The document analyzes how two films, Skeleton Key and Arlington Road, establish their genres within the first two minutes. In Skeleton Key, the genre of psychological horror is conveyed through themes of death, a hospice setting, and boxes of personal effects in the trash. The audience learns the main character is a nurse through costume, environment, and scenes at the hospice where an elderly man dies. In Arlington Road, the genres of horror and thriller are established through intense sound, lighting, and camera work with fast-paced music. The audience sees a seriously injured child with a missing hand who is bleeding, establishing a sense of danger and mystery.

1. Clip Analysis
Skeleton Key
Is the genre established? How is the genre established? What does the audience find out How does the audience find
in the first 2 minutes? this out?
• Yes, Psychological Horror • On-going theme of death • Kate Hudson is a nurse; the • Costume
• location in a hospice main character so far, also a • Environment
• boxes of personal effects in protagonist • Boxes of effects in the trash
the trash • First scene is in a hospice • Elderly people
• Black man dies • Mise en scene
Arlington Road
Is the genre established? How is the genre established? What does the audience find out How does the audience find
in the first 2 minutes? this out?
• Yes, Horror/Thriller • Sound/Lighting/Camera • Seriously injured child • Camera shots
• Fast-paced non diegetic • Missing hand/bleeding • Body language
sound • Stranger presumably helps • Mise en scene
child