The opening scenes of "Hide and Seek" set up conventions of the thriller genre without fully revealing the plot. A female victim is suggested through red/black colors. A male character is seen watching his family, implying he may be the killer. The title repeats in red/orange, suggesting a character has two sides. Mise-en-scene reveals potential victims through a woman's red coat and lipstick. Ethereal sounds set an ominous tone from the start. Camera shots establish a child character seen from above and a male character approaching, indicating they may play key roles.

1. HIDE AND SEEK – 2005UK RELEASE DATE: 25TH FEBRUARY 2005DIRECTED BY JOHN POLSON

3. Female victims

4. Isolated area

5. Male murdererCompared to some of the other movies studied, the beginning minutes of ‘Hide and seek’ do not give away many of the conventions used throughout of the film. This is done to build up suspense and make the audience question the true nature of each character. However, it is suggested that the victims within the film will be female characters. This is automatically presented through the use of the colours red and black symbolising danger and threat. This automatically corresponds to the traditional conventions of thriller films where the victims tend to be women. Secondly, it could be argued that the killer throughout will be a man due to seeing a male character watch over his apparent family.

6. USE OF TITLES The use of titles automatically suggests the main storyline of the film. The main names are displayed in a white font but then as the name appears, it duplicates in a more twisted and ominous form. The fact it duplicates suggests that one particular character my have a split personality. This is a similar effect to what is used in Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’. Furthermore, as the credits repeat in red/orange colour, it contrasts hugely to the white that was previously used. This conveys the idea that there are two sides of a character within the film, one which seems ordinary (use of white and a plain font) and another which seems to have unexplained mysteries (use of red/orange and a more perverse font).

7. MISE EN SCENE The use of mise en scene within the opening of ‘Hide and Seek’ is very significant as it reveals the victims throughout the film. This is done through the use of the colour red presented through a coat and lipstick that two female characters wear. The character who seems to be the mother of a family was originally viewed wearing a cream coloured coat, but as the scene changes, she has changed to a black dress. This also symbolises her fate within the movie. Secondly, a round about is used where a child character is laying. As she is not spinning it herself, it suggests that she is not in control of her actions which could later reveal many characteristics she has. Lastly, a clock is used with a certain time revealing that a particular moment could repeat throughout the film.

8. SOUND As soon as the film begins, sound immediately accompanies the scene. It is quite ethereal and portentous expressed through non-diagetic sound which helps the audience to get an understanding about the sort of plot the film may have. The fact that it comes straight away suggests that the main ideas and happenings of the film may take place within the first few minutes. Secondly, the sound of a child's laugh becomes acknowledged which depicts the idea that the storyline may be based around a child.

9. CAMERA The first camera shot used in ‘Hide and Seek’ is a birds eye shot of a child character on a round about. The fact a bird eye shot has been used suggests that we are looking at her from another persons perspective and the fact that the camera focuses just on her reveals that she may be a main character throughout the film. Secondly, an extreme long shot is used revealing the setting and area in which the film is set and also presents a male character walking forward towards the girl. This depicts the idea that he may be the dominating role within ‘Hide and Seek’. This shot them turns into a medium close up shot as the character continues to walk forward suggesting that the birds eye view perspective was seen through his eyes. Birds Eye Shot Extreme Long Shot Medium Close Up