Horror Genre post

SPLIT

The narrative given to us follows three girls that get kidnapped in a car park after a birthday party in broad daylight. We can therefore, expect that it follows where they are taken and what we will learn more about their captor. I would say the target audience for this film is and older audience of any gender. This is because the mature themes may unsettle you

especially what happens to them once they are kidnapped.

The genre is unclear at this point in time, however it will most likely be a thriller or even horror film, depending on the depths they go through to portray the kidnapping. There are 5 characters introduced in this opening sequence. Three girls, the dad of one of the girls, and the kidnapper. 

Straight from the beginning, it is apparent that one of the girls is isolated from the rest of the characters. This is shown by the focus on her and the slow zolly of her sitting by herself.  We are then introduced to the other two girls who were kidnapped.

They immediately begin talking about the other girl saying that she skips class and that she was a ‘pity invite,’ which makes her sound like she does not have many friends and that she is a bit of an outsider. This also paints the two friends in quite a negative light as they are seen as, arguably, the stereotypical popular girls. However, the father seems nice, as through the use of diegetic dialogue he explains that they can’t just leave her and will have to drive her home.

When are first introduced to the kidnapper it is unclear about what his intentions are because he seems to be clearing things off the car bonnet, and using clear disgust in his facial expressions imply that he likes cleanliness and that mess upsets him. He seems to know what he is doing, as when he puts them to sleep, the camera pan is quick showing that the process is fast and seamless. This also implies that he is a dangerous man which once again links in with the them of the movie being dark and thriller like.

Another key scene in this is the scene following what I have just described. This is when the kidnapper gets into the car. I mentioned earlier about how we first perceive him, however the danger of this man is shown through small details; for example he through the use of props we can see that he wears a mask when using the chemicals on the girls, also he knows to lock the doors when he comes in which we can tell by the sound effect. 

However, he is so task orientated, it is almost as if he does not notice the girl sitting in the passenger seat. Anticipation is heightened through the use of the camera cutting between moving and quite shaky shots of the kidnapper which contrast with the still close up of the girl in the passenger seat. 

The fear portrayed in her face and the fact the camera is still shows that she is being faced with danger, as human instinct makes you run away (flight) stay there (fight) or freeze, and I believe she is doing the  first option, which further shows the fear she has of the situation she is in. This scene climaxes when she reaches for the door and it makes the unlocked sound effect in which the kidnappers expressions change very rapidly from confused, to angry, and then he scene cuts to black.

One scene in particular that was effective was the scene when they are getting into the car. There is a tracing shot of the dad and the three girls, and the it stops for a second as the dad says 'can I help you?' However, from the little response he gets, and the fact his facial expressions change into a concerned look, we can imply that the person he is talking to, does not have good intentions.

 Editing is then used to cut quickly to the car where the girls are. Then there is a tacking shot in which the focus is still on the isolated girl, however through the depth of field we can see lots of movement coming from behind the boot. 

It is assumed that this is still the dad, also when editing is used once again to cut to an eye line shot of the wing mirrors, and back again, everything seems normal. However, this is use again, and this time something is spilt over the floor. 

We can immediately tell something is wrong by the girls facial expressions and the diegetic sound effect of the door closing.

In conclusion, I think this opening sequence was really effective as it makes the feeling of hopelessness and fear heighten right until the end, and the audience wants to keep on watching because we want to find out what happens to the girls.