The Grudge

Mise-en-scene

Setting

The film begins with a black screen; writing then fades in to explain death. It highlights words such as curse, death and fury. These then stay on the screen for longer than the other words this makes the audience concentrate on them and think about what these words could mean. It then shows a busy city. This seems quite sudden as the screen before was so plan and simple.

Body language

The man who is standing at the edge of the building seems strange and unhuman. The audience automatically thinks there is something wrong with him as he is behaving in such as strange way. However when the man jumps off the building it does seem like a surprise as it is such a extreme and drastic thing to do.

The woman that is lying in bed seems relaxed and normal. This is contrasted with the way that the man is behaving.

Lighting

The lighting in this scene is very natural as they want to create a normal environment. It is very neutral as they are using natural light as it is the daytime.

Costume

The clothes that the man is wearing are dark and grey. This could suggest to the audience that he is evil or has been possessed by an evil being. This is again contrasted with the woman’s clothes as she is wear white which shows her innocence and confusion as the man is acting so strangely.

Camera shots

First an areal view is shown of the city. This sets the scene and shows where they are. Then an over the shoulder shot is shown so the audience can see the point of view of the man who is standing on the edge of the building.

The man then turns round and the camera switches to a mid shot of the girl lying in bed. This then creates a more relaxed atmosphere and shows who he is with. The over the shoulder shot is then shown again which puts the audience in his point of view and makes them start to feel uneasy as the man seems to.

When the man falls the audience sees a point of view shot which is scary and uncomfortable as we are really put into his position.

A close up is shown of the women’s face looking down at the mans body on the road. This really shows her emotion and panic stricken face as she stars down at the man she was just talking to. This causes the audience to feel for her as it is a shock and no one would want to be in that position.

Editing

The writing which is seen on the screen at the beginning fades in and out. This is even scarier and adds to the atmosphere.

The editing in this scene is quite simple as it switches between the characters. This may have been chosen so it doesn’t detract from the storyline.

Sound

The quite but scary music which is played at the beginning of the scene when the writing is shown adds the creepy writing and builds the tension for what is yet to come.

It then changes to normal sounds heard in a city. This makes the audience feel comforted and in a relaxed environment.

When the woman in bed says ‘Peter are you okay’ it makes the audience feel that there is something wrong with him and begin to question his state of mind. She then says ‘Your up early today’ this then reassures the audience that there may be nothing wrong with him as the woman is trying to make it sound casual and relaxed. When he jumps off the building it is an even bigger shock as you can tell she wasn’t expecting it. The fast paced music makes the fall even worse. The scream and gasp which is heard from the audience adds to the pain and serilaness of the situation.

The setting for the beginning of this film is very natural and realistic, which is what we are planning on doing for the beginning of our film. This should look effective as we want the scene to look as real as possible. We are also planning on using realistic sounds similar to this film as we want the environment in which our characters are in to feel natural.

When a Stranger Calls

Mise-en-scene

Setting

The film begins with black screen titles; it then shows a house in the dark. The audience automatically thinks that this is a significant building in the film but then the camera slowly moves to show a big colourful fairground. This is an unusual setting for the beginning of a horror film as it seems uplifting and a happy place to be. This may have been chosen as it is so contrasting with what is yet to come later in the film.

Body language

The happy relaxed atmosphere is reflected by the people’s body language.

Lighting

The lighting in this first scene is dark and gloomy as it is the evening. This is not unusual for a horror film as they want the audience to feel out of their comfort zone and on edge. However the light from the fairground rides is bright and colourful, this illuminates people and makes the scene seem a lot happier. The brightness could seem uneasy to some people as it is so disturbing that the bright lights are there in a horror film. When the man is shown the light is coming from behind him, this seems scary as the audience can’t see his face as he walks towards the camera. The colour and excitement at the fairground is juxtaposed with the darkness of the house. The overload of sensory experience could seem threatening because it is the opposite of what would typically be seen in a horror film. The excessively bright lights and noise can serve to mask a multitude of dangers.

Costume

The costumes in this scene are just normal clothing and no one stands out. This means that the villain could be anywhere in the scene and anyone. This is unusual for a horror film as the villain is meant to stand out as evil and menacing. The villains costume usually shows that he is an outsider and he stands out from the crowd.

