Tension and suspense within 'Scream' (Wes Craven)

The director uses mid close up shots of Kacey on the phone to represent the importance of the calls and this is continued throughout the opening scene. The camera then cuts to a shot outside of the house where it is dark and windy, representing a stereotypical horror film and also letting us know that the garden has a relevance to the scene. The camera follows Kacey as she goes from the kitchen to once again answer the phone, this builds the tension because we feel as if we are following her and it also creates the idea of her being stalked. Kacey is represented at this point in the scene as very laid-back and the talk of horror films and the way she grabs the knife creates a chilling irony which builds the suspense because we know that something bad is going to happen. The director then cuts to a mid shot of the popcorn expanding which makes the audience visual

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The shot once again cuts back to the popcorn which is near enough ready to explode which lets the audience know that something big is going to happen and its going to happen soon. The camera then cuts to a shot of Steve on the patio therefore not only building the tension but helping us to realise Kacey’s fate. As he runs after her the scene is in slow motion and the dark black night represents her fate. As the music heightens the scene speeds up and we are once again following Kacey through the house but this time we are running and all the time building the tension. As Kacey answers the phone again the non diegetic music starts up, and the popcorn boils gripping us to our seats.

The camera then cuts between Kacey and her parents car coming down the road but as a audience we know that they are not going to make it in time. As Steve dies the music once again builds and fades. As an audience knowing of horror codes and conventions we are able to predict Kacey’s fate.

Once Kacey’s parents arrive home the popcorn has exploded and as her mum walks outside, the true stereotypical Hollywood horror scream lets us know that the inevitable has eventually happened.

Once again we follow Kacey into the living room listening to the friendly phone call until the killer slips up by asking who he’s looking at, it is at this point that the camera zooms in on Kacey’s face looking petrified and intrigued. As she grabs a knife and leaves the house we see the killer for the first time as a mysterious black shadow.

As Kacey turns of the light on Steve it is as if she is signing her life away by potentially turning the light out on the only person that may have been able to save her. The death is there to shake up the audience and prepare them for what is going to happen. As the music hits a mini crescendo the door bell rings and frightens not only Kacey but us as an audience as well. We then see Kacey outside trembling, her Blonde hair and White Jumper representing her purity and weakness.

Common topics in this essay:
, White Jumper, camera zooms, camera cuts, music starts, camera cuts shot, camera zooms kaceys, kacey outside, fate kacey, grabs knife, scene camera, zooms kaceys, building tension, cuts shot,

Approximate Word count = 766
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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