The document analyzes the opening sequence of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" through its camera work, editing, mise-en-scene, sound, and character representation. It notes the use of close-ups, montage editing, a playground setting with hopscotch and blocks spelling "pain", eerie background music, and shadowy figures representing the impending threat without showing the main characters. The conclusion praises how it builds tension through typical horror conventions but notes it lacks introducing the protagonist and antagonist.

1. Textual Analysis of
A Nightmare on Elm Street

2. Camera work
In the equilibrium a lot of close ups and mid shots are used to focus on
certain iconography and people. This connotes the importance as it
foreshadows what is to happen later on in the film. Close ups are used
when focusing on the titles also to show the importance of the names.
High angles are used when focusing on children to show they are more
vulnerable. Some longshots are used to show the action that is happening
with children playing this is used to connote the fact the children may
have a main role in the film. It also shows the location.

3. Editing
This sequence uses montage editing, this is one of the conventions of a
film of the horror genre. This allows the audience to make links between
the images to work out the narrative it uses cut transitions to move from
shot to shot. The pace of the transitions vary sometimes being fast and
other times slow this builds tension and anticipation. It also uses
noticeable transitions over lapping images. This spoils the verisimilitude,
however this is expected as the theme of the film is based on dreams
therefore it isn’t meant to be realistic. It uses cutaways to focus on the
titles, this is important as it shows the director, producer etc.

4. Mise-En-Scene
The location is set in a playground which connotes children. The establishing
shot shows the street name ‘elm street’ In the play ground there is hop scotch
set out on the floor, this connotes playfulness and innocence showing that the
children could be the victims. It also has iconography of school photos again
following the child theme. With building blocks it spells out ‘pain’ which
connotes what the characters will go through in the film. The children are in
normal clothes for their age this shows that the film will have some sense of
reality. The lighting has an over all dark sense to it but in some parts we see
natural lighting which again shows the realistic aspect. The children are playing
games as children have an imagination this could connote the dreams that the
characters later have. There isn’t a main focus on any one child which shows
that none of them are the protagonist.

5. Sound
The background music is eerie and strange. It isn’t overly scary for the
chosen genre however it is strange which helps us establish the theme. It
has non-diegetic sound of children laughing which in context infers a
strange setting. There is no direct dialogue in the opening sequence which
keeps the audience interested as they are yet to meet the protagonist or
antagonist.

6. Representation of Characters
The opening sequence doesn’t show any characters related to the actual
film, this allows audiences to infer what they want and gain a basic
understanding about the narrative. The children are shown to be innocent
which connotes the many innocent people that are to be attacked in the
film. We see dark shadows throughout the film which connotes the
antagonist is always around this also shows the theme. The children are
represented in a good way as we feel as if something bad might happen
to them which makes us feel sorry for them.

7. Conclusion
I think this was a good opening sequence because it used a lot of typical conventions
that you would find in this genre. I like the use of camera work, montage edit etc. I
would probably use something like this in my own as it builds tension and keeps the
audience wanting more. I also really like the use of the titles from being edited on
screen and being written on the set. However the down side is that it didn’t show
the protagonist or antagonist. Because the is a sequel film based on the original the
audience already have an idea about what is to happen in the narrative where as
my group will be coming up with a new idea.