Camera shots

The first shot shown in the scene is a low angle shot of a scary house as it is in darkness. The shot then pans down to show a fairground. These two images are contrasting as the emotions they bring are so different. Sharply, the shot then changes again to a mid shot showing two children running in the fairground. The shots then seem to carry on focusing on children throughout the scene. This suggests that the villain is focusing on vulnerable and innocent victims. The audience may find this disturbing and really feel for the children that the villain is watching. The camera shots from strange and unexpected angles makes the people seem like they are being watched or observed which makes people appear as prey or as if they are being hunted.

The audience then sees shots which are short and fleeting of people on rides and enjoying themselves. This sets the scene and creates a happy and relaxed atmosphere. Throughout the scene the panning shot is shown of the house and focuses on the upstairs window. The audience assumes that this is a significant place and the main character may be in there.

The high angle shot showing the sign ‘Jesus’ in the top left hand corner of the shot may cause people to take comfort from this religious sign which then may cause them to question their beliefs as bad things start to happen after they have seen it.

The camera seems to stay on wind chimes for a long period of time. This builds the tension and makes the audience wonder what’s happening. Then a dark figure runs quickly across the camera shot. This makes the audience think that something urgent has happened and people may be in danger.

The camera shots and movements create an uncomfortable and confusing atmosphere as the audience feels on edge. There is then another panning shot of the fair which stops at the house again. The low angle shot makes the house seem big and intimidating. A light in the window of the house suddenly turns on; this draws the audience in as the camera is so focused on the window.  

Editing

The black screen titles fade in to show a house. This makes the house seem sinister as the screen was so black before. Most of the camera shots are very sharp and short; this makes the audience feel like they can’t relax as so much is happening at once. It also is quite confusing as some shots are so insignificant to the plot.

Sound

When black screen titles are shown at the beginning a conversation is heard between a man and a young woman. There is no picture so all the audience’s attention is on this conversation which seems a bit uncomfortable and suspicious. The phone call is intimate as you can hear their breathing and hear Stacie getting more scared which causes the audience to become scared. When the man asks for her name it seems intrusive.

The audience hears a further phone call of Stacie’s but there is no answer on the other end.

The music in the background is quite scary which confuses the audience as the shots are focusing on a fairground. The silence that the villain is able to create is juxtaposed with the noise of the fairground.  The harsh sounds and serial bright lights make the audience feel out of their comfort zone. This alienates a familiar setting which is usually associated with pleasure.

We hear another phone call of Stacie’s as the camera shows the house. This shows the location in which Stacy is. A nursery rhyme then begins making the audience feel uncomfortable as the theme of children and the conversation that Stacie has just had is very disturbing.

On one occasion when the camera is focused on the window of the house we see the light turn on and a man jump towards the ground. We then hear a loud scream which is played over other children screaming as they play on the fairground rides. This is scary as they are unaware of what’s happening and her scream just blurred into the background which means no one hears.

It then all goes silent as the camera focuses on a red balloon floating up to the sky. The nursery rhyme then begins to play again.

The setting for this film is a clever idea and we may use a scary house similar to the one seen in the scene. The beginning of the film doesn’t focus much on people although in our beginning scene we are planning on showing a lot of people. The lighting looks good as it is so gloomy and dark, in our film this may difficult as we don’t have the equipment to make the righting like this although we are going to try and make some scenes dark. I feel that the music is the most prominent aspect as it makes the audience mood change the most; therefore we are planning on using music in the beginning of our film.

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The Strangers

Mise-en-scene

Setting

The film ‘The Strangers’ is a film set in America and was marketed as being ‘inspired by true events’ which it also said at the beginning of the film. This makes the film seem scarier as it shows it could happen in real life. The film begins with black screen titles which say 'On the night of February 11, 2005, Kristen McKay and James Hoyt left a friend's wedding reception and returned to the Hoyt family's summer home. The brutal events that took place there are still not entirely known.' This tells the audience the back-story right at the beginning with no distractions as the screen is blank. This causes the audience to want to carry on and find out more.

Body language

The only two people seen in the first 2 minutes of the film are two boys. When we first see them they are standing behind a car. They seem very still and stare at the camera as it moves along. The shot then shows them entering a house. They seem scared and unsure of themselves as they walk up the steps of the house. This causes the audience to feel for them as they seem so young.

