Horror Opening Scene Analysis: Women in Black

Horror Film Analysis: Women in Black

 The first scene opens with an extreme close up of a teapot, which the girl is pouring imaginary liquid in the teacups; this suggests that it's set in the pre-dated era. Then it cut to the dolls face, which is getting fed imaginary tea by the girl and is getting their hair brushed, the camera pans into a medium two shot of the girl’s cheerful expressions. The shot zooms out into a long shot so the audience are able to see the surroundings, we can see that it's old-fashioned. The shot zooms out into a mid-shot of the three girls turning around and staring at nothing, this suggests that the film includes paranormal features. Once they finish looking at nothing the girls have no expressions and begin to approach the window. The scene is in slow motion so the audience will be able to feel the suspenseful aura. There is extreme close up used when the girls begin to step on their dolls and tea cups, this shows the viewers that they have been fully hypnotized by the antagonist. A long shot is used when the three girls are standing near the window; this creates tension, as the viewers are able to figure out what’s going to happen with the girls.

In the beginning we can see that 3 girls are sitting in a circle and are having a tea party with their dolls as they comb the dolls hair. They all look cheerful and happy until they turn around and begin to stare into space; this suggests that there evil spirit present. When they finish staring into space, they turn towards the window, which suggests that the girls are being possessed. The three girls start walking toward the window as they are controlled into killing themselves; this suggests to the audience that the antagonist is the ghost whilst the others people are the protagonists. The viewers know that the film is going to include the deaths of people as the antagonist has something against them.

The genre of the film is horror as it includes horror convention such as creepy dolls; they have a blank expression, which gives off an eerie feeling. As soon as the opening scene starts there are already deaths of children to inform the viewers that the film will consist of more deaths. We know that there is an evil spirit who has an aim to kill innocent children by possessing them; this is common in horror movies as it includes paranormal activities.

In the first scene, non-diegetic sound is played in the background it sound like 'Jack in the box' tune which is slowed down to make the scene seem creepier. However soon after there is a sound of a clock which moves their attention toward the spirit, the volume then begins to increase when the girls become possessed. We can hear the teacup smashing, the dolls head being crushed as the girls approach the window and the sound becomes more dramatic to make the scene more intense. The sound then fades away into silence and the scream is heard after, which suggest that they are dead.