Director: M.Night Shyamalan
Writer: M.Night Shyamalan
Stars: Mark Whalberg, Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo
Im going to analyse the first five minutes of the film 'The Happening'. At the opening of the movie, there is a lot of aery music, which adds lots of tension, its kinda bringing it to a climax. It cuts through all the film companies, still with that aery music to add the tension. It then starts to fade into clouds:
This gives an element of suspension, this builds tension. You can hear the Non-Diegetic sound the 'WIND' this adds tension, as the wind is quite creepy. Violins are then added to the aery music, which adds a sense of creepiness and sadness. The sound track then becomes more percussion, as drums are added, this adds suspense, tension and mystery (Minor key added). This really adds a sense of impending DOOM. The clouds then start to move faster, in sync with the soundtrack. The clouds then start to turn black, which symbolises that a storm is coming, and storms are normally thought as, bad, gloomy, and scary.
It then cuts to central park in New york, in america, it gives you a view of the park, suggesting that it is a normal day, panning from left to right, showing the audience. You can still hear the wind, which adds tension and suspense, quite creepy. It then cuts to two people sitting on a park bench talking (once again suggesting that its a normal day). The lady on the left suddenly forgets what she was reading about, this is quite strange, its like she starts to stare into space. It then cuts to the tree's but the wind starts to get louder, and the tree's branches start to shake. Non-Diegetic music then starts to build up, adding mystery, and suspense, like something bad is about to 'happen'. Then a diegetic scream is heard, everyone freezes:
The cuts keep getting quicker and quicker, adds a sense of confusion, and is quite strange. More screams are heard. Cause and effect is used here, the cause being the'Everyday scene' the effect then being 'people acting out of place'. Lots of reaction shots are added, of the a lady in the park. The music still building in the background, this ladys friend is not responding to her suggests that there is a problem. The lady with the book, then starts to reach to her head, and slowly pulls out a hair chop stick, this is viewed from a high angle, showing you the weapon in clear view. Drums then start to build, this may reefer to a death march. then the lady then drives the weapon into her neck, which is very strange.
To the conclude i think the first five minutes of the movie really sets the scene, sets the audience up for the movie, but not revealing to much. Lots of camera angles are used, to give the audience the best effect.
