2. The essence and use of Low-Key lighting whilst filming within the woods instantly
creates the aery and unnerving atmosphere that stereotypically creates the film to
be based around a Thriller. Allowing the audience to establish the films set genre.
This is also complimented by the high pitched music that continues to build helping
to communicate a very tense, thrilling atmosphere.
A contrast and instant switch in setting is also used with this opening sequence. At
the beginning the deep woodland setting creates the audience to believe something
is going to happen to the character as it deems to be very isolated from any means
of civilization. However this then switches to become a set of a police station or
training ground filled with many other officers and a large building that is surrounded
by the woods. As the set changes so does the sound, it becomes much more
swelled, upbeat and harmonious allowing the audience to relax and relieve all
tension from the previous scene and set. Another sound that is also used during the
second shot is the diegetic sound of a helicopter in order to reengage the aspect of
civilization and safety.
Props have also been used to highlight the Thriller genre of this film; one prop being
a page taken from a local newspaper. ‘Bill Skins Fifth’ allows the audience to
establish a serial killer within the film that uses ‘skinning’ as his way to mark another
murder; a very stereotypical aspect of a film that takes on this Thriller genre.
Images before this also allow the audience to see an insight to these murders. With
it also being hung up on the wall it shows importance towards this case, one that
later may be incorporated to the film.
3. Shot reverse shot is used when portraying discussion between both the female
protagonist and what is portrayed to be her boss. It also helps establish the status
and role within the police force they work for. We are able to do this by comparing
the different types of costume worn by the two characters. The females being a
tracksuit that has ‘FBI Academy’ written on it and the males being a full suit with a
waistcoat. Through this blend of editing and costume the audience is able to
establish the male has dominant power in this scene as he has a higher role within
the organization.
The editing used here is a match on action. The instant cut as the female
protagonist runs through the woods into the fog. Making the audience feel tense as
she is running into somewhere you can not see clearly believing that something
may happen t o her. As she runs through the woods, fog plays a huge part in
creating an eerie and anxious atmosphere. It symbolizes that something may
happen to the protagonist at this point as it is stereotypical by the use of mise-en-
scene and the character not being able to see what surrounds her.
Eye line match is also used during this scene. As the camera slowly zooms closer to
the females face it instantly switches to what she is looking at. This almost makes
the character grieve as the pictures are ghastly with skinned peoples pictures
attached to the wall. It also helps establish a murderer within the film who uses
skinning as a way to mark his territory and kills. When the female protagonist look at
the photos it forms a relationship., maybe portraying that the female protagonist will
have to try and investigate this particular murderer.
4. The first shot within the scene is an establishing shot. This portrays the spooky
atmosphere and bitterness of the woods. The singularity and isolation of the woods
is very stereotypical for a thriller as it seems the place were someone is most likely
to run into trouble with the evil character within the story. The fog also helps again
represent the isolation and creepy ambiance that it creates.
The use of slow camerawork allows tension to be built throughout the whole of the
opening scene. Instead of using cuts to show the female protagonist to turn the
corner it follows her around not using cut to split the action. This slow paced turn
allowed this tension to build as the audience does not know what lies around the
corner. This forms a false panic in the audience as all that is there is an empty
room. This is a technique to instantly make the audience feel that sense of alarm
that a thriller is stereotypically used to having in order to scare the audience and
make them wary for the rest of the film.
A shot that is also used within the scene in the woods is a close-up. As the
protagonist is running the camera shoots just her face and upper body. This cuts of
her surroundings and eye line vision to the audience making them unable to know
what may be following or in front of her. The fog also creates the vision to seem
blurred meaning something could be lurking a we do not know. Making the audience
feel wary of what may happen to the protagonist. This is the atmosphere created as
it is a stereotypical scene for something to happen as the protagonist is alone and
not able to see what may be coming.
