Genre Textual Analysis

Kiss The Girl:

The camera angles in this opening were mainly close ups and zoom shots as this doesn't show what he's doing so the audience do not see any blood or gore. The camera is always moving which could represent the killer spying on his victim. Medium shots are used as establishing shots instead of wide shots which gives a more intimate feel to the scene. The mise-en-scene includes flames, which represents passion/hurt. Needles are also shown which shows a twist because needles are normally used to make people better where as in this they are used to inflict pain. House hold objects represent a real life and an invasion of privacy. Candles give a romantic feel to the scene, when its not romantic at all. There is not much sound variation in the opening, just a voice over, stringed instruments and occasional cries and gasps. The voice over tells us a story but not the whole story and truthfully, so the audience only hear a biased opinion of the whole plot. The voice over is spoken normally which is creepy because it's a sane voice in a violent situation. The slow string instruments also reflects the calmness of his voice. Women's cries and gasps are occasionally used this could be in pain for the victims or the killer could see them passionately. Lighting in this scene is very dark which represents the darkness of the plot and could show that he operates in the dark which gives and intimate feel. The red and orange lighting could reflect the flames we see on screen. The setting is in the bedroom which is an invasion of privacy. Special effects such as a negative image show a memory or ghostly effect which shows something isn't right and the black and white image represents past. Photos of dead bodies are shown but no blood or gore. The editing used includes a montage which shows a large amount of the plot quickly, a flash frame which shows newspaper articles that show it was publicised and made front page headlines, quick cuts shows violence and create confusion, and cutting rhythm reflects the killers state of mind - messed up. The flash frame transition gives a time saver, it creates a history and tells plot without using dialogue.



Psycho:

Camera angles in this sequence shows a close up on the drain to symbolise she's gone and then on her eye a big close up. A close up to zoom out gives a moment of reflection. A low angle shot of the killer shows power and he's in control of the situation. A high angle shot of Marion shows her vulnerability and how she's not in control. A crane shot views what is happening and the impact of the killing. A crab left shows she is not the centre of the plot anymore. The mise-en-scene of the sequence includes a shower curtain which means privacy. When Marion goes into the bathroom she pushes on the door to make sure it's closed this could show she needs protection because she is unsafe. The sound includes stringed instruments which represents stabbing, pain, panic, and extreme violence. The water in the shower is exaggerated so the audience can't here anything else such as door opening, or killer running. Also a loud water sound can represent a cleansing of the first story about Marion. The Lighting is dark so it hides the identity of the killer. The setting is in the bathroom/shower, which is an intimate setting and also a cleansing setting where she tries to cleanse herself but gets killed, then at the end the blood is cleansed away. A blur is used in special effects for censorship purposes. The editing of the scene is mainly quick cuts so we don't see the knife going in. Shot reverse shot is included from each point of view creates a 'murder conversation' without words.



Psycho:

This film begins with an establishing shot of the city which zooms into the window which feels like your spying on the man and woman in the room, makes the room look dark until properly inside the room, which could show secrets and intrusion. Once properly inside the room, it's still not that light considering it's a bright, sunny day outside. During the scene in the room, they close the blinds of the window which again shows it's a secret and they've got something to hide. A 2 shot is included to show Marions power and that the focus is her because she is in front. Her clothing is quite revealing which shows she is living on the edge and revealing that amount of skin is disrespectful which shows she doesn't care and creates a powerful "rebel" feel about her. The scene is set in a city hotel bedroom which shows because they are not at home it is again secretive, and a bedroom can be a sexual place which shows living on the edge and disrespectful. The high pitched stringed instruments in the titles show that it could be scary from the beginning.



Fargo:

This film begins with the titles with stringed instruments builds tension from the beginning. Sky blue background reflects the fog outside the pub scene. Small black spaced out writing could relate to the setting which is a deserted snowy road and a pub. There is no establishing shot which makes the audience wonder where they are, and creates confusion. There are no variety in camera angles, only close ups on main character, to show he is the main character, and 2 shot for the other two men, to show they are together, are used. This could show that nothing else is important and they are the only focus. City clothing on the main character and other two men shows they aren't from that setting because everyone in the background are dressed differently, this shows they are out of their comfort zone and don't fit in. There is country music playing in the bar at the beginning but when the conversation between the men starts getting heated the music stops, which shows a change in mood and makes the talking stand out and ring in your head so you remember it. The lighting outside is dark and foggy, and inside there are dark corners - secretive, lights over tables - spot lights - interrogating.



No Country For Old Men:

During the titles there is a voice over and the mise-en-scene shows a sunrise and establishing shots of other parts of the desert. The setting of the opening is a police station in the desert and actually out in the wilderness. The lighting outside is natural which makes the audience not worry, however inside police station it is dark - dark things will happen. There is violence and a death straight away creates confusion to who the man is and why he is killing people. This confusion is also echoed in the sound, as the footsteps, wind, car are all slightly over exaggerated. Camera angles include and over the shoulder in the police station setting, the shot means we can see killer is going to kill the police officer, this creates dramatic irony and is a switch of power/authority because it should be the police officer in charge which is shown with the police mans handcuffs but ironically the murderer uses them as the murder weapon . During the murder it is a crane shot of them struggling on the floor, they are in the centre of the scene at all times which makes you focus on the killers eyes and the relief in his face once the police officer is dead.



Leon:

The setting for this opening is a city building and a hotel. There is not a steady establishing shot but big close up of body/face parts to create confusion as to what is actually going on and the use of sun glasses as well as it being dark inside the buildings, with a lot of shadows reflects the killers identity - hidden. Guns show there will be violence/death. A loud thud of a glass makes the audience jump and put them on edge straight away and a music beat could represent a heart beat. There is a death straight away in the opening scene which creates confusion and makes the audience pay attention to the killers and question why he has just murdered, the noises of the death are over emphasised to also make the audience pay attention to what is happening. The editing is mostly quick cuts, this reflects the action/violence that is going on. During the titles there are oriental stringed instruments and the text is coloured white which is deceiving because white represents pure, clean and innocence.