Analysing the opening scene to a horror film (saw)

Analysing an Opening Scene to a horror film (saw)

Titles

Lionsgate is featured in the titles with barbed wire wrapped around the text which shows it is a horror because it is associated with danger and blood.  

•       Sound:

•       Sound is very important within a horror to help set the tone mood and atmosphere.

•       Non-diegetic music is used to reflect the narrative events such as the tense music to create atmosphere.

•       Diegetic sound is used in the dialogue between the characters, it reveals  the scared gasps of the men this shows that the genre is likely to be a tense and nail-biting film.

•      Camera Angles:

•      A close-up shot is used to show the character facial expressions when he is looking and being dazzled by the lights.

•      There is also a low angle shot of the lights; this could be to create a tense atmosphere within the audience because maybe somebody is turning them on. The lights flash which is a common convention in the horror genre.

•      There is a medium shot of the man in the set which sows where he is.

•      High angle shot of a dead body holding a gun covered in blood, this makes the audience question what’s happened and why he is there with a gun.

•      Characters:

•      The main characters are introduced in the opening scene when there is a close up shot of each of them and their expressions. The audience recognises that they are the main characters through the use of the dialogue/camera shots/events that they are involved in.

•      Enigma codes:

•      Enigma codes are used to tease the audience and engage them in the narrative so they carry on watching the film. Certain enigmas are included in the opening such as puzzles about why the two men are in the old bathroom and what’s happened to them, and the dead body on the floor holding a gun. Questions are left unanswered about how the man on the floor died and what has made all of the men be    captured.

Props/ costumes:

•      The audience can see that the characters are wearing smart/casual clothes this shows that the men are probably quite wealthy and live an upper class lifestyle. This is typical of the genre because many victims in horror films are higher class as it is a massive contrast to their usual classy lives.

•      Props are featured such as a gun this is typical of the genre as it shows there is violence and danger involved in the film, this makes it exciting for the audience.

•      Clichés:

•      Noticeable clichés are used in the opening scene such as blood, gore and weapons, this engages the audience as they recognise these features and can predict what is going to happen in the narrative.