Deconstruction of Film Opening- Prom Night
The common conventions of a slasher film are:
• Lots of chasing and thrill
• Physical weapons
• A psychopathic killer
• Usually a chronological order
• Involves lots of blood and gore
I deconstructed the film opening from the slasher film Prom Night
The title of the film conforms what it is actually about, when people think of prom they assume it as an happy day where the title conforms this. The font of it does as well, you’d assume this font to be for a title of a romance film where its a horror.
At the start of the opening we are shown an extreme long shot of a city of where the film is based. In the back group there is music the song 'Time of the Season', which is quite heavy. The camera is birds eyes panning over the city as it gets closer to the house, credits are being shown as well.
The extreme long shot shows the first location of the movie where we first see the killer. The girl is arriving home from being out with her friend.
Next we are shown a close up of the dads hand covered in blood as he has been killed, the mise en scene of the blood tells us something bad has happened. Also conforming to the genre of horror of including gore and blood. Shown in a tracking shot. Eerie sounds are used over the top to created tension.
After this the girl finds her brother who’s been killed, showing us its in a chronological order to the killer being discovered. Diegetic dialogue is used as the girl shouts as her brother to turn the T.V. Down after realising he’s dead when turning him over. Non diegetic sound is added to make the audience jump. Shot reverse shot is used and reaction shot.
The next image shows there is then lots of running as the girl runs into a room under a bed and the mum being chased by the killer, shown in a point of view shot, conforming to one of the conventions. There is diegetic sound of screaming, running and doors slamming.
Shot reverse shot is used from the girls point of view shot of all the feet and then a medium close up shots of her lying under the bed.
The close up shows us the physical weapon being used to kill everyone, conforming to one of the conventions of a slasher horror. Also having blood on the knife, a slashing sound affect is used as the knife is shown.
One of the last images of the opening of the film is a close up shot of the psychopathic killer who is after the girl, conforming to the common representation of this genre. The title and opening of this film we get the idea that he will back on her prom night making it quite predictable.
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