Black Christmas 2006- Horror Movie

Black Christmas 'One of the Best Horror Movies of the Year'

I have been analysing the starting of the movie Black Christmas that falls in the genre horror. It has many unpleasant and heart racing scenes; this is used to attract the target audience attention.

Characters

They have used some stereotypical characters in the film such as Billy Lenz who is played by two different people at different ages Robert Mann at ages 20-35 years old and Cajnan wiebe at ages 10-12 years old. Billy has had a bad childhood he has been abused and has not been loved by his mother. He killed his mother because he saw his mother killing his father, the man who looked out for him. Billy is unloved, lonely and quite. Our first impression of Billy is that he is mad because when he was in the tall building locked away, he was sitting in the dark, rocking on the chair quietly with colour Christmas lights surrounding him. Also when the man gave his food he never spoke at all but he ate his food quickly in front of the security guard. Before we see him eating his food the director wants the audience not to feel sorry for him but to be afraid and scared and not love him, this is shown as when we hear the terrible things he has done. He has killed his entire family, he wants to escape the mental ward prison, he wants to eat chicken that tastes likes his mother and our first impression of him as well.

Sound

In the opening scene of Black Christmas it starts with fast beat Christmas music, the house is decorated with colourful lights, its dark outside showing that it is late in the evening or night. The music been played is diegetic sound the audience and actors can hear this music, the music is a Christmas song. There is moments in the movie were non-diegetic music is been played that is music that can only be heard by the audience. This music is heard when the girl is walking towards the closet trying to cause tension also it informs the audience what the mood she is in. As the music isn't joyful this means she is not in a happy mood, because the music is frightening it shows she is afraid of what she is going to see. The music is also been played when she is getting suffocated, this music is more a fast beat making the audience jump out of their seat.

Camera Angles and Movement

There is a close up on objects were they want the viewers to see such as the shaking globe that is seen several times as a close up. There is also close up on the sharp objects such as a wine opener, scissors this is make the audience aware that something is about to occur. Also when there is a close up on gift tag that was writing was done in bright red, representing blood. When she is drinking her wine from the glass, the camera is behind the curtains making it believe that someone is watching her from her own room, this builds tension, and this shot is called an Establishing Shot.

When she is walking towards her closet the camera is following her from behind as if someone is watching her or following her, this technique is called Steadicam. This technique has been used in many horror movies to create an intense feeling. When she sits on the floor, the camera uses the technique Pan to show that someone is under her bed, making the audience aware that the person is only walking distance from the woman. There is another close up at the bright red gift tag, when she tries looking for the pen that is no longer there; suddenly the scary person from under her bed puts a black bag over her head making the audience jump out of the seat.

When she is getting suffocated the camera shows a close up again of the shaking globe, this could mean that this object is an important in the film.

In the next scene there is loads of close up. Each individual close up is shown to cause suspense, such as there is a close up when the milk carton drops on the floor because this leads to the door been left open and man entering when it is not allowed. Another close up of the dressed up Santa Clause, the close up is broken in small parts such as his hand, then his bag etc.

Credits/title of the movie

When she is getting stabbed constantly the title of the movie appears and the background is red and the writing is black, representing the red as blood and the black as the darkness or ending of something. The title appears towards the end of the 1st setting, this is common in horror movies, in a romantic comedy the title is showing mainly at the start of the movie.

Editing

The movie constants of fast invisible editing meaning from a Close Up to a Establishing Shot it is invisible when this happens you can't see the change as its done really quickly. The few of the shown editing is when the title of the movie disappears, the screen goes black for a second and the next setting is shown.

Mise en scene

The first setting is the family house with bright Christmas lights. This shows what type of month it is plus the happy played music shows that it is cheerful house. This is what the director wants the audience to believe, therefore later on in the movie when the man from under the bed suffocates the woman the audience are in shock.

The setting of the next scene is a Low Angle Shot to reveal the place with barbwire around the tall, dark building showing its a dangerous place. Also there is a close up when the man types a code in to enter into the area of the building.