Character Costume Deconstruction

Freddy Krueger - Deconstruction

Make up:

As seen in the photo the SFX make up and mask is one of the most distinctive things about the character.

It is clear from this image that both masking and SFX have been used to enhance fear in the audience and create realism that he was actually burnt in a fire. 

The use of the fake teeth helps to accentuate the rotten look he implies, however, it also helps to show that he is still human and still withholds human features, so makes it more scary for the audience as it creates realism.

However, the obvious reasoning behind the mask, is to show that he has been burnt in a fire and make the storyline seem as believable to the audience as possible. 

Clothing:

In terms of clothing, Freddy Krueger is always framed wearing the same clothes; the stripy jumper and dark trousers/jeans. This allows him to be distinguishable from others for the audience, but also helps him stand out easily as the colours of his top, do contrast to create quite a bright look.

Also, because the predominant colour is red, this signifies blood, danger and along with the black and dark colours, death. This assists in the foreshadowing of the character and his role in the film, although it may be seen as pretty obvious from the onset!

The hat, is to presumably to help cover his scaring on his head, and make it a little more watchable for the audience. But it could also accentuate his human features, and how he went from being a normal living man to a murderer, creating more fear and weariness among the audience.

The hat also often shadows half his face, creating low key lighting focusing on his face. This creates an ominous effect and makes him more fearful to the audience as they can not see directly what he is. 

Hand:

Finally, the hand is one of the most important aspects of the character of Freddy Krueger in all films. The four knives which are attached to a plastic glove, is definitely what completes Freddy Krueger's frightening image. It creates the feeling of brutality and fear among the audience, as they begin to see no one is spared. 

The discolouredness of the glove, also suggests it has been used plentiful times giving the impression that he has killed many.

Also, the concept of the knives replacing the nails creates him to be much more powerful and able than the average human being and almost unbeatable. 

Finally, it is a distinctive prop of the character, so assists to keep the brutal reputation of Freddy Krueger going.

-Tibet Keskin

28 Weeks Later - Deconstruction

28 Weeks Later - Opening

Mise en Scene

Lighting:

• The lighting is low key to show how they are hidden out of the natural world and natural light.
• The room seems to be candle lit to show how they are living with the bare minimum with no electricity.
• When ever natural light seems to show in the sequence, the zombies make an appearance, perhaps suggesting that the natural world is dangerous and the must hide from it.
• Harsh lighting only ever appears on the zombies enhancing their features and their fearful appearance.
• Also, when the characters first open the door to the young boy, they seem to be blinded by the light, implying that they have been away from natural light for a while maybe due to them being in hiding. 

Location:

• The location seems to be completely boarded up by wood, this symbolises their want to conceal from the dangerous, outside world. 
• If you look closely to the mese en scene of the house, it shows quite normal day to day items to make the story line seem as believable and life like as possible.
• When the door is opened an you see outside, the location seems to be isolated in fields which conforms with the conventional horror genre of attacking those isolated and desolated.

Clothing:

• All of the characters' clothing seem to be in harmony with the rest of the mese en scene. dark, plain, yet effective in showing the little the characters have, as well as presenting, once again, the chilling atmosphere.
• The young boy's clothes are covered in dirt to symbolise his struggle and his fight against the zombies. 
• The boy is the only character wearing white perhaps foreshadowing that he is the only one with life or youthfulness left, and maybe the only one destined to survive.

Hair Styles and Make Up:

• Both make up and hair of the living humans is kept minimal to connote them living with the bare minimum.
• On the other hand, the make up used on the zombies is strong and lurid to the viewer. The zombies are shown covered in blood to promote fear as it shows how they eat human flesh. They are also made to look pale to signify that they are "dead". They also have red eyes to also make them look inhumane and obscene.
• The hair on the zombies is often made to look back combed and knotted, to imply their disarrayed way of living, as well as their lack of life. 

Camera - Framing/Angles/Movement:

• The extreme close up shot of the boy eating really emphasises his facial expression and how hungry and fearful the boy is because of the zombie apocalypse.
• The gif below shows yet another fearful facial expression, using a head and shoulders shot to emphasise it.

• Throughout the sequence, point of view shots are used to create a more ominous and fearful effect on the audience, as well as a sense of realism almost as if it is happening to them.
• The over head shot of the new zombie attacking the male character assists to prove how fearful the attack from a zombie is, as well as see how, up close, the strength of the SFX and how effective it.
• The low camera angle of the zombie, when her eyes turn red, is a really effective shot to create trepidation and shock within the audience. 
• When the older male character is being attacked by the zombies at the end of the sequence, the camera angle is high and over the top of the male character to highlight the violence of the attack. The camera is also jolting during this part of the sequence to create the effect of the audience being part of the attack and maybe even doing the attack themselves.