Lighting

The first 2 minutes of this film are very dark. This is because the film company want to set an atmosphere which is eerie and uncomfortable. The houses are badly lit and some are shown in the dark. This may be because most things seem scarier in the dark.

The house which is shown is in complete darkness and is only lit by natural light through the windows. This makes shadows appear which adds to the scary feel of the house.

Costume

The two young boys seem to be dressed smartly and formally. This causes the audience to ask ‘what they have been doing’ and ‘where have they been’. The white of their shirts adds to their innocence as they seem so unsure and naive.  

Camera shots

After the black screen titles there is a slow tracking shot of houses in America which shows how far apart each house is and how they are deserted.  They emphasis this by putting long pauses between them with just a black screen. This makes the audience feel that the gaps are even bigger and that there is danger between them. It causes the audience to raise the question ‘what is the significance of these houses?’

The shot then shows two young boys standing behind a car with a smashed back windscreen. We then see a low angle shot of the boys climbing into a dark house. They seem uneasy and uncomfortable. This makes the audience feel that there is something wrong. These two images put in series together make the audience feel that there is something dangerous about the house which is shown through its darkness and emptiness.

The audience is then shown five different shots which are meant to be memorable, the first close up shot being a record player which is still playing. This causes the audience to ask ‘why hasn’t it been turned off’. Then it switches to a blue velvet ring box which has rose petals around it. This shot seems quite relaxed and normal although this is then contrasted with a knife on the floor dripping with blood. This makes the audience automatically feel uncomfortable as the images have been juxtaposed. This is then emphasized by a blood splattered pane of glass and a shot gun on the counter. This raises questions to what has been going on and what is happening. 

The shot then goes black again which is a repeat from earlier and makes the audience think about the images they have just seen.

Editing

The fade to black shots makes the scenes seem all the more scary and makes the audience think about what they have seen on the screen. It also makes the film seem dark as it is adding to the darkness. 

Each shot is quite short as it wants to create an impact on the audience and make them remember what they have seen. This also is similar to the music as it is quite jumpy and disjointed.

Sound

The beginning of this film has ominous music playing in the background and a non diegetic voice of a man talking. His voice is deep and threatening and almost echoes in the audience’s brain. The man then says when the events happened and who they happened to. This makes the audience feel uneasy as they are personalizing them and making it seem so realistic.

We then hear a child’s voice which seems panicked and petrified. The tone of his voice is crackly which adds to the realistic feel of the call. The boy says he is in danger which illustrates the urgency of his situation.  

Some of the aspects of this film could be useful in our film as we may record a phone call conversation. This phone call could either be to the police or the villain calling the innocent victim. Which ever one we chose we can use some of the ideas that they have in their film e.g. making the phone call crackly. It is also similar to our ideas as we are planning on using not many people in our first 2 minutes which is similar to this one.

The Victims Costume Research

The victim in our horror film could wear the colour white as it suggests purity and serenity. This will suggest to the audience that she is innocent and is the victim in the film. The colour of her clothing will also contrast with the dark, dirty clothing of the villain which will highlight to the audience just how different these characters are.

If we decide to film the scene in the evening it means that the white Hoodie will stand out against the dark setting. This will make the victim look vulnerable and even more alone.

The Hoodie also looks relaxed and informal which again suggests to the audience that this could happen to them as they may relate to how she is dressed.

This dress may look effective on our victim as it is flowery, frilly and white. The dress will reflect her femininity and emphasise that she is the typical female victim. This will suggest to the audience her innocence and attitude.

The audience may grow to feel protective over the main character as she is so vulnerable. This means that when anything happens to her they will feel responsible and want to help.

The flowers may work well with our setting as it is linked to nature and the outdoors.

This costume reflects the characters modesty and demonstrates the fact that she is not trying to draw attention to herself in any way. This will cause the audience to feel empathy for the character as she does not deserve her fate in any way.

The jeans are simple and plain which reflects the average teenager which again makes the audience feel it could have been them.

The Villians Costume Research

This costume is a possible idea for our ‘scary bad guy’ as it is black and long. This means that our villain will not be seen as his facial features are covered which will look more effective as the audience is scared of the unknown. The villains body will be completely covered in this costume which means the audience will have no preconceptions of the character.

