Textual Analysis of A Nightmare on Elm

Street

Camera workIn the equilibrium a lot of close ups and mid shots are used to focus on

certain iconography and people. This connotes the importance as it foreshadows what is to happen later on in the film. Close ups are used when focusing on the titles also to show the importance of the names. High angles are used when focusing on children to show they are more vulnerable. Some longshots are used to show the action that is happening with children playing this is used to connote the fact the children may have a main role in the film. It also shows the location.

Editing This sequence uses montage editing, this is one of the

conventions of a film of the horror genre. This allows the audience to make links between the images to work out the narrative it uses cut transitions to move from shot to shot. The pace of the transitions vary sometimes being fast and other times slow this

builds tension and anticipation. It also uses noticeable transitions over lapping images. This spoils the verisimilitude, however this is expected as the theme of the film is based on dreams therefore it isn’t meant to be realistic. It uses cutaways to focus on the titles,

this is important as it shows the director, producer etc.

Mise-En-Scene The location is set in a playground which connotes children. The establishing shot shows the street name ‘elm street’ In the play ground there is hop scotch set out on the floor, this

connotes playfulness and innocence showing that the children could be the victims. It also has iconography of school photos again following the child theme. With building blocks it spells out ‘pain’ which connotes what the characters will go through in the film. The children are in normal clothes for their age this shows that the film will have some sense of reality. The lighting

has an over all dark sense to it but in some parts we see natural lighting which again shows the realistic aspect. The children are playing games as children have an imagination

this could connote the dreams that the characters later have. There isn’t a main focus on any one child which shows that

none of them are the protagonist.

Sound The background music is eerie and strange. It isn’t overly scary for the chosen genre however it is strange which

helps us establish the theme. It has non-diegetic sound of children laughing which in context infers a strange setting. There is no direct dialogue in the opening

sequence which keeps the audience interested as they are yet to meet the protagonist or antagonist.

Representation of Characters The opening sequence doesn’t show any characters

related to the actual film, this allows audiences to infer what they want and gain a basic understanding about the narrative. The children are shown to be innocent which

connotes the many innocent people that are to be attacked in the film. We see dark shadows throughout the film which connotes the antagonist is always around this also shows the theme. The children are represented in a good way as we feel as if something bad might happen to

them which makes us feel sorry for them.

Conclusion I think this was a good opening sequence because it used a lot of typical conventions that you would find in this genre. I like the use

of camera work, montage edit etc. I would probably use something like this in my own as it builds tension and keeps the

audience wanting more. I also really like the use of the titles from being edited on screen and being written on the set. However the

down side is that it didn’t show the protagonist or antagonist. Because the is a sequel film based on the original the audience already have an idea about what is to happen in the narrative

where as my group will be coming up with a new idea.