Editing:

• The editing is very quick and fast paced, especially during the attack as it creates a more dangerous effect and fearful atmosphere.
• Also, it is very effective as the audience is unable to see what is actually happening exactly creating an unnerving and ominous effect. 

Sound:

• The off-screen non-diegetic sound effect of when the boy is allowed into the house, gives an almost angelic effect, perhaps suggesting that the boy may be a hero in the film.
• The diegetic sound of the zombies, helps to create trepidation and fear within the audience. It also gives the zombies life as if they are real for the audience.
• The diegetic sound of the walls crashing when the zombies break into the house, are harsh and generate a restless feel for the fear of being made jump for the audience, making the film much more scary as it always keeps the viewer on edge. 
• The off-screen diegetic sound of when the zombies bite the characters arm makes a repulsive and sickening sound for the viewer and is very likely to make the audience squeamish, making the film much more effective in its genre.

-Caera Mendez

Film Deconstruction - 'Halloween'

'Halloween' -Opening Scene Analysis And Deconstruction

Directed by John Carpenter, the 1978 slasher film, is set in a small suburban town in western Illinois. It strongly sticks to the conventions of a usual slasher films by including gore and a masked killer.

Mise en Scene:

Location:

• The house is filled with normal day to day items to create the sense of realism for the audience.
• Also, as it is the victims home, it is more close to home for both the victim and the audience so therefore creating a more sympathetic and fearful feel from the audience. 
• For example, it has furniture which is usual and common to that time period which not only creates realism but also the thought that it can happen to anyone amongst the audience
• The house is also decorated modernly to incorporate the sense of realism again
• The house is shown as friendly family home to prove the innocence of the victims to make the audience sympathise with the victim more.

Furniture and interior 

• The house shown at the beginning of the scene contains muted colours for a  homely feel
• The decor is basic and simple with no extreme tastes or styles which may be distracting. This also keeps the scene relatable to as wide of an audience as possible.
• There is a large dining table which suggests the building is a family home.
• Also, in part of the sequence, there are children toys visible once again promoting the concept of a family friendly home. 

Clothing

• The characters are wearing very typical teenage clothes which makes them more relatable
• Towards the end of the scene the girl wears very little clothing, which may hint at her promiscuity. The conventions of slasher films mean that often the flirtatious female character is killed, so clothing her in this way foreshadows her death.
• At the very end of the opening, the boy is shown to be wearing a clown costume. Clowns are a common fear of many, so the use of this costume plays on the contemporary audience's fears. However, clowns are also often use for fun and pleasure for children, thus subverting there normal use.
• The young boy carries a knife which informs the audience that it was he who previously killed the woman.
• The two men surrounding the young boy are wearing smart suits, which is a symbol of their authority and power over the young boy. This is interesting because it is actually the young boy who has the power in this scene as he takes the life of another.

Hairstyles and Makeup

• The scene features very little evidence of creative hair and makeup design - the costumes are kept simple to make the characters as relatable as possible.
• The 'killer', when shown has a mask on, perhaps hiding not just his identity but also his age as he is such a young child.

Lighting:

• The scene is set at night time which gives an eerie low lighting effect.
• The house, when the killer enters, is shown to be low lit, so therefore, also low key lighting, so continuing the eerie atmosphere of the scene.
• There seems to be full shadow over the victims face, using backlight only; thus promoting her insignificance and lack of sympathy for her death to the killer.

Camera Framing and Camera Angles:

• When killing his victim, a point of view shot is used to create an ominous effect for the audience. Also, the framing of this shot seems to be quite low down, perhaps foreshadowing for the viewers that the killer is a child.
• Also, in the final scene, the dolly shot moving away from the child, also creates a foreshadowing effect for the audience as it leaves an unanswered question as to whether or not the child actually committed the crime. 
• The point of view shot, also implies that the crime was committed purposely by the killer.

Editing:

• During the murder scene, there is an effect to show that the killer is wearing a mask perhaps to hide his identity and human like features from the victim. - However, it later shows that this does not work because of the the victim then questions his identity.