The colour of the overall costume will also be effective as if we film in the evening the colours will blend well the setting of the sky.

The costume looks unkempt and dirty. This gives the villain a back story as it makes the audience ask questions such as how did he get into this state and why are his clothes so dirty.

The string which is tied around the villain’s waist could remind the audience of a hangman’s noose. This is perturbing as this is associated with death and misery.

This costume may also help us as we would not have to worry about his make up as his face is covered. This means that the make up wouldn’t look childish or detract from the storyline.

We could use this Hoodie paired with black trousers as although the concept doesn’t seem very scary the audience is more likely to relate to the idea as seeing people in this is very common.

This would be good as we want the audience to put themselves in the position of the girl and be scared of the villain.

Here again this piece of clothing has a hood which will be effective as it will hide most of the villains face. However some of the face will be seen which means we would have to make a decision on whether this look needs make up or not. The hood will look effective as it will create a shadow across the man’s face and add to his look of mystery.

Having our villain wear all black means that our other main character won’t be able to see him so well in the evening. This will be effective as she won’t know where he is at any given time.

I have also chosen a plain Hoodie as it will not give anything away as to who he is or where he has been.

This is another possible idea for our villain as it looks dark and mysterious. Here again I have chosen the colour black as I feel that it will work best with the character we are trying to portray.

With this costume there will be no hood which could be scary depending on the make up we chose for this character. This means the audience will be able to see the villains face but this could turn out to be very effective as his face will stay in their minds and be memorable.

Underneath the coat you can see he is wearing layers of other clothing. This adds depth to the character and may make the audience wonder what is underneath his coat.

Preliminary Task

For our preliminary task we decided to film two people having a short conversation, in this short clip we included match on action, shot reverse/ shot and 180 degree rule.

We used the shot reverse shot when our two characters were having a conversation with each other. This shows one character looking at the other and then the shot changes to show the other character looking back at the first character. This causes the audience to believe that the characters are facing each other as they are facing opposite directions. It also shows the audience the characters facial expressions.

We then used the match on action shot which changes from one shot to another shot that matches the first shot. This gives the audience the idea that the action continues and creates a visual bridge which causes the audience to focus on the action rather than the cut. We used this technique in our clip when one of our characters opens a door. We did this by filming the character walking towards a door and holding the handle and then changing the shot to focus on the hand pulling the door open. This worked well in our film as the audience sees the character clearly leaving one location and going to another.

We also used the 180 degree rule in our film clip which is a guideline that means that the two characters in our clip must stay to the left or the right of this line. If the camera crosses the imagery line it may cause the audience to become confused. When the two characters in our clip were having a conversation we used the 180 degree rule so that the audience didn’t become disorientated as it shows clearly what side the character is on.

Bridget Jones' Diary

Watch first 2 minutes at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ry-wwJ019s

Mise-en-scene

Setting

The film begins with Bridget walking up to her parents’ house in the snow. This is a traditional English setting as it looks very picturesque and the American audience may like this as it is very English.

She then enters the house which is over the top and decorative. This may reflect her parents’ attitudes and show the audience what they are like in advance.

When entering the house the audience gets to meet a range of different characters who are all very different.

Body language

The audience can see Bridget’s body language change as she talks to the different characters in the scene. When talking to her mother she seems relaxed and laid back although this is contrasted when the audience sees her then talk to her ‘Uncle’ as he comes very close to her and invades her personal space. In this scene she looks down a lot and tries to avoid eye contact with him.

Mark stands tall and looks over Bridget as she talks to him. This reflects his authority and dominance which makes Bridget seem a bit uncomfortable. He seems uninterested in her attitude as he looks away when she speaks.

Bridget holds her drink in front of her body which could suggest that she feels out of her depth and self conscious. 

Lighting

The lighting in this film is supposed to look realistic as it is a traditional everyday party. The lighting doesn’t show particular people in different ways as it is meant to be an ordinary event. The normal tones and lights that are shown in the scenes are boring which could reflect Bridget’s attitude to the party. This is contrasted with the diegetic music which is played whilst the characters talk. The lighting is not dramatic or theatrical as it doesn’t flatter people, a technique seen in many romantic comedies.

