documentary analysis - the devil made me do it

1. Documentary Analysis
The Devil Made Me Do It

2. Type of Documentary
• The documentary uses more than one doc style
within it so it would be classed as a mixed
documentary. It has elements of self reflexive
documentary when Marilyn Manson is talking
direct to the camera acknowledging the presence
of the camera.
• The Documentary uses a narrator through out so
it also has elements of a fully narrated
documentary.

3. Themes
• The documentary has a number of themes
running through it such as;
• Religion
• Crime & Punishment
• Music & Influence
• Possession & Control
• Responsibility
• (Impressionable) Youth

4. Narrative Structure
• The Documentary has a linear structure
running through it as the events where
told from beginning to end. The
documentary had two parallel
narratives running through it at the
same time with one side being the
investigation of the murder with the
2nd narrative concentrating on Marilyn
Manson touring during the time of the
investigation/ his influence on youth.
• One of the parallel narratives was
concluded with the investigation being
over (Equilibrium restored) whilst the
other left a kind of cliffhanger as
Manson is still performing.

5. Camerawork
•
There were a variety of camera angles used within the documentary "The Devil Made Me Do
It" The footage available for the documentary was limited so they had to adopt a artistic
approach by using an array of footage documenting the scenery of the town and the satanic
markings left on the church. Long shots were used to try and depict the the environment to
the audience. Whilst using pan shots above the village at night to try and create an
eerie, dark and sinister atmosphere during the murder reconstruction.
•
Archive material was used in making the documentary notable the investigation narrative
where it was mainly archive footage. The editor does not get control of shots or angles as the
footage wasn't filmed by his camera's. This meant the editor could only show what was
available regardless of the angle or shot.
•
A range of interviews where used in the documentary, the interviews were shot in either a
medium close up, a mid shot using the rule of thirds.
•
All of the interviews were shot in a natural light with no additional lighting used.
•
However when Marilyn Manson was interviewed he was at times filmed at a low angle this
may or may not have been a conscious decision but it created the impression that Manson
was in power.

6. Mise-En-Scene
• The documentary depicts the youth featured as bad and
unpredictable, there was an interview scene in particular with 3
teenagers who were friends of one of the murderers discussing that
there was nothing to do in the village, this is obviously a classic teen
"I'm bored" cliché. In the frame one of the teenagers was slouched
laying across the bed not seeming too interested in the interview
whilst another one of the teenagers was smoking. Another example
of teens being shown in a negative light was teenagers in what
seemed to be a bar drinking and gambling, which as the
documentary had a religious theme running through it these are
deemed to be wrong. Teenagers also throwing the pool balls
around and using equipment incorrectly shows the
unpredictable and reckless nature of the teens.
• There are a lot of shots of the village in Italy used, this has been
down to try and provide an insight into the interview subject.

7. Clip of Documentary

8. Sound
• In the documentary when footage from the village was being
shown it often played a transient or synthesized drones over the
top to create an eerie atmosphere, this is not the only instance of
music being overplayed on top of footage. When the documentary
looked at Marilyn Manson it often used his songs either in the
background or just the music.
• Heartbeat was used during a reconstruction scene where the nun
was being killed, this was to try and create a tense, nervous
atmosphere for the audience.
• A translator was used over the confessions so the audience could
make sense of what was being said.

9. Editing
• There was often a change of pace in the editing based on
where the documentary was at between the investigation
and Marilyn Manson. The editing during the investigation
was more slow paced and quickened when Manson was on
screen creating a contrast between the rock and roll music
and the tranquil village life.
• The use of long takes highlighted the binary opposition
between the nun who was killed and Marilyn Manson.
• Cutaways were used during interviews to provide variety in
footage.

10. Archive Material/ Graphics
• Archive material was used heavily during the
documentary, especially when documenting the
Marilyn Manson Gigs and the footage shown regarding
the court case/ media waiting outside the court room.
The heavy use of archive material may have been used
as the editor may have not been able to acquire their
own footage therefore having to use archive footage.
• There were very little graphic effects used during the
documentary, the documentary opted to go with the
font style "Ariel" and used very basic graphic
allocation.