The cabin in the woods opening scene

The cabin in the woods opening scene analysis

The first 2 minutes of 'cabin in the woods' camera angles are used very efficiently. Right at the beginning in the conversation between the two men while getting coffee, we see the 180 degree angle rule being used. This is very effective because it shows the two different points of views and how they see the conversation. Once both of the men leave the building, one follows the other one while finishing his conversations the camera changes to a long shot of the office showing all the surroundings and it is placed at an angle where you can basically see everything in the room. However at this point this isn't very useful as nothing is happening so the viewers wouldn't be very interested in this part as it is just showing the offices. Straight after the camera cuts too following two men down the corridor, the camera is placed so we can see both of the men at the same time and doesn't have to keep going back and fourth. This is effective because it shows the audience a very smooth conversation that is being held and also lets us see from the same point of view. It then cuts back to a longshot of the office, and in the background we can see a woman slowly join the conversation, This camera situation here is very effective because it shows us that someone has joined the conversation in the meanwhile and doesn't just cut straight to it and we wonder where she comes from, we actually see with our own eyes how effectively she fits into the scene. This is good because it lets the audience see the office, but then lets them see the woman and then they will start to think on what she wants, which then the camera cuts straight back onto the men and now the woman and they find out straight away. Afterwards the camera keeps rotating back and fourth from the office and then back to the three talking and this happens a few times. At 2:15 there is a long shot of this room with many white vehicles in, this is effective because they want the audience to wonder what is going on here? and why there are so many little cars placed into this room? and what this room is used for? Right after the two men were having a conversation the camera cuts to a totally different scene and setting, it occurs to be in a neighbourhood and they focus on a boy on a skateboard, the camera then follows him down the road. The camera shot here makes it look like we are there with him, and following him as they try and go the same speed as him to make it feel as realistic as possible. Again they use the 180 degree angle rule between the two girls talking, where the camera goes back and fourth and back and fourth again hearing and seeing both sides of the conversation. This is effective because it lets the audience see both of the facial expressions but at different times. Between 5:11 the shots all change very dramatically, is varies from mid shot, to close up shot, shot reaction shot,  and keeps switching around depending on which character is talking.

Sound is used effectively even right at the beginning of the scene when the producers and actors/actresses names come up on the screen, this is because they use a type of violin/string instrument while blood is spilling over the pages of a book of some sort, this is relevant to this type of film because horror films always involve some sort of blood and some sort of creepy music, sometimes to begin with but then other times its throughout and you never know when it is about to occur. This shows the audience the type of genre of the film. As the credits are shown with the creepy music in the background, the music seems to become louder and more intense as the more credits are shown, and the camera also seems to get faster and all of this causes tension. Throughout the scene when they are in the offices there are many background noises that come up, the little things like elevators, money being put into coffee machines, people talking in the background. All of these seems to be effective, this is because they have to make it all seem realistic, so the little things like that like people talking in the background make it even better because the audience obviously know that its not real and not a true story. However they make it seem like it is. At 2:48 there is a very sudden burst of screaming and a brass type of instrument in the background and then the words 'THE CABIN IN THE WOODS' occur on screen in very big red letters. Red is known as an indicator for horror movies as you relate it to blood and just bad things that happen. Red is known as a negative attitude in horror films. The scream holds out for a while the shot freezes. This is known as non - diegetic. Straight after that when the scene changes completely to the neighbourhood, in the background they have music playing, quite chill music. Like something that would be in the top 40, and it is all very calm. This is also known as non-diegetic because us and the audience can hear it, however the characters cannot. This is effective because it gives the audience something to listen to while there is no speech on the film and it is just the scenery and its much better than sitting in silence. The music then increases while the camera fades into the room of the character that is next going to be focused on and as the character starts speaking and conversation gets going then the music is stopped which then the audience can concentrate on the plot again.