Suspense is a crucial ingredient in the making of horror and thriller films. The significance of suspense in horror films is to bring out the “twist or unexpected moment of realization that makes someone scream and one's heart race. In the film industry, there are various types of genre, but as different as films may seem, they all have one element that links them all together. That element is known as Mise-en-scene. Mise-en-scene is a French phrase that means “putting into the scene.” Mise-en-scene includes elements such as setting, lighting, costume, and figure movement and expression (acting).
Through the masking of narrative, secret window exposes order and chaos. The use of mise en scene throughout the first scene of ‘Secret Window’ reveals a lot about the main character’s profession and life style. One is brought into the opening scene to learn that he is a writer/author depicted through the busy desk filled with a laptop and other books/journals around it. Secondly, we find the character placed and lying on a sofa instead of a bed which could possibly relate to his current state of mind which may have been affected by previously seeing a woman in bed with another man. The main use of mise en scene used in the opening few minutes of ‘Secret Window’ is when a stranger is seen at the door of the main character’s house. The stranger is wearing a black top hot which suggests that he may bring danger or harm that comes from his mind. By the use of the man wearing a black hat which dominates the majority of his head, it also applies the belief that ‘Secret Window’ is a psychological thriller. Throughout the film, one is under an illusion for the better part of it. Most of what someone hears and sees is through t...
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...ummer murders often use red herrings in a way that makes the audience believe that one character is the murderer, but in actual fact, later on in the program the audience discover that it is actually someone else who was less expected that was the murderer. It is a very effective way to end a film/TV program as it makes the audience think and possibly leaves them in awe.
Works Cited
Hide and seek. Dir. John Polson. Perf. Robery DiNero, Dakota Fanning. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2005. Laser Disc.
Secret Window. Dir. David Koepp. Perf. Johnny Depp, John Turturro. Colombia Tristar Home VideÌo, 2004. DVD.
The number 23. Dir. Joel Schumacher. Perf. Jim Carrey. Paradiso Home Entertainment, 2007. DVD.
The uninvited. Dir. Charles Guard. Perf. Emily Browning, Elizabeth Banks. Paramount Home Entertainment, 2009. DVD.
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Meet John Doe. Dir. Frank Capra Perfs. Richard Connell, Robert Presnell Sr. DVD Triad Productions, 1941
Elements of mise-en-scene in Wendy and Lucy help to convey aspects of the story that are never explicitly expressed in the narrative of the film. Wendy and Lucy does not present a large amount of background story information, for instance, the scene where Wendy calls her brother may cause some viewers to wonder about their strained relationship and his role in Wendy’s current financial situation. Moreover, Wendy’s financial situation is never truly discussed in the film, only implied, yet the viewer is still aware of it. Facets of mise-en-scene helps to convey the information that fills the gaps left in the story. Kolker defines the concept of mise-en-scene as a way to “explain how images, through composition, camera movement, lighting, focus and colour, generate narrative event and guide our perception through a film” (Kolker 1998, p.17). An essential element of mise-en-scene is setting and sets. Wendy and Lucy is presented in an entirely naturalistic setting. The small town Wendy is passing through gives the fi...
LA Confidential. Dir. Curtis Hanson. Perf. Kevin Spacey, Russel Crowe, Guy Pierce, Kim Bassinger, Danny DeVito. Regency, 1997.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Dir. John C. Mitchell. Perf. John Cameron Mitchell, Miriam Shor and Stephen Trask. 2001. DVD.
John Q. Dir. Nick Cassavetes. By James Kearns. Perf. Denzel Washington. New Line Cinema, 2002. DVD.
Andrew Adamson, Ann Peacock, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Liam Neeson, Ray Winstone, and Dawn French. Prod. Mark Johnson and Philip Steuer. Perf. William Mosley, Anna Popplewell, Georgie Henley, and Skandar Keynes. Buena Vista Pictures, 2005. DVD.
Throughout the years, many directors have been making movies that seem to "scare the hell out of people". From thrilling to just suspenseful scenes, Alfred Hitchcock explores different techniques to ensure that he captures the audience's attention.
Secret Window, released in 2004, is a film based on Stephen King's novel Secret Window, Secret Garden. The film follows increasingly disturbing events around a character called Mort Rainey, who is portrayed by Johnny Depp & John Turturro. This character appears to suffer from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Rainey is a middle-aged novelist recently estranged from his wife; as a result, he has isolated himself at his cottage. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Rainey has another personality called Shooter, and Rainey himself comes to the realisation that Shooter is an identity that he has created to protect himself from the pain of his marital breakdown. Shooter takes over Rainey’s mind one last time to murder his wife and the man she cheated with. After his vengeance is carried out, Rainey seems at ease and jovial, and as the film ends, Rainey seems to be in a positive emotional state. This is an ambiguous ending that leaves the viewer unsure of Rainey’s mental health status.
Minority Report. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton. DVD. Twentieth Century Fox and Dreamworks, 2002.
There are four crucial scenes of this film in which Hitchcock shows a change in perspective and identity through the mise-en-scène. Hitchcock’s signature motifs, style, and themes are conveyed through the mise-en-scène.
When it comes to films most people think that the filmmakers just draft up the script, hires some actors, films and edits some scenes, then releases the next number one movie in America to the world (or select theaters near you). In actuality, there are a lot more details that go into film than that. Filmmakers are constantly making decisions in regards to a films narrative and cinematic style and making sure a film comes out as well as it can. One of those decisions fall under cinematic style and is called mise-en-scene. Mise-en-scene has four elements: lighting, costume/makeup, sets/props, and figure expression and movement. The three that will be focused on when analyzing the film Modern Times are costume/makeup, sets/props, and figure expression
In the Valley of Elah. Dir. Paul Haggis. Perf. Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and
most effective at this, as it totally left me on the edge of my seat
7. The Cove. Dir. Louie Psihoyos. Prod. Paula DuPre Pesman and Fisher Stevens. Roadside Attractions, 2009. Film.
The Pianist. Dir. Roman Polanski. Perf. Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Emilia Fox. 2001. DVD. Universal Studios, 2003.