TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF AN OPENING SCENE OF A HORROR

The Woman In Black

The opening scene of The Woman In Black has the stereotypical features of an opening scene of a horror film. There is tense music which adds to the suspense and engages the audience with the film. It gives the idea and feeling that something is about to happen in the film. This could be something dramatic which again engages the audience.

The whole of the opening scene is tense as you do not know what is happening or what is going to happen next. You have also had no insight into what the storyline is at this point so you can be left confused.

The lighting is not very light in this opening scene. Only natural lighting has been used, the one window that we can see is the main source of light. There are quite a few shadows and dark areas in the room where this is set which adds to the suspense as you do not know where this mystic figure may be hiding. The lack of light could reflect on the mood of the genre and what may happen further on in the film.

The costumes that are used in this opening scene are taken from an earlier era, around the victorian times. These type of costumes are effective for the genre as they add to the suspense with them being stereotypical costumes. There is not much colour in the costumes which could reflect on the mood of the genre.

There are many different camera angles that are used in this opening scene. The very first is a close up of two tea cups. It then zooms out a bit so that you can see the three children. In this opening scene there is not an establishing shot, which is usually used to show where the scene is being set, so you do not know where or what is happening or going to happen. Towards the end there is another close up of a doll which adds to the suspense as dolls are stereotypically scary in horror films.

From looking at this opening scene I have been able to learn and understand what a stereotypical opening scene of a horror is like and what it contains. I have been able to see the type of camera angles that are used and also the lighting. The opening scene has shown me the type of costumes that are used and what type of characters are in it. All of this has helped me with my own horror opening scene as I can take into consideration what I have learnt and what I can include into mine.