scream analysis
I will write
an analysis of the famous thriller film scream. I’ll be discussing how the
opening sequence is conventional to a thriller opening. This includes the
micro-elements used such as editing, cinematography, sound and mise en scene,
and how they all create a more meaningful response from the audience. The scene
begins with the female victim relaxing in the safety of her home, however the
mood changes when she receives a daunting phone call from a random stranger.
Eventually she dies and her parents find her dead hanging from a tree.
The setting of the opening is a massive house shown by an
establishing shot to reveal the scene which is in the middle of a Forrest. This
indicates that no one is around to help her. Automatically there is a link that
she is much safer in her house than outside, in addition she is isolated away
from civilisation and the audience can vision what it would be like to be in
the position of the victim, because they know the antagonist has an advantage.
She is walking around in a cosy white jumper which is pure and peaceful
presenting her as the female victim/protagonist about to make popcorn for her
and her boyfriend. The audience’s response is relaxed because they see she’s
excited at this point and feeling flirtatious. The audience can see no sign of
anything going wrong but they know it will at some point because of the use of
dramatic irony.
In this opening it consists of many shot sizes to show
emotion which is used to change the mood wave length of the scene. For example
when the female victim answers the phone she flirts and seems to be really
amused by the conversation. However when the phone rings again for the third
time and the antagonist says her name, the camera zooms in on her face to
capture the sudden expression of shock and disbelief. As an audience member the
tension starts to slowly build with the curiosity which is caused by thinking
what the antagonist might do next. Other micro-elements are used to elaborate
the intensity of the scene one being the off screen sounds of the phone and the
non-diegetic eerie sound being played every time something bad is about to
happen. When the audience hear the phone ring without seeing it, it gives a
rush of uncertainty because they know the outcome is bad and they can empathise
with the female victim. Whilst hearing the mysterious, frightening eerie music
the audience have opinionated that the victim is not as safe as they thought
she was at the beginning.
At the end of the scene where she
dies the antagonist is above her showing he’s more superior a low camera angle
from a point of view shot. This is used so that the audience can see the
vulnerable position she is in empathising.This is
when we get a good look of the antagonist wearing his black cloak. Black reveals
death, darkness and evil as to why he wears that to show his intentions and how
he should be represented in a thriller. The audience can fear him because they
don’t know much about him which makes him seem mysterious causing suspicions
and Anxiety. Overall this opening sequence has a great amount of effects that
the audience can react to making it a real thriller opening.
The setting of the opening is a massive house shown by an
establishing shot to reveal the scene which is in the middle of a Forrest. This
indicates that no one is around to help her. Automatically there is a link that
she is much safer in her house than outside, in addition she is isolated away
from civilisation and the audience can vision what it would be like to be in
the position of the victim, because they know the antagonist has an advantage.
She is walking around in a cosy white jumper which is pure and peaceful
presenting her as the female victim/protagonist about to make popcorn for her
and her boyfriend. The audience’s response is relaxed because they see she’s
excited at this point and feeling flirtatious. The audience can see no sign of
anything going wrong but they know it will at some point because of the use of
dramatic irony.
At the end of the scene where she
dies the antagonist is above her showing he’s more superior a low camera angle
from a point of view shot. This is used so that the audience can see the
vulnerable position she is in empathising.This is
when we get a good look of the antagonist wearing his black cloak. Black reveals
death, darkness and evil as to why he wears that to show his intentions and how
he should be represented in a thriller. The audience can fear him because they
don’t know much about him which makes him seem mysterious causing suspicions
and Anxiety. Overall this opening sequence has a great amount of effects that
the audience can react to making it a real thriller opening.