Opening Scene Analysis: Woman In Black

The Woman in black (2012) directed by James Watkins, is first introduced to us in the opening scene as being an innocent yet eerie film due to the close up of the image of the children playing with teacups. This lures the audience into a full sense of security as, as an audience we then begin to feel comfortable with the film and become a vulnerable audience. In addition to this, the use of mise en scene (tea cups and the vintage props) accompanied by the characters costumes, sets the scene and the audience are given an idea in to which era the movie is set in, here the film makers are trying to imitate a 1930's era. This adds to the atmosphere as we are a modern day audience, making it more tense as we have no first hand knowledge of what went on in the 1930's, furthermore, excluding us from the storyline. The style of opening for this film would be a teaser as the audience are given a hint into what is to come in the rest of the film.

The non diegetic music is played quietly in the background which also fits in with the time period the film is portraying, it synchronises with the little girls actions and the low volume of music fits in with the innocent representation of the girls. However as the girls begin to walk towards the window the audiences emotions begin to change due to the cinematography and editing as the shot reverse shot shows the children and then the window and then back to the children. This adds a sense of foreshadowing and the audience become aware of what is going to happen next. The tempo of the music increases and becomes louder creating more of a tense atmosphere to accompany the action on screen, it also creates a sense of danger and panic, preparing the audience for the outcomes of the events about to follow.

The conventions of a horror film involve creepy little children, this is exactly what the Woman in Black is guilty of. Having the girls wear old-fashioned clothing with long hair combed neatly, suggests perfection and precision which is a contrast into their personality as they are clearly somewhat unhinged. Also the overly happily expressions make the children seem robot like, adding to the horror of the film.