The film Kill Bill Vol 1 is directed by Quentin Tarantino. It follows the Bride, a former assassin who decides to leave her life of killing and the assassin group she works for, led by her lover Bill. On her wedding day, Bill murders her fiancé and puts her into a coma. She wakes up years later determined to get revenge on Bill and the five people who destroyed her life. The opening scene shows the Bride covered in blood as Bill towers over her. Tarantino uses techniques like low-key lighting and close-ups to build mystery, tension and put the audience in the perspective of the threatening Bill.

1. Kill Bill Vol 1 Analysis.
(0.00- 3.22)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Film Summary:
The lead character, called 'The Bride,' was a member of the Deadly Viper Assassination
Squad, led by her lover 'Bill.' Upon realizing she was pregnant with Bill's child, 'The
Bride' decided to escape her life as a killer. She flees to Texas, meets a young man,
who on the day of their wedding rehearsal was gunned down by an angry and jealous
Bill (with the assistance of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad). Four years later, 'The
Bride' wakes from a coma, and discovers her baby is gone. She, then, decides to seek
revenge upon the five people who destroyed her life and killed her baby.
Analysis:
The opening scene begins with a non-diegetic sound of a helpless woman breathing
heavily, then it becomes diegetic when you see a close up of the lead character ‘The
Bride’ covered with cuts and blood, this creates an enigma code to the audience
because they want to know why she is covered in blood and who done it.
The black and white effect seen here in the image below shows that the shot below is a
flashback and also makes the genre of the film a little more clearer. This is also used in
film noir films to show that the film is made in the past and that there is a time shift.
The lighting of the bride is important as well as shown in the image low key lighting is
used to create shadows and add dramatic contrast between light and dark, this adds
mystery and attracts the audience more as they have not seen the character fully yet.
This also reinforces the genre by adding a dull, mysterious classic film noir type look to
the shot.

2. The next character ‘Bill’ enters the shot in 0:34 via YouTube, diegetic sound is used to
when Bill is walking towards ‘The Bride’ the sound of his footsteps makes him look
menacing and brings fear to the character and the audience, this also creates suspense
with the audience as they are wondering what he’s going to do next.
Another sound heard throughout the scene is the heavy breathing of the ‘Bride’, this
creates tension within the audience because they are witnessing how vulnerable and
helpless the ‘Bride’ is and also makes Bill look even more menacing and sinister.
A close up of Bill’s boots are also used to make the audience feel that they are right in
the middle of the action, this shot is also used to hide the identity of Bill which plays an
important role in the film, the builds tension and leaves the audience asking questions
about the character.

3. During the scene the main shot type used is the basic close up but the effectiveness of
the shot is massive because it engages the audience and puts them right in the middle
of the action, it also helps the audience understand the importance of the mise en scene
which engages them more into the film, for example when a close up is used on the
‘Bride’ her emotions affect the audience which makes them feel sympathetic and
sensitive towards the character thus reinforcing her role as the hero/protagonist while
‘Bill’ is clearly the bad guy. A POV shot is also used when Bill is looking down at the
protagonist; this puts the audience in the shoes of Bill.
The high angle shot used on the bride shows the power Bill has on her and is effective
on showing the emotion and expression on the Brides face; this again puts the audience
in Bills position and point of view and gives the audience a sense of power.
Diegetic sound is also heard in this particular shot as Bill touches the Bride and you can
still hear her crying, breathing heavily and whimpering, this further reinforces that Bill is
the villain and that this creates fear within the audience this also engages the audience.
The use of the genre convention is seen when there is blood on the Brides face and on
the floor; this establishes the genre as being an action/thriller also the blood connotes
pain/death/violence etc...This is plays a big part in most thriller films which also
establishes the genre. The gun being loaded in the background prepares the audience
for what could be a shooting, this creates tension and unease as it could be very bloody
for the audience to witness.

4. The close up shot also shows Bill’s hand and handkerchief, providing an enigma code.
The handkerchief has the name
‘Bill’ on it, allowing the audience to put a name to the voice and
Therefore engaging them. The fact that Bill carries a handkerchief with his own name on
it suggests that he is self-obsessed.
In the opening shot there are many thriller conventions, for example the large amount of
blood connotes violence and action which reinforces the genre convention and also
plays a big part in most thriller films.
The opening scene shows juxtaposition between The Bride and the antagonist Bill, The
Bride is clearly in a wedding dress and is meant to have the best day of her life but due
to the actions of Bill she is bleeding to death on her wedding day and her emotions is the
opposite of what it’s meant to be.

5. In the next part of the opening sequence the title of the film appears as you can see
above at the time 2:01 via YouTube, the background colour is black with the typography
in white this creates a sad, sympathetic mood to the opening of the film, the music used
in this shot is a song made by Nancy Sinatra called Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me
Down) this also creates a upsetting mood due to the actions happening the scene
before, this makes the audience feel guilty due to the POV shot of the antagonist
shooting the protagonist in the head. The lyrics in the song also refer to the genre and
scenes in the film for example “My baby shot me down bang bang” this silently tells the
story of the relations between both characters, this makes the audience think that they
may have been in a relationship which ended sourly due to the content of the film.
Every shot of the casting name has a 3 second pause, this is effective because it sets a
mood and builds suspense due to the pace of the music and lack of colour, this is a key

6. concept in the genre of action/thriller because it sets the audience’s mood and sets an
enigma code on whether the protagonist survives or not etc..
This film is very effective and engages the audience more due to casting Uma Thurman
as the main character because woman in films especially thriller/action genre’s don't
really play a main role as much as male actors do, they are typically used as sex objects
or love interests of the main actor but in this film Tarantino has flipped the script and
placed a female to be the leading character, this is a good marketing way of attracting
more of the target audience and engages them more in the film.