The opening credits feature distorted text to foreshadow confusion and an uneasy feeling for the characters and audience. Eerie sounds set the tone for a thriller. Shots focus on a necklace/key underwater, highlighting its importance. A man is shown trapped in a dirty bathtub in a close-up shot, establishing his panic and that he was placed there against his will. Fast editing between the man and key increases the sense of panic and vulnerability as his fate depends on the lost key. Minimal sound increases the tension as he is alone in the dark room.
2. Opening Credits
At the start of the scene we are presented with the opening credits, where we are told
who produced the film, and who the wrote it etc.
The credits fade in and out, leaving a distorted effect, and this therefore foreshadows to
the audience that characters could be left confused, and not in the know. Due to the
characters feeling this way, this helps us learn that we too may not know what is going on
and feel uneasy like them.
It is at this point that a diegetic sound is introduced to give us an idea of what sort of film
this is going to be. The sounds are eerie, and help set a tone for the audience – this means
we are aware of what to expect, and are given an impression of where the film will lead
to.
We are then given a visual image – of which matches the opening credits – allowing us to
understand why the words were ‘distorted’. We now see that somebody is underwater,
and this makes us feel claustrophobic and uneasy. The diegetic sound is important for
this close up shot, as it creates the right atmosphere , and almost clones what it sounds
like to be underwater.
3. Opening credits cont.
In the previous close up shot of the mans face beneath water – whilst there is a focus being
on the man - we are set to acknowledge that there is something else beneath the water with
him. The low key lighting, helps spotlight the reflection of the light onto a necklace, and so
we understand that this is an important object within the scene as it has specifically been
highlighted.
After this the display switches to black where the film title fades onto the screen. The text is
blue and so again this introduces the idea of being underwater – foreshadowing bad events
due to the colour being dark and shaded. Where the titles fade off, they are again jagged,
and jolted, allowing us to feel delirious just as the character would. With the whole first few
seconds focusing on the water, as well as what is in it we are able to understand that this
could be the main focus within the film, - learning that this is incredibly important
throughout.
4. The opening shots
The next shot becomes incredibly important as again there is a focus on the necklace, we
see a close up shot of it again - making its way throughout the water. Again the lighting is
low key suggesting that he is in a dangerous environment.
During this shot where the focus is on the object, we become aware that this man is in a bath,
as we can see a plug and drain etc. However, the bath is dirty and dingy, and so this teaches
us that the man is most likely not in his own bath – yet somewhere unfamiliar. Therefore this
becomes strange to the viewer as they are just as unaware of his meaning and
understanding as he is – making us feel incredibly uncomfortable.
Furthermore, we are then put to focus on the man – where we can establish his panic and
fear. Again there is a use of a close up, of which suggests the character has been
unconscious (leading us to believe he has been put there against his will). It is as this point
that we truly understand the film and its intentions. With it having a true focus on certain
elements we feel uncomfortable, with a tension rising within us – showing the thriller
element has been introduced right from the start.
5. Establishing shot
Furthermore, we are again then bought to the attention of the necklace -
however this time we are bought to focus on it going down the drain with the
use of a close up shot. This helps us understand the importance of this - and
therefore helps us make an example of the idea to it being lost, making a
discussion of why this may be a problem. We are able to denote that this is a
bad thing, and so this makes us feel concern for the character. It is at this point
that we see it is in fact not a necklace, but rather a key on a chain, this therefore
leads to us knowing that this must unlock something important. After
establishing earlier on that he is locked up, we can denote that this is the key
he would’ve needed – stressing the importance of its loss.
Close up
This next shot (establishing) shows us that he is in a bathroom - again we can
see it is dirty and dark, suggesting he may have no intention of being there at
all. He is dressed in everyday clothing, and so again this reiterates the idea
that he has no intention in ‘having a bath’. If we look further into the shot we
can see that his foot has been chained up which helps to create an unsettling
atmosphere. By seeing this we are able to confirm that he has been put there
in order to be contained or trapped. By seeing the panic in his body language
within this shot we can understand that he is confused and unaware of why it
is he has been put there – this therefore makes us feel scared or tense.
6. Editing
Overall the editing of the shots is very fast paced. The motivation of the cuts is simply between the man in the bath tub, and the
key on the chain. Whilst this is a strange approach it helps us understand the vulnerability of the man, as the necklace almost
becomes more powerful than him. With the idea that the object motivates each of the cuts, we are able to denote that it has the
power to set him free from the situation he finds himself in (i.e locked up). As an audience who understands the object to be more
superior to the character, we feel tense and concerned as his fate at this point lies within not another person, but a key. Due to the
character being extremely vulnerable, the fast paced cuts/edits helps reiterate and highlight the panic and fear he is going
through. This addresses the audience, setting a tone for how they should feel. With the use of the right editing we can establish
the tone of the film has been expressed correctly due to the audience being able to experience his unfamiliarity and panic just as
he would.
Sound
There isn’t a great deal of sound within the starting of the film - whilst there is eerie sounds within the titles, once the character is
introduced there isn’t really much sound. We start to hear the male character gasping for air, after being stuck under the water,
and at this point, due to there being no other noise - we get the sense that this man may be alone. This creates a creepy
atmosphere, leading again to the viewer feeling tension and uneasy. The idea of being alone in a dark room is unsettling, and so
the low key lighting, and setting also helps at this point.
Furthermore, we find it strange that it is in fact a man who has been trapped. In not only seeing his panic in the close up shots,
but also hearing it - we find it odd that he behaves in this way (as this is not a usual gender stereotype the media follows). In
hearing this man react so panicked, not only do we learn his fear, but also that he as a male is uncomfortable and frightened.
Because of this, the audience then also feel fear due to a character –- who should be brave –-is in fact feeling vulnerable.
