1. The Woman in Black Opening Sequence Analysis
The first shotof the film breaks conventions as it does not show the institution.
This can be interpreted to be a result of a confident institution as it is not their
firstthought to show the institution first. The first shotis a close up of two pot
tea cups froma play set, with a child pretending to pour tea froma teapot
entering the frame. This is effective as, general, children’s toys fromthe past
can be seen as creepy to many people. This is also effective becauseit
immediately informs the audience of the age of the actors/actresses - which
makes the audience feel sympathetic and extremely sad when the children die.
Throughoutthe whole sequence, non diagetic sound of an old song froma toy
box is played over the scenes, increasing in volume throughout. This
emphasises the tension throughout the sequence.
The next shot is a long shot of the three children laughing and playing. This
juxtaposes to the stereotypical behaviour of the horror genre, thus confusing
the audience as they believe that usually in horror films, people aregenerally
terrified and upset.
However, this happiness is stopped by someone or something – demonstrated
by an extreme long POV shot of all three children from the organism’s pointof
view, showing blank facial expressions. This is extremely effective as it
highlights the change of atmospheres and emphasises the danger of the
person. This is also effective because it uses direct address and engages with
the audience and causes the audience to feel the terror of the children.
The camera then cuts to a mid-shotof the three girls turning their head to look
at the window, keeping their blank expressions. This implies to the audience
that person fromthe previous shotpointed towards the window, to infer them
to do something.
Next, the camera shows a mid-shotof three windows, which zooms in at a
steady pace. This instantly foreshadowsto the audience that something is
going to happen to the three girls, thus making the audience feel nervous and
tense about this fact.
2. The camera then cuts to show the three girls standing up without taking their
eyes of the windows, by using two close ups. This confirms the audience’s
suspicion and causes the audience to panic even more.
In addition, the director uses severalclose ups of the little girls dropping a tea
cup and standing on their toys as they travel to the window. This suggests to
the audience that the children are in no control over what they are doing,
causing the audience to feel anger towards the person making them do this.
The director then uses a mid-shotof the three girls, with blank facial
expressions, travelling towards the camera, as the camera zooms out. This is a
crucial shotin the opening sequence as it can be inferred to representthe girls
walking towards the audience to get help. However, the camera zooming out
represents the unachievable help that the children seek for. Their blank facial
expressions compelthe audience further as it is highlighted that they are not in
control, showing that they are vulnerable.
Next, the camera shows a long shotof the three girls opening the windows and
stepping onto the ledge in synchronisation. This is followed by the girls
jumping as the non diagetic sound fades out. This can be speculated to
representthe audience holding their breath in disbelief and shock as they do
not believe it has happened.
The silence is then cut by a woman’s screamof despair and remorse,
suggesting to the audience that their mother witnessed them hitting the
ground – creating even more sympathy for the family.
Finally, the camera then zooms out as a black veil enters the frame. This is a
crucial shotof the sequenceas it is the firsttime the audience sees ‘The
Woman in Black’. The use of the black veil suggests to the audience she causes
death, which juxtaposes to the conventionalwhite veil which represents
purity. This is effective as it makes the audience subjecttheir anger to the
woman in black.