Costume

At the beginning of the film Bridget is wearing quite dark and covered up clothing. This suggests that she feels self conscious about her body and wants to hide behind her clothing. When her mother asks her to change into something she has picked out for her she automatically goes upstairs and changes even though she doesn’t like it. This indicates that her mother has authority and is in charge.

Mark is wearing a jumper which has a reindeer on it. Bridget judges him by this when she first meets him. This shows that Bridget stereotypes people on their appearance. This jumper shows that Mark maybe doesn’t care what people think of him and is controlled by his mother. This is one thing that Bridget and Mark have in common.

Camera shots

The film begins with a mid shot of the main character, Bridget Jones, walking up to her parent house. This immediately shows the audience who the main character is and means that they focus their attention on her through the next scene.

You then see an establishing shot of the village in which Bridget’s parents live. This gives the audience a little more information about the character as they see where she has lived and where she comes from.

Whilst Bridget and her mother are having a conversation the camera switches between them using a close up of their faces. This shows detail to their expressions and means that the audience feels they know the characters better. It also makes the audience feel they are being involved in the conversation.

The close ups of Bridget’s face also show how sad and lonely she is as she talks to her mother. Many women may be able to relate to her as they could have been in a similar situation; this means that the audience are on her side right from the beginning.

The use of close ups and low angle camera shots of Bridget’s ‘Uncle’ make him seem creepy and intimidating. This adds to his character and shows why Bridget feels the way she does.

The close ups of Mark’s and Bridget’s faces when having a conversation add to the awkwardness of the situation and show their uncomfortable expressions. The mid shot of both of them shows their contrasting characters as they look so different. This causes the audience to believe that nothing could ever happen between them. 

Editing

At the beginning of the film a fade out transaction of the shot is used. This links the scenes together and shows they are connected.

A shot reverse shot is used between Bridget and the people she talks to at the party. This shows their faces and their facial expressions to the audience which means they can see how they react.

A jump shot is used when Mark Darcy is talking to his mother about Bridget. This causes the audience to feel sorry for Bridget and highlights her disappointment. 

Sound

When Bridget is walking up to her parents’ house there is non diegetic mood violin music playing in the background. This sets the scene of calmness as the camera shows the village in which her parents live.

There is a non diegetic narrative voice, by Bridget, which is effective at the beginning of a film as it makes the audience feel as if the main character is addressing them personally. This immediately draws the audience in and gets them to understand her past. This is aimed mainly at single women who are just like Bridget who can relate to her, “Once again, I found myself on my own and going to my mother’s annual turkey curry buffet.” This tells the audience that Bridget has been single for a long time which will make them feel sorry for her. It also tells the audience where she is going.

Bridget’s mother seems to insult her casually whenever possible as they have a conversation, for example when her mother opens the door she says “there you are dumpling” and “you’ll never get a boyfriend if you look like you’ve wandered out of Auschwitz.” This indicates that they don’t have a very good relationship and that her mother isn’t very proud of her. 

She then enters the house and the music changes to diegetic music which is playing at the party. It is up beat and reflects her mother’s attitude.

When Bridget goes to talk to her father the relationship between them is clearly better than her mother’s. When Bridget asks her father how it’s going he replies “torture.” This highlights his personality and his comical attitude towards her mother’s parties.

In this scene there are a lot of questions asked which means the audience gets to know the characters at the beginning of the film. It also draws the audience in as it makes them interested in what may happen next. This grabs their attention and causes them to carry on watching.

When Mark Darcy turns around to talk to Bridget and her mother non diegetic uplifting music is played whilst Bridget’s voiceover says “maybe this was the mysterious Mr. Right I’ve been waiting my whole life to meet”. This suggests that he is perfect for Bridget and is her ‘Mr Right.’

The conversation between Bridget and Mark is uncomfortable for the audience as they watch. This is because they have come to relate to Bridget and want her to do well. Mark answers Bridget’s questions with one word answers. This causes the audience to feel even more sorry for Bridget and discomfited.

The Holiday

Mise-en-scene

Setting

The first scene is of an old fashioned couple set in the past. This suggests to the audience that this is going to be a classic romantic film. The voice over by the main character, Iris, sets the story line up and tells the audience what the film is mainly about: love. While she is talking lots of the main characters are introduced as she explains their relationship background. This means that the audience can know what’s happening at the beginning of the film.

