The documentary examines the themes of death, religion, criminal investigation, and the influences of music through interviews and archived footage. It follows a non-linear narrative structure, using a single storyline to explore the unanswered questions around a murder case where the defendant claimed the devil made them do it. Various cinematography techniques like handheld footage and different shots are used to set the scene and highlight the chaos, danger, and contrast between good and evil influences.

1. ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’

2. It is a mixed documentary containing a voice
over (narrator), archived footage and
interviews.

3. The themes of the documentary include:
 Death & Murder
 Religion
 Criminal Investigation
 Influences of music (Marilyn Manson)
 Youth Culture
 Mental Illness

4.  ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ is a single stranded
documentary as it only carries one storyline.
 It is open narrative structure as the audience
are likely so still be wondering about
unanswered questions.
 It has a non-linear storyline as the order of
narration isn't told in complete order.

5.  A hand held camera is
used for actual footage
to highlight the manic/
chaos happening
around the situation.
 An establishing shot of
the street is where the
murder happened is
used to show the
setting of the crime.

6.  High angle shots of the
dark deserted streets
could represent danger.
 A tracking shot of actual
footage makes the
audience feel as though
they are part of the
action, getting an in-
depth insight.
 A binary opposition of
Manson and God stress
the good versus evil.

7.  The framing of the
interviews are made up of
mostly close ups and
medium close ups.
 Interviews are
conventionally
positioned on either the
left or right side of the
shot.
 The audience is positioned
as so they feel they are
actually watching what
has happened.

8.  The shots of Italy
establish the towns and
cities. The contrast
between the quiet Italy
and the contrasting
hectic fans showing
Manson’s power.
 The bright lighting
shows the positive view
of Christianity
representing it as good.

9.  The background of
interviews provides the
audience with insight
into their role,
anchoring the meaning
of the interview.
 Marilyn Manson wears
dark clothing and
makeup reflecting his
evil persona.

10.  Special effects are used to reinforce the impact of
the action and therefore emphasise the emotions
and atmosphere.
 Soft music provides the contrast of Marilyn
Manson’s music.
 The narrators voice is a standard male English
accent that was also used to translate and to relate
and reflect the age and gender of the audience.
 A voice over occurs over archived footage to provide
an extra explanation.

11.  Slow motion is used when the footage of the
coffin was being carried emphasises the
sadness and tension.
 Cuts between the Italian streets and the
concerts could show the good versus evil.
Quick cuts during reconstruction highlight
emotions of the events taking place.
 Montage editing of a series of shots shows
the continuity of the actions.

12.  Marilyn Manson’s
music videos
 Concert footage
 Newspaper cuttings
 American news shows
 The girls confessions
(audio)

13.  The white standard
font, possibly used to
stand out, told the
audience who was
speaking and their
relation to the topic
and events.
 Dates and places
 Graphics where used to
provide translations.