore could symbolically represent the vulnerable, distressed Sarah.

Therefore in the escape scene the high shot of john talking to the terminator could represent the urge for a father figure in his life and being able to relate to the same gender as his character as his mum has brought him up. And how he looks up to him as a superior and no longer see’s the terminator as threatening, the contrast between the personality of the terminator between the first film and the second could symbolically represent the courage and friendship that foreshadows his relationship with Sarah and John.  The use of the change of clothing Sarah has adapted here would suggest that she has left the fragile and choked Sarah behind and has hidden that with the male clothing that dominates her life-style.

Some of Sarah’s facial features are shown here and therefore could represent the two sides to her as deep down she is a femine, vulnerable women but covers her personality with the boy-ish act. The use of the low angle shot of Sarah and the juxtaposition between the change of clothing from a dress to trousers and vest. The use of the shot could resemble him in control and how the director has played with the structure of the film so far. The use of the extreme close-up as Sarah injects the main doctor of the institute during her escape shows the personal approach and how the director could have placed his view from back. But the use of the extreme close-up could show the desperation and suspense. The use of the low angle of the doctor struggling could be a contrast between a female struggling earlier to a male. The disorientation of the canted angle could represent the confusion and the reluctant up-rising of Sarah’s escape. The contrast between the high and low angle could reflect the idea of trust. And how they have betrayed Sarah’s trust and the use of the high angle showing Sarah could resemble the idea of that now Sarah is in control of his life as he struggles and reinforces the idea that ‘what goes around comes back around’ and how they have betrayed her. The idea of the contrast between trust and the idea of being able to trust someone in a white coat comes from the idea of stereotyping. The lack of trust between Sarah and the other characters resembles that she may have been let down in her past and the idea of conflict between characters foreshows. Sarah’s minds reluctant to let anyone in because of her trust issues and the idea of being a mother and wanting to protect her son.

In the scene from the family place focuses on the light appearing from behind john this could resemble the importantance of the character and resemble an angel like figure. The close-up of Sarah reveals a more personal approach to the character and resembles her femine features. Sarah is wearing blacked out glasses and therefore hiding her eyes this could resemble hiding who she is as an old saying ‘if you look deep enough into someone’s eyes you can see their soul’. When Sarah wakes up the lighting is around her face and shortly goes dark this could symbolise the difference between fate and reality.

In the final scene the close up shot of the terminator and john struggling to help Sarah this symbolically represents the difference between male and female and the capability. This suggests that the need of a male influence within the family and the missing part needed. The low angle shot of Sarah and john here could represent the threat and vulnerability they are under and the contrast between and mother and son bond. The difference between a female and male child. The white shadow on Sarah’s face could represent the innocence and angelic personality she has. At the end Sarah and the terminator are on par with each other and could symbolically represent the non-social class between either and there is no difference between male and female.

Looking At 'Psycho'

Psycho is a 1960s American film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Hitchcock was a British film directer and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres.

The film is based on the screenplay by Joseph Stefano, who adapted it from the 1959 novel of the same name from Robert Bloch. The film depicts the encounter between a secretary (Marion Crane) hiding at a secluded motel after stealing money from her employer. The motels disturbed owner and manager (Norman Bates) and the aftermath of their encounter.

Main plot - in Phoenix, Arizona, discreet lovers Marion Crane and Sam Loomis want to marry, but cannot. as Sam is in heavy debt. unhappy and desperate to improve their situation, marion steals the $40,000 in caseh from her office and begins to drive towards sams home in california. Along the way she trades her car for another car after he anxious behaviour arouses suspicion from a highway police officer, and others. The following night marion pulls into the bates motel, a twelve cabin lodging located off the main road with no other guests present. Marion meet the owner, Norman who lives in the big, main house with himself and his mother. From Marion's room, she overhears an arguement between the two of which she accuses Norman of creating an affair. Instead Marion and Norman eat in the office, here Norman explains that dispite his mothers abuse he refuses to abandon her as she is unable to care for herself. Marion decides to return to pheonix and return the money and to accept all consequences. Marion exuses herself from the room, and goes to undress, while Norman secretly watches before running to the house.

Here i have anaylsed all the differerent scenes we have watched of 'Psycho' and placed all the finding i have come up with into mise-en-scene, camera angles, editimg and sounds.