The document analyzes different elements of the film The Others including the titles, music, shot types, mise-en-scene, and how it follows or challenges genre conventions. The opening titles set an ominous tone through drawings accompanied by the woman's voiceover. Dramatic music is used during tense scenes to create suspense. Shots include extreme long shots of the isolated house and frenzied camera movements during panic scenes. Mise-en-scene features the isolated house location and curtains representing protection from spirits. While seeming to feature typical haunted house elements, the film subverts expectations with the plot twist that the main characters are actually ghosts.

2. Titles
The Others opens with a voiceover of a woman telling the beginning of a
story while the credits start to appear. When she finishes speaking, the
film's title appears onscreen followed by a list of the actors and several
other credits.
The titles are shown on top of drawings which include two children. These
drawings are some moments from the film such as the one where
the door is being unlocked.
As the film is mainly lit by
candle light, this is shown
through the drawings. This
opening sequence instantly gives
the film an uneasy and ominous
feel.

3. Music
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The film opens with a somewhat calm instrumental which however,
sounds quite ominous helping to create a mysterious atmosphere.
Throughout the scene where the mother hears strange voices,
sudden dramatic, high pitched, music is heard when she tries to
find where they are coming from.
However this gets quieter when the door starts to mysteriously
open helping to increase the suspense as the audience is left
wondering where the voices are from and who owns them.
Contrasting to this music, when the family find out they are dead,
low pitched music is heard as the tension has been building up to
this crucial point in the movie where everything is revealed.
This music therefore ensures the audience are captivated by this
scene.

4. Shot Types
The first shot in the film is an extreme long shot of the family's home. This shot
shows how secluded this house is which gives a feeling of isolation throughout
the film, increasing the tension and suspense as it seems there is no escape.
 When the mother believes she is hearing voices, she searches a room in order
to find where they are coming from. During this scene her camera follows her
around the room in a frenzied manner to represent the panic she is
experiencing.
 A similar style is used when the mother and her children discover they are dead
as it represents the disorientation they are experiencing in this scene.
 The 180 degree rule is also broken in the scene when she hears voices as a shot
of the mothers face, cuts to one of the back of her head which implies that she
is being watched.
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5. Mise en Scene
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The house is situated in an isolated location surrounded by fields, trees
and water suggesting that it will be extremely difficult to escape the
situation they find themselves in.
The majority of the film takes place
in a house meaning the audience
may feel paranoia similar to the
characters in the film as a home
is where people spend their daily lives.
The use of the curtains in the film
represent the characters' protection
against what seems to be evil spirits.
When the curtains are taken down, it is
being suggested that they no longer have protection against these spirits
and are now vulnerable.

6. Follows or Challenges?
The Others follows the codes and conventions of supernatural
thrillers as the film is full of suspense and tension – a major aspect
of the genre – created through the music and shot types.
 Throughout the film it seems as though the family are being
haunted by evil spirits meaning the plot centres around good versus
evil.
 However in the end, it is revealed that the family are in fact the
spirits haunting another, living family. This plot twist therefore
means the film conforms to the codes and conventions of
supernatural thrillers.
 The film also involves otherworldly elements as the main characters
are ghosts.
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7. Follows or Challenges?
The Others follows the codes and conventions of supernatural
thrillers as the film is full of suspense and tension – a major aspect
of the genre – created through the music and shot types.
 Throughout the film it seems as though the family are being
haunted by evil spirits meaning the plot centres around good versus
evil.
 However in the end, it is revealed that the family are in fact the
spirits haunting another, living family. This plot twist therefore
means the film conforms to the codes and conventions of
supernatural thrillers.
 The film also involves otherworldly elements as the main characters
are ghosts.
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