1. Silent Hill 2: Revelations 3D
This sequence begins with a signifier of medium shot with a man strapped to a table.
This signifies he is vulnerable, weak and in danger. From his facial expressions he‟s
scared and frightened. An example of a denotation is the low key lighting; this
represents a creepy, gothic and dark atmosphere. This foreshadows death for the
male character. The non-diegetic music is form of instruments played at a low deep
base; this effect creates tension and suspension for the audience.
A cut is made and it appears as a medium shot with nurses wrapped up like
mummies. This conveys the nurses are not human and they are from a different
species which is creepy and chilling. The scariest aspect is being in the room with
something that‟s unknown to you and could hurt you in any way.
Further into the sequence the nurses started to react to the sounds they hear in the
room. One of them had a knife in her hand. This shows they are protective of
themselves because they are blind from their vision they don‟t understand what is
going on around them.
2. In the background there‟s a denotation of an X-ray of a person‟s skull. This connotes
the building use to be a hospital. From my perspective the picture looks demented
as if the place is made for torching innocent souls.
Further along the scene a woman crawls up from the side of the bed. She whispers
to the man “where my father is?” this rhetoric device explains she‟s on a mission to
find her father. In my opinion the place is cursed with evil forces which make bad
things happen to good people.
Shot reverse shot occurs between the characters; the man replied “I know where
your father is? He is in the cemetery beneath the amusement park.” This indicates
the guy probably met the father before he got locked up. I think every character has
something the demon wants. In the end both of the characters make a deal, she
helps the man escape and he looks for her father with her.
3. Stills from
the actual
movie
A detonation presents itself as the girl is pulling
the ropes off the man. This connotes the speed
of her motivation was fast because she is panicking. The sound in the background
created a dramatic effect of fear and panic. This horror movie played with the
audiences‟ emotions, one time they were trying to escape and the next thing you
know the evil forces were trying to attack them.
Another signifier is drawn up when the man fell off his bed in slow motion. This effect
conveyed the conventions of anticipation and the moment of a cliff-hanger. The
process of this incident creates surrealism for both the viewer‟s and the audience.
These stills are useful to be shown because they indicate what has happened and it
gives you better insight.
The colours in the sequence are
brown and grey to create mystery.
4. An example of a denotation illustrates on the screen with a medium shot of the man
getting up with belt attached to him and the woman pulled the bed it towards them.
This connotes their reacting fast to prevent themselves from getting murdered. An
interesting theme in this movie is the connection between the characters; both of
them hardly know each other but their sensitive and caring towards each other.
Lastly a scene is demonstrated with a med shot, the woman quoted “we need a
knife” this shows she is trying to find a way out. She dived onto the ground and
reached out for the weapon near the nurse‟s feet. This connoted the bravery and the
courage of a female character; she is obliviously dominating the man. This film
decided to do a role switch which was very interesting and links to our trailer
„Diamond Rush. „The end of the sequence was left with a cliff-hanger, the editing and
the camerawork was cleverly directed to play with the audience‟s mind and to leave
them in an unstable condition.
5. These
stills
create
fear,
tension,
suspense
and many
more
emotions
…..
Bourne Legacy
Bourne Legacy is presented as a med shot of a woman’s face. She looks worried and
overwrought. This connotes the woman could be involved in a dangerous situation. A gang
or the police could be after her. This foreshadows somebody could get hurt. The
background is dark and dull. This indicates mystery.
A signifier is portrayed with an establishing shot; a group of police officers are wearing black
bullet proof vests. In my opinion they are preparing to arrest a hazardous suspect. The shot
reverse shot from the house and to the woman shows a connection. She knows the person
who’s inside of the building. Dramatic irony is running through the film to film to keep the
audience feeling tense.
6. The camera cuts to a detonation of a med with the woman screaming “Aaron Run!” This
indicates the woman wants to protect him from going to jail. Her role as a female character
is represented to be courageous is well. This woman is risking her own life which implies she
will end up in danger is well.
A signifier is dominated on the screen, Aaron is facing the window. This signifies he is
alerted by the scream. The low key lighting changes the mood into a mysterious effect; it
connects with the conventions and codes of a thriller.
As the scene goes on, a signifier of a long shot appears with the woman running away in a
hurry. This shows the woman is in a hurry to escape in order to save her life. During this
scene I felt nervous for the woman. It was unpredictable whether she was going to get
caught or not.
7. A denotation is demonstrated with a long shot of a police man looking at the woman
running in the market. This connotes he believes she is a suspect and he is after her for any
kind of information. This is the woman’s downfall, if she gives a statement in she could face
jail time for acting dodgy and secretive in the first place.
