Analysing film openings continued

In this essay I will be analysing the opening sequences of ‘Sixth Sense’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan , in terms of mise-en-scene (music, lighting, setting, props and actors) and editing, discussing their effect on the audience.

The film begins in a basement where a woman is selecting a bottle of wine from her wine rack. It is apparent that she is uncomfortable therefore, leaves instantly. The next scene shows the woman and her husband (Dr. Malcolm Crowe) in the living room, cuddling before the fire. They are admiring an award that he has received for his outstanding achievement in the field of child psychology. The couple then start to kiss and make their way upstairs to the bedroom. Whilst in the bedroom the woman notices that the window has been broken, as they both investigate a shadow of a male figure passes before them and disappears into the bathroom, which is adjacent. As Malcolm cautiously approached the bathroom door standing there before him was a man in the nude (Cole Sear.) Cole Sear was one of Malcolm’s former patients suffering from a personality disorder of whom he was unable to help. Following this he has a gun in which he turns and shoots Malcolm and then shoots himself in the head.

Firstly, the music featured in ‘Sixth Sense’ is synthesized piece, comprising of various instruments to include a piano, flute and stringed instruments. The music could resemble that from a science-fiction film to mark the presence of an extra-terrestrial being. The pitch begins rather quietly then grows louder then returns to the original pitch, fading out gradually. All of which creates an eerie ambience building tension for the audience.

The lighting is low key however, technique three point lighting has been used ( a lighting technique that requires three lights hence the name, these include key/ main, filler and back lights) The key lights are the candles which are positioned in front of the subject emphasising their facial features. The filler light is the side lamp as it is on the opposite from the key light moreover, softens the shadows cast by the main light. The back lights are The reason I feel this has been used is to purely add to the mystery and again build tension.

The opening sequence takes place in a large house it is apparent that is night time, location is unidentified at present. The vast majority of horror/thriller films take place at night time reason being the darkness represents the unknown. Horror/thriller can be filmed in a range of locations therefore, the reason I feel this location has been chosen because it suits the narrative. However, many of films within this genre are filmed in confined spaces so that the individual is enclosed with no place to hide. The props used include house furniture.

Editing consists of basic cuts which maintain continuity. After Malcolm is shot a transition is used called a fade to black which signifies the end of a scene. In most cases when a person has died a fade to white will be used to indicate this therefore, I can only presume that the directors reasons for this is to maintain the audiences interest. This is a conventional feature of the thriller genre which is to make the audience ignorant of the truth until the very end. Also a sound effect is used when the shadow passes before the couple to signify this thus enhances the mood. The credits fade in and out all of which are in sync with the music, for example when the beat changes the credits also change.