The strangers Analysis

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1. The simplicity of the orange/red block text against the black background grabs the viewers attention. Relation to the genre horror/thriller is evident through the orang/red text highlighting themes of gore and blood and the black of the background displaying ambiguity and darkness. The centred text against the single tone background remains the main focus in the shot, drawing attention to the producers. 2. Again the same colour/style of text holds violent connotations and the plain black screen draws the audiences attention to what they are being shown. The following information we are being fed, is enhanced by the use of a voice over. A deep, creepy American mans voice epitomising the horror within the opening sequence, unsettling the audience and emphasising the text appearing on screen. The inclusion of factual knowledge convinces the audience of the films authenticity, consuming them more in the action and when a frightful event takes place, the viewer is quick to believe it to be reality, increasing the scare factor. 3. Setting the scene, by including the location and the date gives the audience a clear view as to what the feature is about. The fade in of the second singular line stating The brutal events that took place there are still not entirely known creates a haunting, ambiguous atmosphere, spooking the audience and making them feel involved as they are about to witness the events that ..are still not entirely known. 4+5. The use of a wide tracking shot puts the audience in the actors shoes, displaying a first- hand experience, of a passing neighbourhood from a car seat. We know that as an audience we are seeing the passing neighbourhood from a car, due to the occasional revving of the car engine and the sound of fast passing breeze. In the shot a pretty, suburban family home can be seen, which leads the viewer to the conclusion that the tracking neighbourhood we are shown contains the Hoyts family summer house. Again commenting on the reality of the situation, that even in a town as nice as this, tragic, gruesome events can take place with little recognition from surrounding civilians. The major factor which creates a creepy uncertainty is the underlying, soft eerily music that accompanies the tracking shots.

6. In the foreground of this shot is a destroyed car, violence, destruction and pain are all themes we associate with a crashed car. The danger is backed up by the concerned stances of the passing byers. The medium close up is unclear, as the shadows cast in the car show us little of the accident. The smash in the windshield is similar to the shape of a heart, this could relate to harm inflicted upon a living person, as without the heart or internal injury to the heart can cause death or serious issues to a persons condition. The police call voice over , panics the audience as they enter the film in the middle of the action unaware of the events that have lead up to this moment. 7.This next image shocks the audience as previous shots of violence and death contrast to the ring in the box and rose petals signifying marriage and a new relationship. The medium close up and the shadows cast in the shot create a sense of mystery and the unknown. We dont actually see a ring

but the symbol of a little jewellery box is a key object we relate to the asking of the big question. All the colours in the shot are dulled out by the cast shadow, the petals not so red and the box a duller blue. The reflection in the wood and little objects in the shot all add to the idea of abandonment and compresses and isolates the atmosphere. 8. Again the montage of images presented together creates a different meaning. Contrasting happy images associated to marriage with a close up shot of a dagger covered in blood and the single isolated, lonely rose petal suggest something has gone extremely wrong. What looks to be a kitchen knife highlight that the knife was most likely taken as defence or to injure from the house. It could be commenting on, a spur of the moment attack, or people ending being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Red is again presented to the audience bringing to mind previous links that have been made with red. The scratches on the floor relate to the harm caused by the knife and relate to the horror/thriller theme. 9. Lastly a large red blood stain on the wall relates to the scale of bloodshed and gore. The slight use of a tilted angle creates unease amongst the audience adding to the haunting atmosphere. The stain looks dried in suggesting that it has been there a while, recalling the events of a previous day. The vast splattering of blood show the scale of the injuries but comment also on what type of weapon could have cause so much blood loss being most likely a gun. The opening for the strangers I think is extremely effective. It cuts straight into the action, involving the audience from the word go, attracting there attention, through a variety of sounds, and voices, images and factual information. Stereotypical colours have been used creating a clear understanding of the genre which is paired nicely with the slight ambiguity of montaged shots. Clearly relating to its genre, a target audience of horror/gruesome gore lovers have been aimed at by including all the typical microcosms that relate to this type of film.