#5

Hostel (2011)

 

 

 

 

 

Analysis

 

Introduces the type of film, eg.. ‘Lionsgate films’, dark screen with text effects to make it stand out and sound is added to help grab your attention and make you notice who made the film.

Credits start (White text fades in) on a dark screen, a clear use of diegetic sound of a person whistling. The echoes of the whistles makes you immediately ask questions—What gender are they? Are they alone? Are they in danger?

 

 

The first image is shown, another diegetic sound is introduced of water droplets. Camera focuses on a close-up of falling water. Credits run continuously throughout.

Blurs out the background of what appears to be someone moving about. Straight edits to make it run smoothly. The opening shot is dull and spooky– not quite focusing on one thing—’What will happen next?’

Continues to remain with darkness, adds a little light when it introduces the foam running down the wall—What does the foam have to do with the person whistling? Is there a connection?

 

Revisits water, droplets dropping onto the floor—Places of where the person could be suddenly comes to mind—Sewer, underground, streets, cave? The time in which the water droplets are dropping slows down—Builds tensions, makes you wonder where the water is coming from. All of the credits appear in the bottom right screen, the dark background and the white text make it stand out.

 

Starts with a dark/black screen, grey scissors that appear to be sharp are now introduced. You instantly recognise that they are covered in something red—Is the red on the sharp object paint or blood? The producers keep the audience in the dark about what’s going to happen next—they don’t give away too much, but give you enough time to ask questions of your own.

Continues with foam, water and a red liquid running down the path, mixing together. Immediately makes you ask questions– Why are these liquids in this place? What significance does this person have with these liquids? Why are these things running down the path?

Ends with a dark abandoned place– Slowly introduces the audience to where they actually are. Diegetic sound is included; The door closes, blackening the room, ending the beginning of the opening scenes credits.

 

 

#4

The Tunnel (2011)

Analysis

The fact that the opening starts with something based on true events immediately makes the viewer intrigued - Did this really happen, was it serious, was were the consequences?

The fact that it tells the audience that not all of the people involved agreed to being interviewed makes a million different questions run through your mind - What could be so bad that the people involved disagreed to being interviewed?

The sound in this horror film opening is one of my favourites - The way it involves the audience by making the main character on the other end of the phone seem panicked and being able to hear her breathing automatically makes the audience involved in the film. This would definitely be one of the things I would want to include in my own film opening.

The way that the person on the other end of the call stays calm and the way the girl answers the questions panicky with the rustling of the background noise makes the audience curious.

 

When the girl on the other end of the phone call starts screaming, the person trying to help the girl immediately starts asking questions - They were calm to start with, but now they start asking more and more questions.

#3

The Gravedancers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc_AqwVwmvg 

Analysis

The film immediately starts with a girl and a light bulb sitting in the corner of the room, it immediately makes you start asking questions - Does this girl sum up the entire film? The fact that the room is dark, makes you realise that something is not quite right.

The extreme close up of this girl lets you know what she is thinking and feeling, her face stands out with the darkness of the room. The mise en scene in this makes it seem as though the girl is quite dirty, her facial expression is obviously scared making you wonder what will happen next.

 

The way that the torch is focused on something on the right hand side immediately makes you wonder what it is, this shot builds tension and makes you want to know more.

This is one of my favourite shots - I like how the camera is peering into something that makes it seem quite fuzzy, this shot give us the fact that something/someone is watching her.

The camera shot continuously goes back from herself and then gives an establishing shot of the atmosphere to build up more and more tension.

The fact that the screen goes black immediately makes you wonder what will happen next - It makes the film unique by not having straight edits throughout and adding a black screen to add effect, this also contrasts with the room as it is a dark room.

The camera shots constantly go back to the girl and the torch and her trying to find what it is that is out there in the darkness, the fact that it keeps going back to the same shots makes it seem as if time is passing by and she is constantly trying to find what is awaiting her.

I like how each shot slowly opens the audience up to the surrounding atmosphere, the fact that the light is focused on one certain place and you can't quite see the area around it makes it all the more scary and builds tension.

I like how there is a repetitiveness of constantly going back to the girls face, this gets the audience involves and makes the film seem all the more scary. 

I like how this shot makes it seem slightly fuzzy, almost as if something is interfearing with the image we are seeing.

I really like how this shot portrays being scared, the way it focuses on the main character and what she is feeling makes it more appealing to the audience.

The dark shadowy outlines makes you realise that someone is actually in the room with her, the fact that it doesn't show you the creatures face but rather just reveals the back of it makes the viewer hooked into the beginning.

This shot is repeated in this film at least three times, it constantly makes you think that something is watching her and is hiding behind the darkness.

I like the lighting in this particular shot, the way the curtains are closed and you can see a little bit of lightness contrasts with the darkness of the room.

I really like how the lighting is used in this film in order to portray a meaning - For example, in this shot, the stream of light is only below her nose, but not above her eyes. Not only this, but for these particular shots there seems to be a sequence - Surroundings, character, surroundings etc.

I like how all of these three shots run smoothly together - The first picture is of a close up of her face to the side, the second shot shows more of her body, then the third shot shoes a close up once again of her facial expressions.

 

I like how the tension continuously builds - Not only this, but throught the clip, the main character has always blended into the room. The fact that there is a stream of light behind her suggests that something is awaiting her. 

As the girl is hanging from the rope and falls, there is flashing light surrounding her, brightening up the atmosphere as she is slowly jolting.

At this point, the camera is looking directly up at the girl, this makes the audience ask a lot of different questions - How did she die? Who killed her? What did she do?

The fact that the ending shot focuses on an envelope with a light border around it and darkness in the background makes you wonder what this envelope has to do with the girl dying.

#2

P2 (2007)

Analysis

The beginning of the film immediately starts in a highly dark contrasted and gloomy atmosphere, the camera shot slowly goes downwards on what looks to be like a pillar. The soundtrack almost compliments the camera shot - The way the song is very slow and gentle, yet happy contrasts with the dark and gloomy atmosphere, it seems as if the whole beginning is trying to mess with your mind.

I like how each of the camera shots run smoothly into another, not only this, but the fact the film title 'P2' is written on the wall makes the wonder what this place has to do with the whole film in itself.

The camera slowly moves round, giving an establishing shot of the whole atmosphere, it slowly moves around and then stops as if it is focusing on a particular thing in the room - It slowly opens up the audience to the main centre of the film.

When the car first comes into view, you can already see the writing of 'P2' on the wall right next to the car. It immediately makes you wonder what this particular car has to do with the entire film - does this car sum up the film as a whole?

I like how the camera shot goes from a small hole on the car boot and builds up to an eye peering out - Why is there a person looking out?

 

The music ultimately creates the whole camera shot - The person inside the boot begins to scream, the happy Christmas music then slows down and cuts out.

Ideas

From this film opening I have definitely taken a few ideas I may want to use in my actual film opening - The way the dark scenery and the contrasting happy music makes the film seem even more creepy and builds tension in a completely unique way, I also like how each shot makes you continuously ask different questions.