Shot number – 9

Camera shot – Long shot

Sound – Clair De Lune continues throughout (Non diegetic)

Content – Four dead bodies positioned besides one another in a row left on the ground to rot.

Shot number – 8

Camera shot – Mid shot

Sound – Clair De Lune continues throughout (Non diegetic)

Content – The fire beginning to branch off onto the street.

The low key lighting used within this shot instantly suggests the genre of the film through the fact that such style of lighting is a convention commonly used within horror/thriller films. The four bodies laid across the ground hold as the focal point of this image. The little colour used within this shot connotes the disheartening and traumatic action happening within it. Darks colours like so are associated with sad emotions thus linking to how the audience would feel in being confronted with such an image of 4 dead bodies.

The fire takes up the majority of the background of this shot instantly connoting the danger of this terrible night. Here we are unable to see any of the man’s facial expressions likewise features and would not be able to pin point how he looked if confronted with him later in the film. His dark figure in the foreground of this shot is completely black, suggesting his dark and twisted emotions that he feels on this night of the purge. From this we could assume that either he caused the fire in the backing or is simply walking past towards where he will come to ‘purge’.

Shot number – 6

Camera shot – Wide shot

Sound – Clair De Lune continues throughout (Non diegetic)

Content – A women smothered in blood neglected by a wall, not knowing what to do.

The Opening title sequence to ‘the Purge’ immediately gives the audience an insight into what the film is about through narrative enigma. It is cleverly made and uniquely directed by James Demonaco who uses footage from CCTV cameras. This makes the audience feel more on edge as they are witnessing something that cannot be stopped, and makes it appear more realistic. The tone of the film is immediately set as a horror/thriller because of the violent attacks that are shown on the screen. It gives the audience an insight into what the film is about, and the violence that is about the happen. The camera follows a number of deaths and assaults, each shown in a different shot. This opening sequence is effective at setting the tone of a thriller/horror and I will try to find the genre quickly in my own sequence.

MIRCO ANALYSIS

The focal point of this shot is the female on the left side of the image, with this no facial expression can be seen as it’s as if her face has been blurred, hence only her restricted body language is visible. The girl is positioned in such a way that suggests she is scared and the idea that her body language is enclosed and turnt away implies that she is possibly running way from something – running for her life. Due to the low key lighting employed within this shot, it creates lots of shadows, this implements this sense of someone watching her, something there with her, and the idea that this fear is attached to her. The Clair De Lune soundtrack playing in the background of this shot is calm and peaceful, therefore juxtaposing what the audience is being presented with visually. The audience are represented with an image of a young female in desperate pain and despair whilst hearing that of a tranquil soundtrack. The basic colour palette of this shot – black, white, cream, indicates the simple reality of this shot being survival or death.

Sound:

Diegetic Sound: N/AThere is no sound that directly comes from the shots in the film themselves.

Non-diegetic Sound: Clair De Lune backing music is playing continuously, its soothing, dream like melody contrasts with violent shots framed with them.

Music used: Clair De LuneThe soft, peaceful, relaxing music contradicts to the fighting that is taking place in the scene. The calm music suggests that this is normal behaviour. The scene and the music form a binary opposite. The music in this opening sequence is what makes it unique and stand out to an audience due to the contrapuntal music (music that does not fit with what is happening on screen). This contrast between classical, relaxing music and violent murderous acts creates an uneasy mood for the audience and conveys the horror genre.As well as this, the music also highlights the sad events we are witnessing, and the murders of many people, immediately connecting the audience on an emotional level.

Editing:

Montage editing has been used to show the audience the different locations in which people are ‘purging’ and crime is taking place. It has been used to give the audience a diverse range of views from different locations within the world and thus demonstrate juxtaposition.

The variety of images evoke different emotions in the viewer and hence allows viewers to begin to think of the possibly narrative/ storylines to the film. Thus the use of montage editing has been used to consciously convey subjective messages through the juxtaposition of the shots used. Additionally, giving the impression of a CCTV recording. The effect of filming these shots through a security camera can position the audience at a safe viewing point; above the danger. Hence, once the perspective changes after the opening sequence the audience move at the same eye level as the characters and this creates a feeling of reality for the audience in terms of their new perspective. With this idea of your vision, being the one advantage that may depend on your survival, is taken away from you – after the opening sequence, can implement a feeling of nervousness and fright, therefore making the narrative and the events featured that more thrilling for the audience.

