Horror opening scene analysis

 

The Woman in Black opening scene analysis

During the opening scene, our first shot is an extreme close up of a china teapot pouring imaginary tea into a china cup and saucer, the following close ups are of the characters pouring the imaginary tea into their dolls mouths, connoting that these characters are playing a harmless game with their dolls. As we are shown the long shot or mise en scene, we are shown three young girls who express happiness and innocence. Despite this, we are shown very dark and old colours such as grey, brown and plain patterns, the scenery and props are very old and antique looking, which can make a very creepy and eerie atmosphere. The dark lighting can connote a ghostly and spooky atmosphere which is a general convention of a horror film as all of these aspects help build tension, as well as create a scary effect for the audience. The non-diegetic sound plays throughout, and has a childlike and innocent tone, but at the same time can be connoted as very spooky and unusual, as in horror films, the children are usually possessed, so childish music can create a very uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience.

The next shots are close ups of the girls playing with their dolls, brushing their hair and dressing them up, which we would consider normal, but still the non-diegetic sound still creates anticipation for the audience. The next close up shots are of the characters, their facial expressions connote happiness and show a care-free attitude, the camera shots are very slow which can present almost a dream-like atmosphere or can connote a time from the past.

Suddenly the camera shows a long shot of the room and the non-diegetic sound becomes a lot deeper and produces an echo which can start to build tension for the audience. The three girls turn their heads slowly and stare at the camera, as they are a distance away, the low lighting and old fashioned costumes can create a very ominous and chilling effect, which is a general convention of a horror film as the low lighting can build suspense and can create a scary atmosphere. The next long shot faces the girls, but as a lower angle, which can make the audience feel inferior to the characters as they look more important. As they turn their heads towards the window, all emotion has been stripped off their face, which can connote to the audience that they are possessed or being controlled, which is a horror convention as in most horrors, the children become under control of the antagonist.

The audience are faced with a zooming in medium shot towards the window; the window can be connoted as a dominant part of the scene because the non-diegetic sound gets louder as we are presented it. The dark scenery around it can connote fear to the audience but also a haunting prop used in the scene.

The next medium shot is again of the three young girls, slowly standing up, but their eyes are still fixed on the window with no emotion and this creates the enigma for the audience, asking why they aren't looking away from the window, and why they now show no emotion on their faces. The non-diegetic sound helps to build tension as it creates a mysterious atmosphere for the audience as it has throughout the scene. As they walk towards the window we are shown close ups of their feet, standing and smashing on their dolls and toys without thought of where they're walking. This creates another enigma, as to why they now suddenly don't care about their toys which a second ago they found so precious and cared for.

The next shot is the three young girls walking towards the window, but for the audience, it looks like they're walking towards them, this can make the audience nervous or uncomfortable. Their eyes are not looking straight into the camera but straight past it, connoting that they are almost mesmerized by the window, but because they show no emotion it can also connote that the window has control over them. The background is very dark and gloomy and can create an evil and spine chilling atmosphere towards the audience, but the contrast with the bright white colours from the costumes of the young girls, can suggest that these girls are still innocent but controlled by the darkness around them which can be seen as quite haunting. The non-diegetic sound gets louder and a more prominent feature in the opening scene, building more tension and making the audience feel even more uncomfortable. Making the audience feel disturbed is another convention of a horror as it prepares them to get scared by something soon after.

The use of symmetry between the girls makes the opening seen even more creepy and evil, and during the long shot we watch the girls all open the windows at the same time, the close up and diegetic sound of the door handle opening builds tension and the anticipation is rapidly increasing. Suddenly the girls step up onto the window and the non-diegetic sound calms into a low humming noise, connoting that something is about to happen and as the three girls jump out the windows at the same time the non-diegetic gets loud and reaches its climax then stops to hear the diegetic sound of a mother screaming 'my babies!'. As she screams, we are shown a close up of a china doll which the audience would connote as quite disturbing and uncomfortable and final zooming out long shot fades to black.