DISTINCT
For this task we were told to analyse 3 opening sequences, 2 of them were given to us and on of them
is our own choice of opening sequence. For each opening sequence we have to apply DISTINCT (Describe In detail, Setting, Theme, Icon, Narrative, Characters, Texual analysis.
Setting:
The location in Oculus is primarily based in a modern looking house where the creepy mirror is placed. There are some rare clips where the film is outside in a garden. The lighting is often quite dark which you would expect from a horror movie because it would add to the suspence. Most of the trailer is set at night which you would also expect from a horror movie.
Themes:
The obvious theme from this trailer is horror, due to the suspence and seriousness conveyed. It is clear from the trailer that it has a very jumpy and disturbing theme to it.
Icons:
The obvious icon in the trailer is the mirror, which is where all the horror in the movie originates from. In the trailer they're trying to prove the mirror causes paranormal activity.
Narrative:
The two main characters are the ginger girl and the brown haired boy. They have found out about this mirror and are trying to prove that is causes paranormal activity in the area it is based. As they're trying to prove it, a lot of strange things begin to happen to them in the house they're based in.
Characters:
There arent many characters in this film. There is the ginger girl who seems to be the most enthusiastic about monitering this mirror. There is a boy with brown hair is the ginger girls brother, whos clearly helping the ginger girl. There is a dad and it looks like there is a dead mum involved.
Texual analysis:
There isnt a proper music track to the back of this, the sound behind it is very jumpy and mysterious, with the whispering and the drums or loud noises. The camera quite often closes in on the scene its focusing on because this gives the affect that the camera is watching them, it also closes in on their expression which both adds tension to the clip. There is often strobe lighting effects added to the clips and the editing is all very quick at jumpy so you dont get a long look at the horror scenes.
Setting:
The setting is mainly in an normal looking house, with some clips outside in farmlands, muddy roads etc. Most of the trailer seems to be set on a sunny or an overcast day, the film isnt often dark. It looks like its filmed mostly during the day.
Themes:
There isnt an obvious theme to the trailer because its only a teaser trailer. To me it looks like an action or a thriller themed film because of the guns and the dust flying around the car.
Icons:
David (the guest) pulls out a gun half way through the trailer which suggests that the gun could play an important part in the film.
Narrative:
The guest way told by a family's dying son to look after them after he is gone. So the guest (David) enters the family's home and lives there for a while. He could have brought some trouble with him.
Characters:
The main character is the guest (David), ho is clearly an ex marine due to the fact he was with the parents son when he died, has been told to look after the family which was the dying wish of the dead son. David however always had a suspitious look to him because he looks too happy. The parents are called Mr and Mrs Peterson and the have a daughter and a son.
Textual analysis:
The doorbell to open the trailer is a ironic effect as its the exact time the family is introduced to David is the same time we are as well. The camera was often facing David square on which may suggest they are trying to put across his expressions to the audience. The music in the background has a continuous beat that seems to build up towards the end, giving us a hint that something big might happen at the end of the film.
Setting:
The setting begins in a mysterious looking rich house where there isnt much light apart from the glow blasting through the window and the broken lamp in the corner. due to the light coming through the window and the hot weather when he walks out of the building it looks like its set in mid day. The area looks quite bare and abandonned when he is in the building because the room is very quiet, but then he walks out into a crouded area.
Themes:
Its seems like the theme of this film is an agent/spy film portrayed by the man with the gun and an ear peice with orders being thrown at him. spy films are usually based around the thriller and action genre.
Icons:
The laptop with the missing hard drive appeared to be an important object because the woman in the ear piece asked the agent to double check whether it was there.
Narrative:
There isnt a clear plot given out in this opening sequence, all we can see is there are 2 or 3 dead men who have been killed before the agent got there and the hard drive has been stolen.
Characters:
The characters involved in this scene is the agent (James Bond) who is the main character. A few dead agents who are pretty insignificant to the plot. Lastly there is the woman talking to James Bond in the ear piece who is telling him what to do.
Textual analysis:
Throughout the time the agent is in the building the background music is very quiet which adds suspense to the scene. When the agent walks out of the building the music speeds up and gets louder which gives a hint that there might be an action scene coming. At the begining of the scene the camera is out of focus so all you can see is a silhouette of the agent. This adds more suspense to the scene because it could be anyone.