Case Study 2: Scream

Micro features -
Scream opens with the title of the movie which is shown on a blank screen, running parallel with the sound of the phone ringing and a female voice. You hear and scream and then there is a special effects sound of a knife being pulled out this represents the narrative of the film and shows how the antagonists kills. The first shot is a medium show of a telephone, this is an important prop used in this horror film as its the signifier of the killings which are to beggin. Throughout the conversation of the mystery caller and the female character the camera movement are slow and steady. The shots last long to show the atmosphere and to build up tension in the isolated house. The lighting is very dull to set the scene of the night time, there are shadows and close up shots over the victim to bring all the attention on her. Non-diagetic sounds are used to build up suspense and tension, this is used to the lead up to the kill, there is also diagetic sounds used that only the victim can hear. The editing of the film shots get quicker when tension arises, this is so the audience can feel something is about to happen. There is slow movement used with the camera angles and shots of the scene so you get a good idea of the location and the amound of space around the victim.

Macro features -

The victim in this opening scene is a female. This shows vunerability and signifies the final girl theory which is used in many horror films. The iconography used is the scream mask, knife and the telephone. The phone is used throughout the film hearing the antagonists voice through the phone. The ringing of the phone in silence connotates the emptyness of the house. The characteristics of the girl played in the opening scene  sterotypically suggests that she will the first victim from her physical appearance and personality. She is a young attractive blonde female, representing innocence and vunerability. This is a typical traditional horror victim. Her personality is shown to be dumb as she doesn't get scared and is unaware of any dangers when a stranger keeps calling her and she keeps having a conversation with him on the phone. She also plays with a kitchen knife when talking on the phone which phyisically connects the antagonist killing the female by stabbing her to death. The location used in the film is a isolated house in a small village, this is the perfect setting for the killer. The Scream mask used is to hide the identity of the antagonist who is usually sterotypically male.