This sequence from The Dark Knight engages the audience through its use of lighting, camera angles, and shots. Low-key lighting at the beginning creates mystery and suspense. An eye-level shot makes the audience feel like they are entering the Joker's dark lair. Zooming into the interrogator's face heightens tension. Shifts from low-key to high-key lighting when Batman enters suggest he exposes the Joker. A tilted camera angle looking up at Batman establishes his power over the Joker and makes the audience feel the same.

1. Film analysis – ‘The Dark Knight’
Ben Ambrose

2. The low key lighting creates an intense, dark
atmosphere, but also creates a sense of
mystery for the audience. From this the,
audience can tell that the dialogue between
the two characters is meant to be secret.
Also uses composition to tell a story,
The chiaroscuro lighting casts half of The Joker’s face into darkness and has
been used to represent his personality. The left side shows that, as the
audience are aware, he is smooth talking and charming. Where as the darker
part of his face represents the other side of his character: insane, inhumane
and unpredictable.
Also because the joker is framed into darkness is represents how detached he
is from society, and how he is viewed as a social freak.

3. This eye-level shot begins to represent the
concept of power. The audience are sitting
behind The Joker and looking on at the character
about to enter the room. This shot makes it
seem like the character is about to enter Joker’s,
dark, layer and that the Joker is in control.
Linking this concept of the eye-level shot
to the next shot, as the camera begins to
zoom into the character his emotions
begin to come clear. And the audience can
read his face as the Joker begins to get into
his head.

4. In this mid-shot we are lead to believe that Batman is in
control. The tilted camera angle looks up at Batman and
establishes his power over the Joker. The tilted camera
angle also makes the audience look up to Batman,
suggesting that he has power over everyone.
Also in this sequence the lighting goes from low key to high
key as Batman enters the sequence. The low key lighting
kept the Joker in the dark, and kept him secret. Where as,
when Batman entered the scene the light went from low
key, to high key. Suggesting that when Batman is around the
Joker is exposed and cannot hide.

5. Question response: How does this sequence engage the audience?
This sequence engages the audience in many ways such as, different camera angles such as a tilted angle, different shot types
such as close ups and eye-level shots, camera movements such as zooming in and chiaroscuro and low-key lighting. At the
beginning of the scene there’s low-key lighting, this creates a mysterious atmosphere and leaves the audience asking
themselves what is about to happen. The eye-level shot, behind the Joker, makes it seem as if the interrogator is entering the
Jokers lair. The low-key lighting suggests to the audience that the Joker’s lair is a dark and mysterious place, somewhere you
don’t want to be. This engages the audience as it keeps them in suspense and potentially pessimistic about what is going to
happen to the interrogator. Another way in which the sequence engages the audience is through camera movement. Usually,
zooming in is frowned upon, but using the same idea as the lighting, it gets the audience fearing for the interrogator. As the
dialogue progresses the Joker begins to get into the head of the interrogator and this is made clear to the audience as the
close up begins to zoom into the interrogator. The zoom of the camera could be representative of the hard-hitting words, from
the Joker, hitting the interrogator in the face. This engages the audience by putting them on the edge of their seats, in fear for
the well-being of the interrogator. Before the Batman enters the scene, there is chiaroscuro lighting and this suggests that
with the interrogator, the Joker isn’t exposed and is in his element. However, when Batman enters the scene, the lighting goes
from low-key to high-key and this could suggest that when the Batman is around the Joker becomes exposed and visible. This
engages the audience and it makes them believe that the Batman is the only person who is able to stop the Joker. This point
can also be supported through the choice of camera angle. During the dialogue, the camera is behind the Joker and looking up
at Batman. Supporting the idea of Batman’s power over the Joker. This engages the audience as they, as well as the Joker, are
looking up at Batman. Suggesting that he has all authority over everybody, including the audience. Finally, at the beginning of
the scene, the chiaroscuro lighting is used (again) to engage the audience, by representing the Joker. By this I mean the Joker’s
face is surrounded by darkness and this could suggest that, like his face, is isolated from society and surrounded by
metaphorical darkness. This engages the audience as it leads them to believe, because the Joker is a dark person, he is going
to do/say dark things.