Micro Analysis The Grudge

Micro Analysis – The Grudge

After been given a chance to analyse a films method for the creation of suspense, we were then given the chance to select our own film based on the genre of thriller and analyse and explain the purpose of these methods. The film I had chosen, was The Grudge (Apartment Haunting Scene).

The scene is about three minutes long, however during the first two minute and 30 seconds of the film there is no use of the non-diegetic sound, being soundtrack. Which means that the character within the, scene is surrounded, by silence which we as an audience are able to experience. Now the method in which the film used to create suspense was that the only sounds we could hear were the projections of diegetic sound, created, by the character which created tension, because of her slowly breaking the silence.

Moreover the use of a tracking shot is used, so we are able to follow the character towards and away from danger. Also the tracking shot allow us to engage with what he character is reacting to, for example the phone rings and she sighs in relief, because she discovers that it is a friend of hers. Which calm not only the character but we as an audience as well, because we believes we’ve escaped from the unknown danger. However the creation of suspense in this horror, begins to take place. The ringing of the doorbell, to find out that no one is there, the use of dialogue for the character to express how she feels in the situation she is in, finally the chromatic sound of a cat growling on the phone and still continues once the power supply is removed.

This causes the audience to hold onto their seats, because of them being unaware of what’s causing these, unexplained scenarios. We begin to zoom into the traumatized characters face, leading into a close up shot of the characters reaction. At the same time the use of a soundtrack, getting louder follows and the sound of the growling cat follows.

The camera angle then changes into a low angled shot to experience the characters vulnerability of this thing crawling towards her from the end of her bed, under the covers. We as the audience get to see what the female character sees with the use of a POV shot, while simultaneously projecting the character soundtrack to scare us, even more, as if the sighting of the creature doesn’t scare us.

Now the use of the mise en scene structure and concludes the suspense made within this scene. The room is quiet again and the surroundings low key. This pull s off the feeling that there is no escape from the creature even if you were to hide from such things as you would do as a kid, being a blanket, turning on lights. Childlike acts will not help or save you.

In conclusion with the use of all these methods, the creation of suspense is strong within the scene with its late build up to suspense, which is why the grudge will always catch me off guard.