The typography used in the opening sequence stands out against the dimly lit background through the bright white lettering.

We often see two credits for characters appear at the same time. This could perhaps suggest a stand-off, foreshadowing the storylines of characters later on in the film.

The shots are often dimly lit and black and white with a high contrast. This reinforces the CCTV footage effect, and gives the audience a more edgy setting.

Mis – en – scene:

A mixture of low key and high key lighting is used showing the diversity of the types on crime being committed. However, the lighting through most of the scene is very dark and grainy. This could suggest that the film is mostly set at night as the whole opening scene is set at night. The darkness of the opening scene could portray that the film is going to be scary or jumpy.

As the shots are mostly dark and rather unclear, you cannot see the people in detail. This could represent that the people are the same as each other and they are not seen as individuals. The camera tells us where the fighting is taking place which shows that it is happening all over the world. The props that are used in the opening scene include guns, fire, blood and scared people running away. This has connotations of a thriller film.

When considering this lighting, the audience can associate the darkness with death and other haunting connotations.

Costume and make up is modern implying the basis of the time period – 2013. Props, such as guns, also suggest the time period due to the high ammunition

and technology available to our modern day world. Time and place is positioned in the corner of each frame giving the impression of

CCTV camera recording and that everyone is watching. The violent acts that occur on screen in this opening sequence immediately

depicts the film as a thriller/horror. The weapons that are visible also link closely to these genres such as guns and

axes. All of the characters that are shown in the opening sequence are either

participating in violent acts of crime or victims of it. This immediately sets the mood of the film and lets the audience know what they are in store for.

The use of smashed up cars and burning fires indicates the action based, violent narrative ahead.

The use of the bright white colour for the writing suggests purity and innocence, strongly contrasting with what we are seeing on screen. This could perhaps suggest the danger even the pure characters are in.

Bad behaviour is expressed in different ways with fire, guns and gangs which are beating up innocent people.

Camera shots:

All the shots have purposely been made to look like a CCTV camera recording giving the effect that someone is always watching.

Wide shot – These are used to give the audience a broader view of the surroundings and hence showing body language of characters in more detail.

Wide shots are frequently used to show setting and emphasise the destruction that is taking place. Here wide shots have been used in order to present a complete situation and show viewers what is happening. In using wide shots within the opening shots, audiences are able to not only see one characters body language and facial expressions, but as many of whom are involved. Thus, being able to see the similarities in the violent and abrupt body language and angry facial expressions possessed by almost every ‘purger’.

Long shot – These are used to typically show the entire object or human figure and are usually intended to place it in some relation to its surroundings.

There are long shots used, which show different victims being slaughtered, making the audience feel an emotional connection to the vulnerability of the purge victims. Long shots have been employed in order to give some distance between the violent action occurring and the audience themselves, projecting some safety at least and making the audience feel as if away from the danger and from the risk of becoming too involved.

Mid shot – These are used to clearly show the subjects facial expressions in the context of their body language.

The mid shots used in the first two minutes are the closest you get to any people involved in these animalistic attacks. Moreover, once the audiences are given the opportunity to get this close they are able to see the expressions of both those killing and those suffering in more detail, in being this close the audience then begin to feel sympathy for those being tortured – bringing to life this vicious and intense narrative.

High angle shots - A high angle shot is an angled shot positioned high on the vertical axis, looking down. These are used to typically give the impression of the subject being ‘swallowed’ up and weak.

In the opening sequence of the Purge there are lots of high angled shots used, not only to emphasize the CCTV footage effect but to also show the insignificance of the lives that are being taken. It gives the audience a wider picture, as if they are witnessing the event as it occurs, putting them on edge and adding to the thriller genre. The high angle is used to capture the fights and all of the action. The high angle looks down on the people as they look weak and vulnerable.

Representation:

In the first two minutes we aren’t introduced to any key characters but only come in view of random supposed ‘purge’ followers committing crime across the many states of America. With this we are represented with the initial focus of the entire film being crime and punishment. The opening sequence presents the audience with the idea that American society is being represented as whole. The purpose of this is to immediately familiarise the audience with the concept and storyline of the movie.

MACRO ANALYSIS