Body language

When Iris and Jasper are talking in her office their body language is very different. Jasper looks quite relaxed and open as he is leaning against the door frame with his hand in his pocket. However Iris is sitting down with her hands in her lap and arms crossing her body. This suggests that she feels uncomfortable and enclosed. When she picks up the present that she has got for Jasper her shoulders are hunched and her arms are still across her body. This body language is very different from when we saw her talking to her work colleague earlier in the film. She seems a lot more laid back and calm. This shows the different relationships she has with the different characters.

Lighting

The first scene is outside and the neutral green of the leaves and the white of their clothes are striking. The foreground lighting is bright but the setting is softly muted to give a dream like effect. This could reflect the film plot by suggesting that it will be light hearted and laid back. The background is blurred and the light on the water contributes to making a perfect scene.

The scene with Amanda, played by Cameron Diaz, in the car has quite dark lighting and it is at night. However her face is lit as she is a significant character and wants to be memorable. These two scenes are contrasting as they reflect the mood of the characters. The first, romantic scene, has an idyllic background to illustrate a perfect situation, whereas the scene leading towards the disintegration of their relationship has the hard everyday environment of a car with its associations of traffic and fumes.   

Costume

The first scene is of a couple who look quite old fashioned. Their costumes evoke the feeling of romance and classic elements. The delicate lace of the female character’s dress gives an appearance of gentleness and softness.  

In the scene when Amanda and her boyfriend are in the car their costumes are contrasting colours. This demonstrates that they are very opposite and are not right for each other. Amanda’s boyfriend is wearing black which suggest that he has done something wrong so therefore they should not be together. 

Camera shots

The first camera shot seen in The Holiday is a mid shot of an old fashioned romantic couple. This suggests that the film has a classic love plot in which romance is the theme. However the shot then zooms out to show that one of the main characters, played by Jack Black, is playing background music for the scene on a keyboard. This is unexpected and suggests that this is not the typical romantic film.

A lot of mid shots are used in the first few scenes as the characters are being established to the audience. This means that in each scene the way in which the camera is positioned is very similar to the next.

When Iris, one of the main characters, and her work colleague are having a conversation over the shoulder shots are used. This shows their facial reactions to what the other has said so the audience can understand how each of them is feeling. The camera switches quickly between the two people having a conversation so that the audience can see it progress.

A pan shot is then used to show Iris, at her desk working. This suggests that she is quite a strung up character as she is working whilst everyone else is at the Christmas party.

When Iris is talking to Jasper Bloom who is her love interest at the beginning of the film high and low angles are used to show their statuses in society. As Iris is sitting down the camera has a high angle shot of the view of Jasper. This suggests he thinks she is small and insignificant, whereas Jasper is standing and Iris is looking up at him. This makes him look powerful and in control.

Editing

The first editing used is when the camera fades in to the old fashioned couple at the beginning. This is a slow process which gradually sets the scene of the pale leaves in the background. This adds to the calm atmosphere.

The camera then zooms out to show what is actually happening and that the clip is not real. This is not a transition as they may have wanted to make it clear that this clip wasn’t part of the film.

A wipe transition is then used to show the next scene. This links the scenes well as it changes between them gradually.

The transitions used seem to be quite simple but effective. This may be as they didn’t want to detract from the story line at the beginning of the film. This means that the audience can concentrate purely on the characters and their back stories.

Sound

Throughout the first few scenes of the film there is non-diegetic mood music and a voice over by one of the main characters played by Kate Winslet. She talks about different kinds of love and her experiences with men. She quotes Shakespeare, ‘journeys end in lovers meeting’. This introduces the theme of love and is a quote that the audience may be familiar with. As Kate Winslet is talking about her previous relationships the female audience may feel they relate to her as lots of people have been in the same situation. This means that the audience may like her right at the beginning. The classical music suggests that it is a classic romantic film and adds impact to the idea of love.

The keyboard which Jack Black is playing at the beginning of the film changes from being asynchronous to synchronous sound. The synchronous sound of the keyboard is projected. This creates an atmosphere and contributes to realism.

