2. Below are 9 shots shown in chronological order, that play an importance to mise en
scene and camerawork1) Long shot, and mise en
scene/iconography of a torch light shining
establishes part of the genre being a
crime/thriller as they are clearly looking for
something
2) Low angle shot and mise en
scene of photo establishes main
character to the audience
3) Mid-shot and
mise en scene
used to establish
genre
4) Close up and mise en
scene of crime, creates
mystery, confusion,
connotation of a game
5) Arc shot- follows the subject.
Narrow depth of field Depth of
field/focus remains on character.
6) Tilted angle,
mise en scene
expect audience
to know of this
story
7) Over the shoulder shot, depth of
field changes and mise en scene of
crime scene tape to establish crime
genre
8) Two shot- mid
shot
9) Mid shot, zooming in slowly, to
show character’s emotion- final
shot
3. Further analysis
1)The first shot I picked out firstly is the first shot we see out of the whole trailer so it plays important significance as to
how we are introduced to this film. This shot is a long shot where two people are seen in the distance shining a torch.
Not only is this set at nightime for mise en scene benefits to scare an audience due to the eerie feel of the darkness,
but the torch light plays an important part of establishing the genre of mystery as it’s clear to see the character’s are
looking for something. This straight away hooks in the audience as to what their trying to find and leaves the audience
with enigma. The idea also of using a long shot to first introduce a film is clever in terms of not revealing the character’s
identities straight away and keeps us as the audience guessing, this is also a common attribute to thriller films.
2) The next shot is a low angle shot where the lighting seems to be reflecting on a picture a man is holding of a young
lady. This is an important part of mise en scene as it reveals to the audience straight away this is what the two people
from the very first shot were looking for. The low angle also used in camerawork is cleverly achieved to make the photo
appear in the foreground, in front of the other character to make sure the audience’s focus lay on the young lady. The
lighting used here of having it focused on the woman in the photo shows her significance within the film as also
alongside this, a narrow depth of field is used, so the picture which remains in the foreground is in focus. Once again
this also shows her importance as the camerawork wouldn’t be showing her in such focus otherwise. This also signifies
the man in the background isn’t a main character otherwise more attention in camerawork or screen time would be
paid towards him.
3) The next shot is a mid-shot which is used to establish the setting and placements in this living room. The living room
appears normal apart from the focus object in the centre of the screen being a turned over table smashed with glass
everywhere. This mid-shot is used deliberately to show the surroundings in comparison to only one turned over table
deliberately, for narrative reasons. This table plays an important part of mise en scene as it introduces the theme of
violence into the film establishing the genre of thriller/crime and once again this unexplained action shown on screen,
leaves the audience with enigma as to who did this, as we are only given a short second snippet of this and we haven’t
as the audience seen anything else to this supposed crime scene.
4. 4) This shot is a close-up of an envelope which has marked on it ‘clue one’. The use of a close up shows how this object plays
an importance and how the film wants us to see it rather than anything else. To prove this envelope’s importance also is the depth
of field used which focuses upon the envelope and blurs out the hand seen in the foreground, suggesting our attention should be
paid to it. Also mise en scene is used for establishing the genre once more, as a piece of lingerie is seen behind this envelope
which could denote the themes of romance in contrast with mystery but also could connote the fact that this was perhaps
planted in the missing lady’s draw, adding to further enigma for the audience and a build up of interest as they find out a little
more into the plot. The mise en scene is important as well as clues usually connote the idea of a game and lead you to find
something which may be relative in terms to the narrative.
5) Although this shot has a short duration in terms of actually showing it’s camera movement, you can tell that it is showing a
segment of an arc shot where the camera is circulating around the front of the character. This arc mid-shot picks up the
character’s distress and her body language changes which indicates she is worried as her hands reach for her head. This helps add
to the theme of drama and establishes the genre for the film. Also alongside this a narrow depth of field is used and focuses on
the character indicating she is of some importance to the film, making her stand out from the people in the background. However
the blurred mise en scene in the background of candles connotes people paying their respects perhaps towards the missing lady,
introducing the theme of crime once more as this is commonly seen in real life when a person goes missing.
6) The tilted shot used of showing the two puppets ‘Punch and Judy’ in a box indicates a sense of eeriness into the
film as tilted angles are usually seen within thriller films to portray unease. It also signifies what audience is expected of
the film ( an educated one, preferably adults) as they assume their audience to know of the punch and judy story,
where he kills judy and his baby, which may connote to the audience that the storyline of that tale is linked to the
storyline of the film. This creates enigma and racing questions for the audience on whether the missing lady was killed
by her husband, this of course creates a twist to what we’ve seen so far, and makes the puppets serve as an important
part of mise en scene.
5. 7) The next shot is an over the shoulder shot which shifts its depth of field between focusing on the background and
then focusing on the character. This shot is used to firstly show the character’s perspective as he is faced away from us
and how the focused mise en scene use of crime scene tape establishes the genre of crime and danger once more.
Then after to show the character’s reaction when the depth of field narrows into a close up of his face, showing his
expressions and feelings which appear to be distressed. This can connote the impression of the man’s involvement
within the disappearance due to his reaction. But because nothing is explained due to what the crime tape is hiding,
this of course frustrates an audience leaving them wanting to find out what it is.
8) The next shot appears to be a two shot which is affectively used a lot in romance films to show the relationship
between two characters. Because this shot is a mid shot also we can tell from this that the spacing between the two
characters is very distanced, indicating a sense of intimidation between the female character who is faced towards the
camera and the male character who is turned away from us. Their body language captured shows this also as the
female character is stood upright looking away from the main character representing her fear and the body language of
the male character is calm whilst he is leaning over her, suggesting he holds the power. The lighting used here as well
presents the male character as to being quite intimidating as his face appears dark whilst the female characters face is
light up and is clear to see. Also the setting used here of a corner and a brick wall in which the female is leant up
against creates the impression of confined spaces and these are commonly seen in thriller films to create the sense of
having no escape. This of course raises the audience’s suspicion on the male character due to this, connoting the idea
furthermore that he is dangerous.
9) This is the last shot seen in the trailer, and here we get a real intake to the main character’s frustration as the mid
shot captures his body language change and his hands raise to his head which usually indicates distress as seen in one
of the previous screengrabs of a female. Also here a dolly zoom effect is used to make the background seem as if its
moving away from the character. This can be done to show the character’s emotions reflect on the surroundings
change around him, but also we can tell from this shot from the expression on the male’s face, his eye movement from
side to side denotes the idea he has witnessed something shocking that has frustrated him.