Sound:

• The off-screen diegetic screaming of the victim promotes her fear and terror as she is being killed.
• The off-screen non-diegetic music has a slight build up to create tension for the audience. It is also very much the stereotypical slasher genre music, making it obvious to the viewers the type of film and what to expect. For example, gruesome and gruelling scenes.
• The off-screen diegetic sound of the crickets the desolation and isolation of the location and how far they are from everything else and therefore conforming with the slasher genre. 
• The off-screen diegetic sound of the knife coming into contact with the victim accentuates the gruesome extent of the attack. It also makes the scene quite difficult to watch as it sounds so life like, making the audience quite uncomfortable. 
• At the end of the opening, the music builds up greatly to emphasise the significant of his crime as well as who the killer is himself. 

-Caera Mendez

Character deconstruction

Character deconstruction - The Woman in black

There are many features about The Women in Black that are applied to make her an effective main character. I was interested in her character particularly as I feel she incorporates the genre of a gothic horror film extremely well.

Costume-

• The woman herself is dressed completely in black. This colour is usually representative of negative elements such as death and evil, portraying her as a more sinister character.
• This colour is useful to clearly identify who the antagonist is.
• Her outfit covers her head to toe and does not reveal much of her skin apart from her face. This could arguably create a sense of mystery as little about what she actually looks like is revealed.
• The Women in Black also wears long black gloves on her hands. Again this shields her true identity and covers her human features makes you question the 'human' aspect of her.
• The entity of her outfit including the old fashioned style of clothing all correlate to produce the impression that she is a dangerous character.

Make up-

• From the few glances you see of The Woman in Black's face, you can tell she is made to look extremely pale. This implies that she is ill or suffering from something terrible and with the absence of any life, warmth or happiness.
• The whiteness of her skin could indicate death, again portraying her as a dangerous character.
• Her eyes are made to look dark and deep suggesting a sense of evil.
• Several wrinkles and dark shades are added to her face to make her look old and wasting. This implies a sense of sickness about her and  her not being a character the audience would warm to. 

Masks-

• She wears a black wedding veil over her face concealing what she looks like as well as her facial features making you question is  she is human or not.
• This also keeps her identity hidden, portraying elements of secretiveness and the unknown, in turn creating an air of mystery.  

Body language-

• There is little physical interaction between The Woman in Black and any other character. instead we just see glimpses of her staring over people. This reveals little about her personality but you can see that she isn't the type to warmly interact.

 

 

Character Deconstruction - Ghostface (Scream)

Character Research and Analysis of Ghostface from Scream (1996)

An iconic image of Ghostface (1996)

The Killer from the 1996 edition of Scream is shown wearing a black cloak, a white mask and carrying a bloodied knife. The mask itself has become an extremely popular icon of horror culture, as many reproductions of it have been made and sold to the public.  It features regularly in fancy dress outfits and is instantly recognisable as Ghostface.

Whilst researching the origins of the Ghostface mask, I found out that the mask was actually not designed by the costume designers of the film - in fact, it was found in a abandoned house when the film crew were scouting for a film location to use. After they found the mask they decided to trace it back to its source, Fun World - a costume company, and after intense negotiation they established an agreement to use the mask in the film.

Interestingly, while the negotiations were taking place the film crew manufactured their own mask which was similar enough to be recognisable but different enough to avoid the breach of copyright. This mask is actually used in the first few scenes in the film, and as you can see if you look closely, there are a few visible differences. The eyes and facial features of the mask are slightly more pronounced at the start of the film, and become less prominent after the first few scenes.

Ghostface as he appears in the first scenes of the film 

Costume Analysis 

Clothing

Ghostface wears a very simple black cloak, with black gloves. This prominent use of the colour black conceals the killer's identity, as well as contributing to the character's dark, concealed nature. The use of a long, dark cloak is a theme 'borrowed' from Gothic literature and culture, for example 'The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come' in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

The Mask

The mask is used for a number of reasons:

• dehumanises the killer
• removes the killer's identity, isolating him from the other characters
• fear-inducing facial expression
• the mask conceals the killer's hair, which again hides his identity as hair is often a personal feature that identifies everyone

-Anna Humphreys

My Bloody Valentine Main Character Costume Deconstruction

My Bloody Valentine Killer Costume Deconstruction

 

Make up:

• As seen in the photo, make up is not visible on the character due to his face being hidden behind a mask.

The character is dressed in all black for multiple reasons;

1. The first being to help hide him easier in darkness so he can approach his victims undetected.
2. The second being to cover any show of skin which dehumanises the character and makes him more monstrous and fearful towards the audience.
3. The third is to incorporate the eerie feeling from the mask and his actions into the rest of the body because black is a symbol of death and fear.

