Scream Analysis

Scream Opening Analysis

The first noise the audience hear when watching the Scream opening scene is a high - pitched screech from a girl, this represents the title of the film and displays what the film is likely to be about. It shows a genre of Thriller and Horror due to the loud fearful yell. This already creates suspension and gets the audience thinking what is going to happen and why a girl is screaming. It also introduces a female victim which suggests vulnerability and innocence due to a young girl screaming. The screaming noise is being played as a background track while the audience can visually see the title of the film which flashes up in white lettering with an edgy, scary look to it to representing the genre being a Thriller/Horror. This white lettering soon turns into red lettering which runs down the page like blood. Along with the girl screaming, a phone is also ringing, this is still being played while the film title is being displayed, this links in with the film because the first scene begins with a phone ringing. The main character is introduced within 10 seconds of the film and the audience can clearly notice that the main subject of the film is a female. The effect of having a female as the victim is that it stereotypically means she is vulnerable and too weak to fight anything off. Having a male victim would mean that he could turn into a hero by saving the day instead of being effected by the villain. It is when the female picks up the ringing phone that the audience notice she is alone. This suggests vulnerability and innocence to the audience, it also gives them a large idea that something is likely to happen to this girl, especially from the previous signs and the film being a Thriller/Horror. When she picks up the phone the audience are introduced into what could potentially be the villain of the film. When the main character is on the phone we get a close up shot of her face, this allows the audience to see the characters facial expressions, and in this situation Drew Barrymore's character looks at ease and disinterested in the caller on the phone. She has a calm tone to her voice which suggests that nothing dangerous or scary is going to happen soon. The camera then zooms back out and when the phone rings again is zooms into Drew Barrymore's face to show the confusion and to increase the tension for the audience. The voice of the caller on the other end of the phone highlights that it is a male, and he sounds captivated and intrigued into the female.  The second time the phone rings is when the audience are able to clearly notice that it wasn't just a normal cold caller. Due to the fact that the caller rang back "to apologize," insinuates to the audience that there is something not normal. As the camera is panning round Drew's face, still as a close up shot, it clearly displays the background. Due to the audience clearly being able to see the location - which seems to be a large house, situated in a forest and dark outside, a typical scary location, it sets the mood for the film as spooky and mysterious. After the second call, the film then goes on to show more of the location as a long shot. The audience are then able to clearly see the big house and the outside garden area which has large trees and a swinging chair which makes a squeaky noise. The effect of these sound affects suggests to the audience that maybe a child or a young person is involved - this makes it much more frightening with the prospect of a child being involved. It can also suggest that it is a windy night, which sets the scene, or that a person has just been on or near it. Due to the character being alone in the big house, all the noises which she creates are emphasized more and made more dramatic, like when she turns the oven on.