Assessment 2: Analysis Of Opening Sequence

The House of Wax, opening shows micro-elements within the opening sequence that represents horror. The scene starts with a camera angle, which is a tilt; this shows us the wax dripping down the cooker, this suggests that they are in a very untidy environment. We see that everything is slowly getting revealed to the viewer. As the sequence continues we see that the pan is starting to bubble and we realize that the pan is containing wax, this therefore relates to the title of the movie ‘House of Wax’. Following this we see a subtitle, which has the date at the bottom of the screen ‘1974’. This is like the editing technique - flash back. It is taking us back in time so that we get the background information about why this is happening. After it shows the person stirring the wax but only her hands are on show, which therefore doesn’t show their identity. But we have our ideas that she is a female due to the bracelets and ring that she is wearing. Another camera angle has been used through this sequence which was a bird’s eye view, this gives you an impression that you are viewing it from a distance and you see more of what is going on in the scene. Aswell we see that she is having a cigarette this suggest that she doesn’t care about her work or how it turns out and doesn’t take any pride in it. In the next scene there is a close up image of the mould where the wax has been poured in, this shows a lot of detail. As the sequence progresses through you see an argument taking place with what could be the father & son, which they are screaming and shouting at one another, the son seems to be in some sort of discomfort due to the way he is trying to kick to get away from him, this is later emphasized due to the way they have strapped him into his high chair as though he is a prisoner and isn’t allowed his own freedom. The scene looks as though the camera has been held hand, because it has a very unsteady and shaken. Jump cuts were also used to cut between two similar shots in the scene, this is shown in my opinion to create discontinuity and trying to add tension into the scene. What also adds to the tension is the use of sound, the non diagetic music creates an intense atmosphere and the high strings held create a build up of tension then the big deep drop sounds and it makes the audiences’ feel sorry for the boy and creates drama to the sequence.