The mask:

1. The killer wears a mask to hide his identity which creates an atmospheric fear among the audience as well as the victims.
2. The masks also covers his facial features, which by covering creates an illusion that he is not human but more of a monstrous character, because facial features are a strong indication of whether a person is human.
3. As well as this, the mask is a gas mask, which is normally used to save someone's life, so by an antagonist using it to hide his identity whilst he is killing victims contradicts the idea of protection and safety. This creates a strong eerie feel amongst the audience because he is using something out of the norm (such as a balaclava) to hide his identity and instead is using something of protection, so confuses the audiences. By not using a balaclava or any other type of "scary" mask, the film is going against the usual codes and conventions of a horror film, suggesting that it may be a different outcome to a usual film of that genre.

• The character is seen wearing gloves, this suggests that he is attempting to cover his actions by not leaving any traces of finger prints. It also once again suggests that he is trying to cover his human features such as skin or fingers, to create the monstrous, more fearful effect.
• The character uses the same weapon the whole way through the film and you do not see him without it, suggesting that without the axe he feels powerless or weak. Because the prop is an axe and is usually used to cut things in a more innocence way it creates a feeling of fear amongst the reader because of the strong use of realism.

-Caera Mendez

Film deconstruction- jaws

Film deconstruction- Jaws

Mese en Scene-
Location

• The location in which the scene is filmed is very isolated with the only humans present being the couple who enters the water
• The image of the sun setting creates a calm, idealistic environment which contrasts to the devastating scene to come of the girls death. This is effective is it enhances the impact the death has on the audience making it seem all the more shocking
• In addition, the calmness of the water is used to create this peaceful environment to emphasise that contrast
• You can argue that the image of the sunset symbolises the end of her life; just as it sets as she is being attacked

Hair and makeup

• The girl has her hair down and clearly shows she has not made and effort with her appearance showing her innocence. 
• Furthermore, her makeup is very minimal which emphasisers her venerability and naivety. This, in turn, makes her death more tragic to the audience

Clothing

• However, the fact that the girl is in nudity after being pursued by a boy can suggest that she is promiscuous which may be a reason why she ends up dying
• Furthermore, the nudity may suggest she is even more vulnerable as she doesn't have anything protecting her from the dangers in the water

Sound and Music- 

Diegetic sounds

At the benign of the scene the digits sounds consist of the couple talking and laughing with each other which sets a positive mood and adds a sense of realism. Then as the girl enters the water, there are very minimal digits sounds with the waves crashing being the only sound present. You could argue that this creates a slightly eery and uncomfortable atmosphere. We then hear her breathing and shouting to the boy whilst in the water which promotes a positive atmosphere. During the attack there is minimal non-diegetic sounds as the sound of her screaming as this is what the audience is meant to focus on. This panicked screaming connotes terror, fear and utter desperation to stay alive.  

Non-diegetic 

The main use of the non-diegetic sounds in this scene is to play in the position of the shark and build the tension. The girl creates many diegetic sounding in the water but this is followed by the non-diegetic sounds from under the water of a slow and eery noise. As the camera becomes closer to the girl the sound builds up and becomes quicker, perhaps indicating something bad is going to occur. At the time where she initially gets hit by the shark we hear a high pitched noise of a string instrument which is commonly used at the most intense moments to build fear. Towards the end of the attack we hear the high pitched background sound which builds up the fear until the girl is pulled under and all the sounds are eliminated leaving just silence which effectively emphasizes the tragedy of her death. 

Lighting-

• Very naturalistic which makes the death of the girl even mire tragic in order to create a bigger impact on the audience
• This also makes the characters seem very naive and innocent as they are unaware of the danger of their surroundings
• Hoever, the scene is shot in the late eveing so there is little natural lighting left giving a darker view which arguably creates a more sinsiter atmosphere  

