RESEARCH: Horror

RESEARCH: Scream

Scream

Year: 1996


Genre: Horror


Writer: Kevin Williamson


Director: Wes Craven

Opening two minutes.

The scream film titles appear, these are white but flashing red, you can also hear a high pitched creaking which then turns to a loud crash. At that point the noise of a single telephone ring is introduced. The titles then turn to red and a loud scream and slicing noise can be heard. This immediately shows us that it is a horror film.
The first thing shown is a close up shot of a telephone ringing; you can still here the scream fading. This is where the first character is introduced, with the camera still focused on the phone a hand is shown picking it up and them the camera quickly pans up to reveal a female character. She is shown having a conversation with an unknown person, the voice of the person is calm and steady.
The character is shown walking away, but still peering at the phone for a moment, the phone instantly starts ringing again. She stops and looks at the phone for a bit longer this time before walking back to pick it up again. Match on action is used here, as the camera watches the character turn around and then jumps to a hand being placed on the phone to pick it up. It can also be noticed that there are no curtains drawn in the house, but there are lights on in the house, this giving the impression that you can see in the house but not outside, this can also give the impression that someone could be watching.


The scene then jump cuts to outside, the camera is focused on a tree, at first on the top and then the camera pans down using an establishing shot slowly revealing that it is outside a house. This can lead the viewer to question whether it is outside the house, that they were just inside or if it is another place. This also links to being able to see in the house from outside as the lights are on. As the camera pans down a swing swaying slightly is also made visible, you can hear diagetic sound from the noises of wildlife, but the viewer can also hear a creaking noise, which can also be suggesting movement.

The scene then jump cuts again to a gas cooker being lit, with a sudden noise, as the phone rings for the third time the camera pans across the room following the character where she goes, an effective mid shot is used here, letting the viewer understand the relationship with the person on the phone. Sound effects are also used in this part of the scene. A tracking shot is then used to follow her down a hallway into another room; it is also made apparent that she locked the door on the way.