SCREAM – opening sequence analysis

Film title

Non-diegetic sound of phone ringing

- Acts as a sound bridge to next shot

- Establish domestic setting

Non-diegetic sound of girl screaming

- represents title

- Infers that the genre is horror/thriller

- Creates enigma code: why is she

screaming? Who is she?

Mise-en-scene

- Domestic iconography

- Reinforces home setting

Low key lighting

- Ominous atmosphere

Pan up to woman

- Introduce key character

- Gender stereotype: vulnerability

- Poses her as victim

CLOSE UP

Mid-shot

- Emphasises facial expressions

- Shows significance of phone call to the

plot

Camera movement

- Moves around her: shows window

establishing that it is night time, making

her more vulnerable

Dialogue

- Woman speaks calmly: false sense of

security

- Male voice from phone; stereotypical

gender of villain/antagonist

CLOSEUP/MID-SHOT

Zoom in/close up

- Show subtle changes in expression

Tilted frame

- Unnerving

- Foreshadows that the balance of the

household will shift

Mise-en-scene : windows in background

- Highlights time setting

- No lights visible outside; house seems

secluded; more vulnerable

CLOSE UP

Ambient sound: crickets

- House is not in an urban location

- tension

diegetic sound: swing creaking

- juxtaposed to crickets

- unsettling

- creates sense that someone is present;

audience waiting for something bad to

happen

ESTABLISHING LONG SHOT

Jump cut

- Breaks tension; audience may jump

slightly

Mise-en-scene

- Reinforces domesticity; audience still

waiting for something to disrupt

equilibrium of home

Zoom out

- Shows character in relation to setting

- Emphasises she is home alone EXTREME CLOSE UP

Foreground shot/mise-en-scene: knife block

- Stereotypical iconography of genre

- Foreshadows death

Tracking

- Following her around house

- Shows all exits/entrances the killer may

use

- Builds tension

Slow pace

- Adds longevity; suspense

- Audience becomes more fearful

Continuity editing

- Further rising tension

LONG/MID-SHOT