1. Short filmanalysis- 2AM: the smiling man
Macro issues
Narrative outline A young man is walking in the middle of the night
when no one else is out, then when he met a
stranger in a yellow suit who is always smiling with
same expression. The stranger moves and walk in a
strange way and the young man decide to avoid him,
but is chased. He thinks he got away from him only
to find the stranger was right in front of him again.
Smiling.
Narrative theory The narrative theory in 2AM is similar to todorov’s
narrative theory where the short film start with the
equilibrium, when the young man is simply walking
back home in the middle of the night. Than the
disruption come along where the filmwill feature a
problem or something will disrupt the happiness.
And this is where in the filmwhen with the smiling
man keep dancing strangely and staring at him. On
the other hand, the realisation is the next part where
the realises the problem. And in the 2AM is when
the young man asks himwhat do you want and he
didn’t respond so he carries on walking, but then the
smiling man suddenly start chasing him.
Genre The genre of this short movie is based on horror as in
the part of the story it created some tension to the
audience, and a sense of fear, panic and alarm.
Conventions The 2AM is a horror film because it uses horror
background sound and music, which grab the
audience sudden tension. Also, it has use the
location and setting in a silent dark street where no
one is out at midnight 2AM and using a dark setting
create the meaning of death, evil and mystery.
Representation The mental illnesses within the smiling man are the
representation throughout the film. As the strange
movement and facial expression that the smiling
man is portraying to us suggest that he is mentally ill.
However, with the strange dancing in the middle of
the night combine with the funny bright costume
implies that he is not normal and is very strange.
Micro Issues
Mise en scene The use of yellow suit on the character is to try and
grab the audience attention and allow the man to be
2. able to see clearly that he is right there. Also,
because the story was set at night time which yellow
suit will able to see it appearance.
Editing During the chasing between the two men, there is a
quick editing to make the audience feel frantic and
tense. As well as, there is a edit of cut when the
young man look up and see the smiling man. The
shot/reverse shot between two characters, shows
the reaction of the young man ad making the
audience focus on and feel how he is feeling as well.
Sound The non-diegetic score was use when the
sound/music suddenly comes in when the action
movement has started; this is the siting when the
yellow suit man appears over the other side of the
road. Also the use of the heartbeat sound at the end.
However, the non-diegetic sound dominates the
film, with the atmospheric long notes to build up the
tension. The only diegetic sound that were used
throughout the video is when the man said “what
the hell do you want” and no replied is made, which
are to increase the tension. Furthermore, the scene
starts off with no sound but footsteps, as all the
other sound has been amplified. As the footstep get
louder and louder, it suggest that the street the
young man is walking on are isolated as it is in the
middle of the night.
Cinematography The first mid shot that was use on the character is to
show that he is a young white man. As often in a
horror genre filmor video, audience are rather
focusing on the atmosphere and tension through
sound and music.
Performance The main performance of the short video of 2am is
the strange yellow man that was dancing strangely in
the street. And when the smiling man is running
after the young man where all the tension has built
upon that moment.