As soon the scene cuts away, the paste of the editing goes fast. Another signifier is
displayed with Aaron climbing on a gate. This signifies time is running out and he needs to
find a safe place. Non-diegetic music is playing in the background this has a great impact on
the conventions of a thriller. The music is fast, energetic and adventurous.
A signifier is illustrated with a med shot of the police officer’s breaking into the man’s
apartment. This connotes the representations of hierarchy. The police have the power and
authority to do anything without owner’s consent.
8. The camera cuts to different scenes, the editing starts to become hectic. The male character
is portrayed as a flexible, courageous, brave and athletic man. It’s like he has been
professionally trained my agents to deal with certain situations.
Next few scenes:
9. Moreover into the sequence the camera goes back to the woman, there is a medium shot of
her woman running. Meanwhile another lady is reporting her escape. The performance of
the female characters shows their alert, fearful and is panicking about the situation.
Specifically the main protagonist doesn’t want to get caught.
In these two scenes you clearly state the denotation; first of all she’s running through an
alleyway and ends up getting caught. This location focuses on character’s being trapped.
The movement and the posture of her body are attentive and cautious.
More action sequences!
However as the scene goes along a signifier appears through a long shot, the man is sliding
down a pathway. This signifies the surrealism of action movies; it always has been
melodramatic in order for the audience get excited.
Here is a signifier of a fighting scene; this signifies the form of ideology which gives the
character a chance to be a hero for the day. This again focuses on the ideology of male
dominance
10. The last scene is captured around a sequence of shot reverse shot. The man quoted “are
you alright” and she replied “yes” with a sigh of relief. This signifies the man saved the
woman. Both characters relied on each other; no character was higher than the other.
There was a connection between them and involving a power struggle but victory did
overpower the sequence.
The Apparition
Each textual analysis tells a
different story but all of them
link because they all deal with
the same theme thriller.
The Apparition is presented as a signifier of a med close up; the man has his eyes’
closed. This signifies the man is dreaming. In the background he’s leaned up against a
white wall and you can see his shadow behind him. This is disturbing to watch because
he could be sleep walking which means he can’t control his behaviour at night time
Another denotation of a med shot is occurred, this time the man’s eyes are open. This
portrays he is no longer sleeping. From his facial expressions he looks scared and
frightened. The diegetic sound could have woken him up; he is probably being
tormented by supernatural activities.
11. In addition a denotation of a medium shot is displayed; the man is stiffened against the
wall. This connotes he is shocked or possibly permanently scared by the whole
experience. This scene is mind playing and leaves the audience anxious to see the next
scene.
Here is a signifier of a point of view shot; the man obliviously saw his own body. This
signifies the character is either going through déjà vu or is having hallucinations. This
represents the man might have a mental disorder. The atmosphere inside of the room is
playing on his sickness especially since it’s dark and entrapped.
An establishing shot is displayed; the signifier appears to be with a man sleeping on his
sofa. This signifies he is seeing himself in a different format. The representation is wired
and creepy. This creates the idea of a psychological thriller as something is controlling
his mind. The room has low key lighting to indicate darkness and death. The reflection
at the window developed a supernatural effect.
12. As we get more into the trailer, we can see a denotation with a long shot. The man is on
the ceiling looking down at his body. This connotes a twin effect; the visualization is a
dominant aspect because it brings out themes for i.e. ghosts and black magic. Maybe the
house is cursed and is waiting an innocent soul.
Further along into the sequence there’s an establishing shot, the med shot shows the
man stuck to the ceiling whilst a woman is sleeping in her bed. This clearly indicates the
man is having a bad nightmare; he is powerless and can’t control what’s going on.
As you can see there’s a signifier of a medium shot with the girl sleeping in the bed. The
sheets are wrinkled and drawn onto her body. This signifies the spirit is tormenting her
whilst she is sleeping. This image is disturbing and leaves the audience feeling uneasy.
13. The teaser trailer goes on showing a detonation; the sheets are slowly covering up the
girl’s body. This connotes deceased spirits want to communicate with her. Her
vulnerability makes it easier for the spirit to get to her and go onto her body.
The camera cuts to the man, he is in the same position. This signifies the man is lost in
his sleep, can’t seem to wake up. This builds up tension and curiosity for the audience.
In these two stills you can see her face is being covered with the blanket. This connotes
the spirit wants to suffocate her. I think this brings up the theme of revenge, the ghost is
angry about something. The unknown presence isn’t going to stop until they get what
they want.
14. A detonation with a shot reverse shot is displayed in the scene; I believe the man is
using his dreams to kill people. This foreshadows the woman’s death. I sympathize for
the woman as she’s the innocent victim in all of this.
The last scene represents a denotation; the girl is being attacked in her bed. The
isolation around the frame develops the idea of loneliness and separation. During this
clip I felt fuzzy and anticipated.
