The Shining Analysis

The Shining Analysis

• 1.
  The Shining Directed byStanley Kubrick in 1980
• 2.
  David's Slides
• 3.
  Long dark shadow connotesdanger and vulnerability. Typical convention of the horror genre Knife is a typical symbol of danger but it is used here to symbolise protection of the potential victim Dressing gown portrays she was in a casual mood- sudden threat has left her vulnerable High angle shows she is the weaker character in the scene (audience have high ground). Chiaroscuro lighting makes her face visible but the rest of the room dark and mysterious Picture shows this scene is at a home. A place associated with safety and comfort, which this subverts (typical horror convention)
• 4.
  Smile is iconicwith JN. The smile is so friendly that it becomes a parody and therefore ‘creepy’. This psychological element of horror was unusual for the time Picture once again shows this scene is at a home. A place associated with safety and comfort, which this subverts (typical horror convention) Casual clothing shows that he was not prepared to do this. Shows he is a father figure, makes this change in character more frightening Side angle medium shot. This will make the audience feel like they are with him (the killer) and therefore he could harm them Low level lighting to make him less well known, which in turn makes him more threatening
• 5.
  Overly exaggerated mouth andeyes- in horror. This is a typical convention of the genre and has to emphasise to the audience in the few seconds that they will see this clip, that he is in danger Knitted jumper makes him seem more innocent and therefore the audience will become more immersed (and feel more) for his character Extreme close up (typical convention of the genre) allows us to see his reaction to the killer (Jack Torrance) and he [Jack’s] POV The background is black/blurred out to place more emphasis on Danny’s reaction Dark colours and low level lighting has been used to give the scene a more edgy feel (darker tone). This is often seen in many subgenres of horror films
• 6.
  Katherine's Slides
• 7.
  Close up onthe woman. This means that the audience can see her facial expressions easily. The background is unclear this may make the audience feel nervous as they are in the unknown. The angle is a low angle. This would typically make the character look important and in charge however her facial expressions juxtapose this. Her make up looks pale and her facial expressions suggest that she is nervous and uncomfy Her clothing is old fashioned and this suggest the time period that it was set in (1980s).
• 8.
  The mise-en-scene shows thatthe location is in a large, old fashioned (possibly gothic) manor. A setting of a large, old home is a typical convention of the horror genre because people may find them creepy and they may often be haunted or bad things may have happened in the past at the house. The female looks stereotypically useless, this is a convention of the horror genre because often the female just screams or runs away. Also the prop that she has (a baseball bat) looks like it won’t be any help as she is not holding it in the right way and her body language is not confident. Because of the way she looks the audience can tell that the person she’s looking at (the shadow) is dangerous and the antagonist. The long shot means that the audience can see the whole of the scene and see that the female has no escape routes. The long shot also makes the female look small which may make the audience feel scared for her. The over the shoulder shot shows the view that the villain can see and this may make the audience feel like they are actually there at the scene. This may make the experience more scary for them. The straight shot shows the scene clearly. The shadow adds a sense of foreboding as the audience can’t actually see the antagonist and this may make them on edge. They don’t know what he may be doing as they can’t read tis facial expression or his body language.
• 9.
  The location isin a maze which creates a sense of foreboding because the audience and the characters don’t know what is around the corner. A maze is a typical convention of horror theme parks as throughout the people feel on edge. The woman is wearing a red coat and the boy is wearing red gloves. The colour red is a typical convention of a horror movie as the red connotes danger and blood. The long shot makes the characters look very small and defenceless. This may make an audience worried. The daylight subverts the horror genre as the daylight makes the scene seem safer as the light means that we can see everything in the picture and there is less of a sense of foreboding. There is a straight shot which means that the shot seems natural for the audience. The maze also feels claustrophobic which reflects feelings of isolation (typical psychological horror convention)
• 10.
  Alec's Slides