Camera techniques-

• Whne the girl is in the water, there are many shots of the girls head quite close up giving the impression that the audience are in the water with her
• At the begining of the attack the camera is placed beneth the girl and is under the water. This is done to mimick the position of the shark so the audience has the view that the shark has. This works together with the music as rhis is where it begins to build up.
• This underwater shot pans sideways and follows the girl swmming filmed with a hand held camera giving the impression that the shark is stalking the girl
• we then breifly see a wide shot of the surface of the water when we can see that the girl is isolated and alone emphesising her vunerablility
• At 51 seconds the camera returns to the underwater low shot, looking up at the girl however this time it is a lot closer which increases the tension and fear of the viewer 
• The camera is unsteadily getting closer and closer to the girls body representing the shark preparing for its attack  
• We then see a shoulder shot eyelevel to the girl on the surface of the water which is efctive for the beginign of the attack fro the shark
• At 1:00 we then see a close up shot of her face to highlight the fear and terror she is feeling 
• Following this we see a still shot of the surface of the water which is effective as the girl is frantically being dragged iinth water from one side of the shot to the other
• The camer then cuts to the boy who is lying asleep on the beach shore showing the helplessness the girl has as she is ultimatly alone in the sea
• The next shot is lower withing the surface of the water so we can see several splashes from the sea slightly concealing the girl actually being attacked but the audience knows that she is due to the distruption in the water
• The rest of the attack is filmed using a more unsteady camera more like a hand held camera to represent the unsteadyness of the water emphesising the climax of this scene. 

What I have learnt from this deconstruction-

• The importance of music within scene and the power it has to portray a specific emotion to the audience
•  The effect sound can have to build up tension and how it compliments each camera shot

Nightmare on Elm Street - Film Deconstruction

Lighting -  Generally throughout the film, low-key lighting is used. Lighting is used to manipulate the shadows in scenes to make Freddy look superior. Lighting is used to foreshadow up coming tragic events. Lighting gives the viewer a sense of fear of terror. Here is the first view of a victim in the film. Short hair, blonde, attractive which is the stereotype first victim in most horror films. Because the shot is so close to her face, the fear is very distinctive and viewers subconsciously may think that she will be first to get killed off.
This shot is also a shot from Freddy's POV. This shows how vulnerable the girl is. She turns and is face to face with Freddy

The lighting in this scene gives a sense of being trapped and shows the the lady cannot get out. The rusty metal and dust around adds to the sense of mysteriousness. The music also in this scene is a violin and could make the viewer feel uncertain about what is going to happen next.

Film Deconstruction - Exorcist

Film Deconstruction - The Exorcist



For the majority of the film 'The Exorcist',low-key lighting. This means within the scene, there is one main light which allows the shot to have dark shadows and creates a eerie and scary look to the film. Through out the film,they use artificial lights mostly from within the house.

This film is very old (1972). The way they took advantage of lighting seems much too advanced for the year the film was made in. The decoration in the room is very minimal and creates a simplistic mood. The plain walls and plain bedding seem very abnormal to be in a child's bedroom and gives the essence of ambiguity. Due to the surroundings being so bare, the viewer feels alone and helpless. Make up is used to create horrific images in the Exorcist. In horror films, the lighting is dark most of the times which contributes the the mise en scene and this makes the perspective of the audience blurred and they are not fully aware of what's going on; doing this creates fear within the watcher because there is a sense of ambiguity.

Linda Blairs body language would not be so scary for the viewer if in broad daylight buy when it is combined with the lighting & makeup , it is almost impossible not to feel queasy.

Film Deconstruction - The Woman In Black

'The Woman in Black' Opening Scene Deconstruction and Analysis

Mise en Scene

Clothing

• The girls' clothing is of a Victorian style - this emphasises the influence of the Gothic, which was a popular literary style in the 19th Century
• The use of excess fabric in the form of ruffles and lace - depicts that the girls are wealthy, as well as making them appear innocent and youthful.
• The girls' clothing is of a pale, pastel colouring - this allows their dresses to seamlessly blend in with the scene's prominent colour scheme of earthy pastels, as well as highlighting their youth
• The recurring colour of white in the girls' clothing symbolises purity and innocence

Hairstyles

• The girls' hair is down yet neat, symbolising their youthfulness and childish innocence
• Their hairstyles feature a number of bows - this is a classic Victorian feminine symbol of youth and childhood, and almost likens the girls to dolls

Makeup

• The girls' entire lack of makeup emphasises their natural youthfulness and childhood

Furniture

• The walls are not white, they are an earthy neutral colour - this adds to the overall prominent colour scheme which highlights the femininity and youth in the scene
• The room is full of children's toys which add an eerie element to the scene, as Victorian toys are often associated with the Gothic

Sounds and Music

Diegetic Sounds

The start of the scene features minimal diegetic sounds. This adds an eerie element to the images and provokes an almost dream-like state. The first diegetic sounds appears when the young girl drops the teacup and then treads on the china toys. These sounds help evoke a sense of uneasiness within the viewer, as well as the sound of smashing perhaps foreshadowing the girls' deaths to come. The only other diegetic sound featured is the sound of the mother's scream as she witnesses the death of the young girls. The fact that is the first voice in the film creates an element of surprise, enhancing the tragedy of the mothers' exclamation. Additionally, the way in which the music comes to a stop before the mother cries out emphasises the pure horror in the mother's voice.

