The first is an eye level shot, in this scene the camera is focused on the young boys eyes. This makes the scene very tense because the audience is really connecting with the boy and how he is feeling. In thrillers, directors really try to make a connection between the character and the audience by engaging them with characters to try and put the audience in the characters shoes.
The next is a high angle shot taken from the opening scene of the shining. The camera is focused on the car but looks small compared to the rest of the scene. The director could be trying to imply that that maybe we shouldn't just the looking at the car, but the bigger picture. Do we need to look out for something. This keeps the audience guessing. The less they know, the better.
This famous scene from the shining shows the main character break through the door of the bathroom. It then goes to a close up of his face. This is used to show his facial impression to show the audience what state of mind he is in, in this case, phycopathic. Typical of horrors.
The next scene has a long shot of the place where it is set. The massive living room has an eerie feel about it. The long shot is used to show the whole room. Large, mysterious dim rooms are common in thriller films as yet again it lets the audiences mind wonder to what lies in the large dark patches and this can create tension yet again.
In this scene, a two shot is used in the conversation between two of the characters. They both stay in the shot and are equally poised. In thriller films, this could show that the characters could be plotting something and this is a way of always keeping the audience guessing.
This is another frame taken from the opening scene. However it is used for an establishing shot. It shows a massive empty piece of countryside which shows that the film is set in the middle of nowhere. This tells the audience that isolation is a theme allowing the audience to think yet again that this film will be more of physiological thriller.
This scene shows a handheld shot of the boy from behind. The movement is jerky and uneven. This really connotes the fact that it is a thriller film and creates a sense of urgency and everything becomes tense. This builds the audience up and could be almost be preparing them to shock, suspense and surprise.
Overall i feel all these angles and shots make the shining one of the best thriller films of all time and i will be defiantly be taking what I've learnt here and applying it to my own thriller.
You have shown a good understanding of the different camera angles used and what they might protray. You have used detailed language at times.
ReplyDeleteYou need to pick a specific scene rather than different clips from the film, to show a sequence rather than random camera angles.
To improve your post you need to:
1) Include a definition of cinematography in your introduction
2) Explain why a shot is used, for what purpose and to create what
3) Relate your points back to the audience and explain how they build a relationship with characters
4) Make sure you are talking about thrillers, not horrors (thrid point)
5) Include your URL link