KYLE COOPER EXAMPLE NUMBER 2:

 

Identity is a 2003 horror film, directed by James Mangold. 

KEY FACTORS:

• The music here is key as it creates suspense and creepy atmosphere, which makes the audience begin to feel uncomfortable the moment they start watching the film. The diegetic sound of the tape recorder being wound forwards and backwards again is unsettling to hear, thus adds to the ominous atmosphere. The non-diegetic sound of the patients voice, makes the audience ask questions on what the man looks like as they never see him but only hear his voice through the tape recorder. The sound of thunder here also adds to the thrilling atmosphere and makes the audience feel on edge. You hear the thunder before you see anything, so automatically draws the audience into something eerie.

• There is a mixture of long duration shots and then a series of quick cuts to show snapshots of images in order to entice the audience. The long close up shots of the tape decks introduce the audience to two characters so the audience can piece together information on Malcolm Rivers and Dr. R. Mallick. As the tape decks are in focus and everything around them is blurred, it shows that the audience should be contrasting solely on the tape decks, thus signifying their importance. The moving shots of Malcolm's mug shot and what is implied as his childhood drawings, confuse the audience and make them assume that Malcolm has some deep psychological issues. The sound of sinister laughing combined with a close up shot of the drawings Malcolm made imply that something terrible happened to those "stick men". 

• The match between the dialogue asking about Malcolm's mother and the images of her, imply that she was not a good parent, and has added to Malcolm's issues. The close up shots on the mothers mug shot and words such as "prostitution" "possession - drugs" and "parole violation" also build up the idea of her as a terrible parent. The multiple cuts of newspaper clippings and State reports again gives background into Malcolm's childhood and the extreme close ups used allow the audience to really see and read the terrible things that happened to him. The close up on the mug shot of Malcolm is the only image of him the audience see therefore adds mystery to the character. 

• The font used for the credits is small and neat and is also the same font used in the doctors report which links them together, hinting that the film will involve doctors and they will be important to the font. The credits come up in slow succession throughout the opening scene, but it is the shots that are the main focus for the audience, therefore the credits could be missed. 

• The lighting through out is dark and muted, adding to the creepy atmosphere. The use of lightening unsettles the audience as the sudden flashes of bright light over the doctor add an edge of danger to the scene. 

• The close up shots on the photo's of the dead people bring a harsh vividness of colour to the scene thus highlights the savagery of the murders. Also, the extreme close up on the word "evil" shows the audience that someone took pleasure out of these murders, and the audience are hinted to believe that it was Malcolm. 

• The newspaper clippings titled "Renowned Psychiatrist to Testify for Defence" suggests to the audience that the doctor is trying desperately to figure out what is happening inside Malcolm's head in order to prevent him receiving the death penalty. It also shows that these images are in the present and that this case is still going on. The extreme close ups of the doctor show his interest and confusion in what he is reading and listening to, therefore hints to the audience that he is heavily involved in the case. 

I have mixed opinions on these opening credits. By combining all the horrific images of Malcolm, his mother, the murders and the newspaper clips with the voice over really creates a suspicious, creepy and sinister atmosphere. However, the opening credits are lost as the shots are far too detailed and interesting therefore the audience miss what is written in the credits.