Crimson Peak Clip Analyse

Crimson Peak (2015)Clip Analyse

M.E.S (Mise-En-Scene)

In the clip M.E.S is used to demonstrate a typical horror atmosphere by using low key lighting to outline the frightening setting due to darkness in films symbolizing the unknown, mankind's greatest fear and has been used in other Gothic horror films such as 'Woman In Black' (2012) to distill a lack of ease in the audience by keeping them on their toes in an unknown/unfamiliar setting where a threat lurks in the shadows.

The only low key light in the scene is a candle held by the protagonist Edith (Mia Wasikowska) this symbolizes her as the hope of the scene due to light usually representing hope as it lets the audience see into the darkness and real the shadows within, this is also proven by Mia's costume being a white dress of the time period which symbolizes purity in films from wedding dresses in rom-coms to white tuxedos in James Bond franchise, it lets us know as an audience who to route for (who is good, who is bad). Which is why the creature later in the scene has a black aura representing evil/corruption.

Camera (Cinematography)

A constant tracking/dolly shot is used to give the audience a feeling the protagonist Edith is being stalked by the camera itself as it images a POV shot as it follows her throughout the dark hallways making us feel uncomfortable and tense because at any moment it could catch her. This type of tracking shot is commonly used in horror to project an unsettling perspective for the audience in the scene, the most famous example of this sot would be from Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining' (1980) as Danny (Danny Lloyd) is watched while riding his toy bike in a similar big mansion like estate similar to this film clip.

The camera is also used to immerse the audience in the setting as it pans around corners with Edith, they use these pans to show the scene was done in single shot adding realistic tone with lack of edits by allowing the audience to become the camera by having it not quickly cut between perspectives.

Editing 

CGI (Computer Generated Image) is used to create the monster, this is done to create a real monster that would be impossible to create in the real world. The use of CGI is common in horror films created in the 20th century as it is less time consuming than hiring makeup artist and with the advancement of technology making it seem more and more real as we continue to make films, used in other horrors like 'Cloverfield' (2008) to create monsters not possible in reality.

Quick cuts between the monster and Edith is used in the clip to give the impression the creature is getting closer and closer towards her in a shot-reverse-shot to make the audience feel the monstrosity is gaining on her despite its slow movement similar to zombie films like 'Night Of The Living Dead' (1968) as even though they are slow the audience scared because the creature is relentless and will never stop chasing because it doesn't sleep or need to eat or drink and this scares us as the quick cuts show it as a never-ending threat.

Sound

Diegetic sound is used to build suspense in the scene as the only sound in the scene as she walks down the dark hallways and keeps us on our toes as the floorboards creak and the protagonists breathing increases with fear as she explores the house, this convention is used to build suspense by immersing us in the character's environment like in  'Hush' (2016) a recent horror film focuses on diegetic sound to scare the viewer as the protagonist while she is alone and trapped in her own house.

Non-Diegetic sound is also used in this clip during the chase between Edith and the monster to build suspense as the audience debates if it will catch her or not. Used most commonly in slashers like the 'Friday the 13th' Franchise to build tension as the hunter chases and the hunted.

Conclusion

This Crimson Peak extract attempts to scare the audience by using techniques from mise-en-scene to editing however it does not succeed in my opinion due to constant reliance on the monster to be scary. The monster itself is revealed on camera and fails to surprise/shock us because instead of using the music to build to the scare it uses the oldest convention in the horror genre, the music fades for a moment bringing the audience into a sense of security then attempts a jump scare. Despite this technique being successful in the past to scare audience, one of the most notable being Carries hand rising from the gravestone at the end of 'Carrie' (1976) this clip from Crimson Peak fails to use it correctly as the monster instead of scaring the audience when there vulnerable the creature appears when is fully viable in the shot losing all fear and dread built up throughout the sequence. If the scene kept focus on the creepy atmosphere of the house and the doors opening and closing by themselves it could of driven the audience mad with fear but instead it fails to use long overdone conventions of the genre as it lacks the confidence to think outside the box with its cartoonist and unoriginal sequence and monster that looks like a budget Dementor from 'Harry Potter'.