Non Diegetic Sounds

The scene opens with high pitched music, with a heavy feature of wind instruments and tuned percussion (a glockenspiel perhaps). The melody line can be likened to a nursery rhyme, which adds a 'creepy' element to the scene. Initially, the music is contrapuntal to the pleasant images of the girls playing and laughing, however as the girls become visibly possessed the music becomes parallel to the mood of the scene. The use of a minor key again emphasises the eerie images, and the use of cantabile tone with its falling sequential note patterns bears aural similarities to the sounds of the human voice, for example the sound of a deep sigh. This imitates the eeriness of the piece, and makes the music sound much more frightening. As the scene goes on the music thickens in texture, which aids in the build up of tension. The sound of church bells also features, which again transforms a usually-pleasant sound into a tense, creepy sound. Towards the end of the scene, the tension is further increased through the use of an ascending brass sounding note. The dramatic end to the note leaves the viewer with a sense of foreboding, and results in a final drop of tension as the girls jump from the window. After the main music has stopped, a high pitched discordant strings instrument sounds, which retains the scary feel to the piece. The use of this unpleasant sound is very uncomfortable to listen to, which adds to the sense of uneasiness. As the camera frame changes to the face of the doll, a very low ranged percussion instrument plays simultaneously to add emphasis to the images on screen. Overall, I think that in this scene sound is used mostly for the build up and release of tension. If the sounds were stripped away, I doubt that scene would have anywhere near its potential power.

Lighting

• Soft lighting is used - this adds to the childish, floral aesthetic of the scene, as well as emphasising the neutral colour scheme.
• The lighting appears naturalistic - this again emphasises the innocence of the children as the lighting corresponds with the earthy pastel coloured scenery
• In the shot of the girls walking towards the windows, there is a significant amount of light coming through them. This not only draws the viewers attention to them, but the bright light could metaphorically signify the forthcoming deaths of the girls, as a bright white light is often a symbolic representation of death and heaven.
• At the end of the scene the side-lit shot of the china doll means that the dolls' features look distorted and uneven, perhaps adding to the uneasiness and unfamiliarity of the scene.

Camera Technique

• The scene opens with a series of close up shots of the girls pouring pretend teas. The ambiguity of these empty teapots initiates a sense of confusion and uneasiness within the scene
• The first part of the scene is filmed from a low position, as though the camera were in the place of a child's eyes. This makes the viewer feel as though they are a part of the scene, and on the same level as the characters.
• At approximately 0:33 there is a high angle shot. This almost feels as though the girls are being watched secretly from a corner, which links in with the possession of the girls as they simultaneously look directly at the camera. This is uncomfortable to watch, and subtly lets the viewer know that this high camera angle is in fact the eyes of the being that possesses the girls
• The angle then switches back to the low position as the girls turn to face the window
• The camera then faces the three windows, and slowly zooms in on them. This creates tension and a sense of foreboding, as well as emphasising the windows themselves.
• The camera then uses various close up shots of the girls' feet, clothing and then hands as one of them drops her toy.
• The close ups of the girls treading on their toys and kicking the doll are extremely disturbing, and the close up shot emphasises this. It is at this point that the viewer is informed that the girls have been possessed and are in a trance-like state.
• Next, the camera is placed outside the window, and moves backwards in a possible dolly shot to show the girls walking towards the window
• There is a close up shot of the girl turning the handle of the window before the camera switches back to filming the girls from behind stepping and jumping out of the window.
• The camera lingers here for a few seconds, which adds emphasis and drama to the scene
• Then a close up shot of a china doll is featured, followed by a slow zoom out of the empty room. Interestingly, one fault that I noticed in this particular shot was the fact that although the girls were previously shown to have crushed the toys on the floor as they walked, the floor in the last shot contains intact toys, with no mess from where the girls had shattered the china dolls.

What have I learned from deconstructing this opening scene?

• the importance of music within a scene
• the power and effect of using eye-level shots for emphasis and eeriness, and to appear as though the camera is the eyes of the antagonist

-Anna Humphreys