The Sixth Sense(M.Night Shyamalan, 1999, USA)

FILM TITLE:

right from the start of the film it is very dark, the background is blacked out and the music is very creepy and high pitched, we then begin to see the credits and these are not presented in a cheerful manner as they seem the creep on to the screen and the text its self is blue which gives the effect of a cold chill. So already we know this is going to be a chilling thriller. When the title of the film appears there is a violin sound which is very loud a squeaky and really makes you jump so this could set you up for what is about to happen in the rest of the film.but also the title doesn't just appear once it re appears again after words which really made me feel a bit weary.Also i noticed that the letters are spaced further apart then normal and as they stay longer on the screen they get further away from each other this really gives it that spooky effect.


Setting/Location:

The film starts with a blacked out background and you can slightly see the bulb as the bulb turns on it takes a few seconds and the music beings to get more quieter,at this point the audience is on the edge of there sit because they got the idea from the title's that this could be a very jumpy thriller.As the bulb turns on u the her the lock turn and we hear footsteps we then notice the location is a cellar, a cellar is usually at the bottom of a house very creepy place where its usually damp and the floorboards are creaky.A very chilling setting to start with.as she comes down the starts she looks a bit frightened as she takes a step back again before she continues her walk,this will get the audience think and asking them self questions,such as "why is she so scared? has something happened before in the cellar?". Even though we can tell its a cellar we can not completely see the full setting as the camera shot is from behind the wine shelves this gives the audience sense of hiding something you do if you are scared.As we she reads the plaque we also find out that they live in Philadelphia

COSTUME/PROPS:

The women is dressed up like she is in the middle of a party or there are some guest round,because she is wearing a long purple dress and high heels which is not something you would just wear around your house, so this shows you she is not alone in the house. the props that are used like the wooden shelves are very old and dusty which can represent that spooky effect.Also the fact that she is come to collect wine suggest that these people are maybe wealthy people.As we get upstairs you see candles lit to add a sense of romance towards her husband this starts to settle us down he is also dressed very wealthy.

EDITING/CAMERA WORK:

The first camera shots is from behind the wine shelves this is creating curiosity for the audience as you can not completely see everything clearly, Also it gives you a sense of someone hiding in the cellar looking at the women.the next shot we see the women in the first third of the from which then draws attention to the centre of the frame where we see her shadow this is used to create a bit of eeriness about this cellar to make us feel like maybe she isn't alone in the cellar is there someone hiding in the house. When the women is reading the plaque the camera is at a angle where you can still see both of the actors for me i was expecting maybe someone to jump out as mirrors is used in a lot of thriller films for murder scenes.

HOW THE OPENING SEQUENCES SETS UP THE STORY:

The opening sequence sets up the story as it tells the audience that this story has more to what meets the eye and really makes them really want to know more about whats goign on, by getting the audience engaged in the story and wanting more. It also creates a real sense of uncertainty because the man being found in there house was really very unexpected and really have the audience confused and make them want to see the rest of the film to know why he is there.

GENRE:
This film is clearly a thriller as there are many conventions used such as, non- diegetic sound that builds tension and creats suspense to keep the audience on the edge of there seat, it being set in a house at night with an eery feel to it all th edark lighting and the title sequence with the black background conects it to a thriller as in a thriller you dont want to give to much away , and, there being a shooting a suicide within the opening sequence. All this indicates a thriller and are the vital parts which makes thrillers good.