4. • At the beginning of the clip the camera follows the
blood dripping; suggesting the film may be gory or
• The colour red plays a significant part in the
gruesome
opening of the film; as this colour connotes
• The camera follows two male characters in a two-
danger, hints to the audience that the plot
shot, perhaps showing how they could be significant
could put the main characters in dangerous
to the plot of the film
positions
• We get an establishing shot of an American town,
• We see a young girl in little clothing, showing
highlighting to the audience how all the key
how she is not a shy character and
characters live in this area
highlighting how maybe when everyone else
• The camera follows a girl around her room in a close
shies away from the danger, she will be the
up shot; showing how she will be one of the main
one to step forward
characters in the film
• The male character is playing with an
• We get an over the shoulder shot of a drawing of a
American football, emphasising how he is the
professor, also showing how he will contribute to the
typical American jock-type or perhaps that he
plot
is quite childish
• The camera follows a guy around the room, again
showing he is an important character
• We then get a 3-shot of the two girls and the male
character in a window showing how 3 of our 5 main
characters have already been introduced in the
opening

5. • The sound in the opening is an instrumental piece which is very
• The font in the opening is fairly small and fade in and out in mysterious and puts the audience on edge, hinting the film may
various places on the screen, this could show how throughout be filled with scenes which also put the audience on edge or
the film, unexpected things could happen which could be small make them feel uncomfortable
but could have big impacts • We hear a conversation taking place in the office between two
• From the camera following the blood, the camera cuts to an male characters, maybe showing how these two characters
office scene, showing how the office will be a significant could be significant to the plot
setting in the film and maybe the turning point of the plot
• The title is placed over the action in huge writing which takes
up the screen, making it the most important and central
aspect the audience see and remember
• The camera cuts in a conversation between two girls using
the 180 degree rule, showing their reactions during their
conversation whilst making the conversation seem continuous
and again highlighting how they will be significant to the plot

6. The film opening shows the thriller conventions
by:
• showing an extraordinary event happening
in an ordinary situation, whereby five
characters find themselves threatened
when they visit a cabin
• Mise-en-scene which highlights the key
theme of the film
• It tells us a previous incident where a
professor has slept with a student, and this
is expected by the viewer to be resolved
somewhere within the plot
• Has a complex narrative structure as it
cuts from different characters and
settings, making it confusing for the
audience to work out who they are meant
to be focussing on; who is good and who is
bad? Leaving the audience on edge
wondering who is who

7. Overall, the opening of the film ‘The Cabin In The
Woods’ has aspects which make it effective in
showing the thriller conventions, however, it is not
developed enough to show the full potential of
the thriller conventions.
It leaves the audience unsure on who the
characters are and does not reflect the title.
Apart from the beginning when we see the blood
on screen, there is no huge signs to show this film
is a thriller and does not show many of the
conventions.
It is also hard as an audience member to
concentrate on any one thing as there are so many
characters and settings introduced.