The Maze Runner – Mise en scene

1. The trailer opens with a scene which shows what appears to be an elevator which, to the audience looks as though there is no way back down and leads to a dead end. From the angle of the camera, facing directly upwards in a point of view shot, it makes the audience fearful as they place themselves in the boy’s point of view. The lighting in gloomy and set with blue undertones and white florescent tube lights which gives the scene a harsh and cold atmosphere. The apparent ‘dead end’ of the lift is red, suggesting that they can go no further, the colour connotes danger and warning, making the audience fearful of what happens when they will reach the end.

2. The use of a wide shot and the position of the character, Thomas, enables for the audience to see him looking smaller and inferior to the maze. The use of positioning in this shot highlights how threatening and how vast the maze is compared those who are within the Glazer, in comparison in the large wall makes him look scared and overwhelmed. The colours within the screen are bright, natural greens are used to show the liveliness of the Glazer whereas the wall appears dead with dull greys and dark greens.

3. The costumes on the characters show dirty, earthy looking clothes – their shirts and jeans stained with what appears to be mud and dirt. This suggests to the audience that those within the Glazer have been living there for a while and only have one choice of clothes. The wide shot showcases a large number of characters (notably all are boys) and the soft colours of the blue skies, creating a relaxing setting in comparison to the inside of the threatening and suspenseful maze.

4. This shot shows location and the inside of the maze. It shows misty, moody looking air and walls that are covered with dark vines. This shot makes audiences feel uneasy. The lighting in the shot is low-key and helps to highlight the differences between the high-key lighting and beauty and calmness in the Glazer and then the dangers that lie within the maze. It makes audiences fearful of what could perhaps live within the maze’s walls.

5. The lighting in this shot is low-key, yet that warm colours suggest that light is emitting from a fire. The soft orange colour of the light from the fire tells the audience that this scene is set sometime in the night and the fire suggests warmth, safety and gives the impression that this is calm scene. The body language between the two characters suggest that the two are friends and by their facial expressions are deep in conversation, which is used as an voiceover in the trailer.

6. This shot shows the audience the first female used within trailer, this suggests that because she is the only female that she is an important character and perhaps a love interest in the story. The facial expression on the girl’s shows surprise, shock even, as she exclaims “Thomas!” and leaves the audience questioning who she is, why she is the only girl and what is her relationship between the main protagonist, Thomas. The lighting in this shot emphasis the blue in her eyes and enables them to stand out against the dull, brown background of the scene.

7. The setting in this shot shows collapsing walls, connoting chaos and action and leaves the audience excited for the past-faced and heart racing action that take place in the film. The actors’ facial expressions in the shot suggest fear, panic and hysteria, informing audiences of what be hiding within the maze and also the trails that Thomas and other characters will face as they enter the maze. The high-key lighting in this shot enables for audiences to see the full destruction in this scene.

8. In this shot multiple characters are shown, creating a crowed looking shot in the frame. Their facial expression displays that of curiosity and shock and this makes the audience also curious, as to what they could be staring at. The position of the two characters placed directly in front of the camera portrays them as important and characters that lead the story and are the ones to take control.

9. The lighting in this shot is dark, low-key and has barely any light within it. The only light that appears in the frame is coming from the sky from the Glazer behind the actor and produces rim lighting. It produces feelings of fear and unease for the audiences. The facial expression of the actors face shows fear, suggesting to audiences that within the maze there are things that the characters are scared of and reinforces the feelings of curiosity used in previous shots.

10. The title for the Maze Runner is presented against a black background, though there appears to be a misty, eerie effect behind the text. The lighting within the shot gives the illusion of light shining through the middle of the text and creates a dramatic effect. The lights are mysterious and unknown as to where they are coming from.