analysis of microfeatures in opening of get out

 

Sound

Contrapuntal music/ sound (happy melody with lyrics "run rabbit run")

- huge genre convention of horror and thriller 

- foreshadowing and disorientating audiences 

reservoir docs ear cutting scene / it / the shining 

negativity he's feeling is shown through the diegetic dialogue - he uses profanities / swear words 

-can't see the car anymore (it's on screen)

- The music is no longer muffled, (now it's non diegetic), emphasising the music as he crosses the road escaping the situation - this intensifies the situation putting the audience on edge 

-then the attack and struggle sounds  are parallel to the actions alongside the music (contrapuntal juxtaposition) 

- he is dragged along alongside the "run rabbit run" lyrics - he has been hunted like a rabbit - he has no power = levi strauss - weak vs power - power exchange 

- he slams the door at the end of the comedic music (the attacker job has been done successfully)

- the door slam sound a bit like a shotgun - sounds forceful - like a shotgun

- most of this is foli sound but you can't tell because it's done really well (sound put in post production 

- major to minor music 

- devils chord (minor third), (staccato and accented), double stopping violin - harsh movement, menacing music - menacing blunt sound, no pulse, reflecting the heartbeat 

mise en scene 

- evening, late at night, dark - stereotypically more crime happens at night time

- outfit reflects his social class (not overly well dressed) - stereotypical of ethnic minorities

- dialogue is contextualised - implying people of his race don't belong on wealthy streets 

-  expensive vintage white car represents purity and innocent - white people having power - levi strauss' binary opposition of rich vs poor - already creates the binary opposition of black and white - foreshadowing the white characters in the crime being against this black main character 

- break lights foreshadow danger 

- headlights act as a spotlight on him - isolating the specific person - he is now the target

- acting uncomfortable, reinforcing the belief that he doesn't belong in a rich environment 

- him being the victim and the hero with the white people being the villains doesn't adhere to the dominant representation of black people in the media 

- attacker wearing mask/ helmet 

- hair and makeup is natural and what you'd expect 

editing 

pace 

length of cuts 

transition 

elliptical editing 

very long time without a transition/ cut- slow editing pace creates tension and suspense 

only one cut for 2.40 min opening  

long shots and camera following character 

one cut into a very long shot where you can see the whole scene including the car 

victim and attackers face is obscured - action code and enigma (what happened and why?) - from the  lighting

masked man - action code and enigma 

note down 3 key scenes

base these on:

Equilibrium theory

Character types

Binary opposition 

for each, consider how the micro features (camera work, mise en scene, editing and sound) create meaning.

hero - chris

villain - rose, mum and dad

dispatcher - girlfriend 

donor - walter

prize/ princess - salvation (to be saved) 

helper - cop friend (rod williams) 

false hero - girlfriend