A sound bridge is used all the way through the first few scenes. This adds continuity and makes the scenes flow better together causing them not to seem interrupted.

The first conversation in the film is between iris and her work colleague. In this conversation you find out the story of Jasper and Iris’s past. This is diegetic dialogue which shows how deeply in love she is.

Jeepers Creepers

Mise-en-scene

Setting

The first scene of this film is set on a country road, which looks quite remote and distant from urban towns. This creates a relaxed and calm atmosphere as it feels like an ordinary car journey. Although the feeling of vulnerability and desertedness may make the audience feel on edge. The two main characters seem relaxed as they drive along the road. This may suggest to the audience that something is about to happen.

Body language

At the beginning of the scene the two main characters seem unperturbed and carefree. This is contrasted with the emotion and terror the audience sees in the middle of the scene. This makes the fear all the more scary as their body language is very different. At the beginning the two characters seem quite relaxed as they lean back and talk in a carefree manner. However in the middle of the scene when the van is close behind them you see them become a lot more uptight and panic-stricken. This is striking as the two emotions are so opposite.  

When the audience first sees the villain he seems mysterious as he is so covered up. Since he is not moving and is staring forward at the camera the audience, who are in the position of the two main characters, feels uncomfortable and disturbed by his body language.

Lighting

As the two characters are driving along a wide empty road the light is bright and sunny. This causes the film to seem so innocent and normal that, as it is a horror film the audience are suspicious that something ominous is about to happen. This builds anxiety and causes the audience to feel fearful in anticipation of what might happen.

When the van comes very close to the car the light from the sky seems to get darker. This fits the mood of the scene as the characters are fearful of the van which is close behind them. The lighting on the characters’ faces is very clear as the audience needs to be able to see their scared facial expressions.

Costume

The two main characters are dressed in normal teenager clothes which makes the beginning scene seem all the more ordinary. This also adds to the surprise of the van which comes up behind them. The clothes that they are wearing seem so ordinary that the audience feels that nothing could happen to them.

The evil villain in the film is dressed all in black and is wearing a wide coat and hat which make him seem bigger and even more threatening. The mask which covers his face makes it scary as the audience doesn’t know who he is or what he looks like.  It insinuates that he has something to hide as he is so covered up. His clothes seem travel worn and weathered which intimate he is separate from society and tough.

Camera shots

The first shot seen in this film is an establishing shot of the countryside around the road on which the two main characters are travelling. This tells the audience that it is set in a rural isolated area.

The wide shot of the caravan turning right in the background shows that the two main characters are ignorant as they don’t know what is going on. Their innocence suggests that something may be about to happen. This shot gives the audience the indication that they are completely alone and secluded. This event then draws the audience’s attention to the background as the film makers want them to be focused on what’s coming up behind the car.

The close up of Darry’s face illustrates the confusion and fear that he feels towards the van that continues to drive on his tail. This is effective as it causes the audience to feel the same way as, like Darry, they don’t understand what’s happening.

The wide angle shot from the back window of the car shows the out of control van. This adds to the tension and terror that the audience is feeling as the suspense and trepidation is building.

Editing

The first editing technique seen is the countryside fading into the picture with the title of the film over the top. This gradually shows the audience the setting and increases the feeling of calm.

The first two minutes of the film is the same scene which means there is no switching between scenes. This makes it continuous and smooth as it is staying with the same characters throughout. This also means that the scene runs quite quickly as the camera is focusing purely on two characters.

Sound

Whilst driving along the empty road one of the main characters says 'I haven't seen a car in 50 miles'. This adds to the seclusion of the area and implies to the audience that something may happen to them as they have no one to help them.

There is one instance when non diegetic music is heard through the first few scenes of the film. This means that the quietness builds tension as the audience is waiting for something exciting to happen. The only time in which the audience hears non diegetic music is when the villain is seen to be putting what looks like bodies covered with bloodstained sheets down a large pipe into the ground. This increases the fear which the audience feels towards the villain and the high pitched sharp noises of the music add to the atmosphere. It also suggests to the audience that when he is around it’s not quiet, but dangerous.

At this point in the film the synchronous noise of the van seems even louder. This is because the ominous silence and peacefulness of the surroundings increase the noise of the van which comes up behind them.