Even before you see anything on the screen you are already subjected to the convention of tweeting birds which is paired by a stabbing piano sounds and a low grainy tone which makes the audience feel tense. After it shows the isolated location of the forest with the rustling or bushes and tree branches, the sound of the rustling was edited to appear louder. This helps the audience know the setting of the location and sets the scene whilst also having slight undertones of tension. The tension is then quickly broken as the audience is subjected to a minor jump scare of a mans foot stamping into a puddle, the music changes to a faster tempo with sharp high pitch violin sounds and we are shown the footage of the same man running from something the audience doesn't know of yet. The type of camera shot we see in the chase seen is a point of view, which gives off the effect that something is watching the man. Other uses of camera movements and angles are panning, closeup and high angle. They are very shaky and disorientated which confuses the audience. This is not by accident however, it is used to show panic and help show the audience the the character is in a state of peril. All through this the main character is covers with blood and dirt which is use of Mise-en-Scene. The man then comes to a sudden stop and almost falls over a ditch into a small river, a low angle is used at the bottom of the ditch to emphasise how deep it is and how it has become an obstacle to him which is another convention. It then cuts to an establishing shot showing the man, the ditch and the tent on the other side, this is to emphasise how big the obstacle is and to make the audience question is he going to jump or not. We then get a close up shot of the man in a state of exhaustion whilst heavy breathing and lots of rapid cuts and panning of him looking around as the trees are rustling around him. Most of the tension in this opening is caused by the beginning and quickly fades with the fast paced action of the chase and jump at the end of the opening.
Dead Mary
The first convention we can see is the extreme close up of abandoned chains and a sign that hasn't been taken care of which indicates to the audience that not many people visit this location which means it is isolated. You can also hear the birds chirping in the background with very ominous wind noises which is meant to make the audience feel uncomfortable. We then get some close up shots of what the audience can make out as a car. I cuts to a hand tapping on the car roof which helps build tension but only subtly. A close up shot is used to show the female character which is wearing revealing clothes which is another convention used. We see that she is bored from the close up of her face so therefore the audience gathers she is waiting for something. After turning around it cuts to an establishing shot of the road behind the car to reinforce that the girl is in an isolated location. the camera then cuts to a point of view shot looking through the branches at the car which gives the audience the feeling that something is watching her. The girl then tries to start the car but it conveniently doesn't work and so she then turns to the radio. All the audience hears is static at first with burst of music cutting in and out as she tries to find a station to connect to. During this it cuts back to a point of view shot from the woods looking at the car and at the same time hysterical laughter can be heard from the radio before it cuts out. This is to enforce that something is watching the girl. She attempts to call her friend but the convention of having no service is use letting the audience know that there is limited means of escape. Rooting through the glove box she finds a flare gun which is good use of Mise-en-Scene. This flare gun shows the audience something of importance which will likely be used later on. Her partner returns with two petrol cans for the car breaking the tension and putting the audience is a state of peace and dialogue is finally introduced.
Wrong Turn
Wrong Turn starts with an establishing shot of a vast forest paired with a low tone music with sharp drum beats and creepy violin sounds, this is to show the convention of an isolated location which paired with the music, makes the audience feel uneasy and creates a state of tension. It cuts to a high angle shot of a male and a female climbing on a cliff; the female struggling more than the man. Mise-en-Scene is used here with their costume design and ropes used. The convention used here is the female wearing less clothing than the male and is made out to be weaker and struggle more. The actors help make the audience feel this is real by grunting as they climb to simulate exhaustion. Cutting to a low angle shot the audience look at the man getting to the top of the cliff, this is to show he is the better climber. Dialogue is exchanged between the two characters but the male is more condescending to the female calling her a "slowpoke" implying she is weaker. Extreme close ups of her hands feet and face are shown to show the audience that she is struggling and could possibly fall. She then falls and a high angle is used to show the danger that she is in. To confirm the isolated location the male says "You know we are 50 miles from anybody". The camera peers over the edge as the female asks for help with a ominous tone letting the audience know something is about to go wrong. The convention of the blood dripping is used next when the blood of the male drips onto the female assuring that there is danger. Fast paced music is used to shows tension and panic as the female is dragged up the cliff which causes the audience to also go into panic. A close up of the knife is used to show a means of breaking out of the unfortunate situation the female is in. The convention of somebody dying in the first five minutes is used when the male is thrown off of the cliff face. A point of view shot is used paired with high pace music to show the woman running through ferns and bushes to try and escape which encapsulates the audience. The convention of the means of escapes is used being so close but so far as the female runs to it conveniently falls over a chain.
Word Count: 1174
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