The Woman in Black (2012) Deconstruction
Film synopsis:
The Woman in Black is a 2012 British supernatural horror film directed by James Watkins and
written by Jane Goldman, based on Susan Hill's novel of the same name. Produced
by Hammer Film Productions, the film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet
McTeer, Sophie Stuckey, and Liz White.
Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a lawyer, is recently widowed and grieving the loss of his wife when he is sent to a remote village to put a deceased eccentric's affairs in order. Soon after his arrival, it becomes clear that the villagers are hiding a terrible secret.
The Woman in Black (2012) Deconstrucion
* The Woman in Black is a gothic horror movie set in the Victorian era.
The scene begins with a fade in from complete darkness, then a close-up of the teacups/teapot . They are most likely to be porcelain or China , since in the Victorian era, children often imitated their parents by playing pretend, whether it be tea parties, or wars. The girls' room is typical of the victorian era, the movie is set in; the inclusion of a tea party set, placed in the middle of the room, china dolls, a pale nightstand, and a rocking horse add to the audience's expectations of a 6 year old's room in the 19th century. However, the pale green walls look yellowed with age, implying that there is a lot of history within the house
Close-up shots of the china and rag dolls having teacups placed near their mouths by the girls are seen with slow edits, as the non-diegetic glokenspiel motif is heard in the distance, (which could be referring to a music box, which, at the time was a common item in a household, representing how innocent the children are).
The non-diegetic incidental music intensifies slightly as one of the girls are seen in an extreme-close up shot, brushing a doll's hair, further denoting that the girls are normal, pure, and innocent . A Two-shot of the girls, in high-key lighting are seen wearing light pastel colour dresses as well as their hair tied back. This emphasises their innocence and purity, however, the non-diegetic glokenspeil and tubular bells imply that there is something wrong with this picture of happiness and childhood. At a point, the incidental music pauses on a minor note, heavily suggesting that something in the coming seconds will go wrong.
The non-diegetic music restarts, as the girls turn their heads slowly to face the audience for 3 seconds,completely void of any previous emotion. A long-shot used here suggests that the girls have turned to see someone/something, and the audience is put in their point-of-view, to increase the tension and mystery of the entity standing in front of the audience's view point.
Immediately afterwards, there is a quick cut and a tracking shot moving slowly towards the window, where at this point the incidental music becomes significantly louder,(an introduction of timpani drums and a harp) increasing the growing tension and suspence from the audience's viewpoint.
The girls' movements become parallel and syncronous to the 3/4 timing of the incidental music, as the editing becomes slightly faster (A 3/4 timing in music is often associated with a waltz, in a major key, usually played in joyous occasions, however in this context, the role has been reversed; it suggests danger and suspense).
An extreme close-up of the girls' shoes stepping clumsily over their china tea set accentuates that the girls are held in a trance by an unknown force, further stressed by the diegetic sounds of the china set breaking, to evoke a sense of fear in the audience. This may include elements of the paranormal, since many ghost stories originate from the Victorian era onwards.
A slow tracking shot of the girls, walking towards the camera in a three-shot emphasises the hypnotic trance that these girls seem to be held in, as their footsteps remain syncronous to the increasingly haunting incidental music. Their blank expressions are fully exposed by the use of Chiaroscuro lighting, implying that the darkness of the room behing them is, or contains the paranormal entity, suggesting that it is evil and dangerous, which is juxtaposed with the three-shot of the girls, signifying childhood innocence and purity.
In the last moments of the sequence, the girls are seen from behind, and extreme close-up of one of the girls opening the window slowly, builds the tension further, as well as diegetic creeks of the hinge. Finally, the glokenspiel motif ends on the same minor note as before, and a sudden increase in the volume as the girls jump, sends the audience into shock, especially after a brief moment of silence, a loud scream is heard. The camera begins a slow reverse-tracking shot backwards, heavily impling that the girls are dead, without actually showing us at the end.
Just as expected, a woman with a black veil is seen from the corner of the screen, which links back to the paranormal entity, which may have possessed the girls to commit suicide.
The scene begins with a fade in from complete darkness, then a close-up of the teacups/teapot . They are most likely to be porcelain or China , since in the Victorian era, children often imitated their parents by playing pretend, whether it be tea parties, or wars. The girls' room is typical of the victorian era, the movie is set in; the inclusion of a tea party set, placed in the middle of the room, china dolls, a pale nightstand, and a rocking horse add to the audience's expectations of a 6 year old's room in the 19th century. However, the pale green walls look yellowed with age, implying that there is a lot of history within the house
Close-up shots of the china and rag dolls having teacups placed near their mouths by the girls are seen with slow edits, as the non-diegetic glokenspiel motif is heard in the distance, (which could be referring to a music box, which, at the time was a common item in a household, representing how innocent the children are).
The non-diegetic music restarts, as the girls turn their heads slowly to face the audience for 3 seconds,completely void of any previous emotion. A long-shot used here suggests that the girls have turned to see someone/something, and the audience is put in their point-of-view, to increase the tension and mystery of the entity standing in front of the audience's view point.
Immediately afterwards, there is a quick cut and a tracking shot moving slowly towards the window, where at this point the incidental music becomes significantly louder,(an introduction of timpani drums and a harp) increasing the growing tension and suspence from the audience's viewpoint.
The girls' movements become parallel and syncronous to the 3/4 timing of the incidental music, as the editing becomes slightly faster (A 3/4 timing in music is often associated with a waltz, in a major key, usually played in joyous occasions, however in this context, the role has been reversed; it suggests danger and suspense).
An extreme close-up of the girls' shoes stepping clumsily over their china tea set accentuates that the girls are held in a trance by an unknown force, further stressed by the diegetic sounds of the china set breaking, to evoke a sense of fear in the audience. This may include elements of the paranormal, since many ghost stories originate from the Victorian era onwards.A slow tracking shot of the girls, walking towards the camera in a three-shot emphasises the hypnotic trance that these girls seem to be held in, as their footsteps remain syncronous to the increasingly haunting incidental music. Their blank expressions are fully exposed by the use of Chiaroscuro lighting, implying that the darkness of the room behing them is, or contains the paranormal entity, suggesting that it is evil and dangerous, which is juxtaposed with the three-shot of the girls, signifying childhood innocence and purity.
In the last moments of the sequence, the girls are seen from behind, and extreme close-up of one of the girls opening the window slowly, builds the tension further, as well as diegetic creeks of the hinge. Finally, the glokenspiel motif ends on the same minor note as before, and a sudden increase in the volume as the girls jump, sends the audience into shock, especially after a brief moment of silence, a loud scream is heard. The camera begins a slow reverse-tracking shot backwards, heavily impling that the girls are dead, without actually showing us at the end.Just as expected, a woman with a black veil is seen from the corner of the screen, which links back to the paranormal entity, which may have possessed the girls to commit suicide.
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