Prisoners Analysis

 The mise-en-scene at the beginning of this clip is the car parked outside of a cafe. The camera does not move, it is in a fixed position focusing on the loud, heavy sound of rain. This could set the mood as being dull as the audience can associate a rainy day as being miserable. The low-key lighting in the scene creates a sense of mystery as the car is darkened with only light appearing from the windows of the cafe. Audience can become inquisitive due to the car having no context. Next scene, the sound becomes softer and quieter to show that the rain is continuing, but it is what is sounds like inside. The camera starts from a medium long-shot to establish the setting of the actor siting inside the cafe alone. In addition, the audience can link the man and car together as the car was the only car parked and the man is alone in the cafe. Camera uses zoom in to demonstrate that he plays an important role. Zooming in from behind happens slowly as he talks to a waitress, the face is not show. This creates mystery as the audience can only see the back of him. The high-key lighting gives a feeling pf calmness and hints nothing is wrong. As the actor continuously speaks. the camera zooms in simultaneously to a medium shot. As a result, the audience can focus on the actor’s emotions and reaction to his conversation with the waitress. Scene cut to a long shot of the actor siting in the cafe after the waitress exits the scene, reminding the audience that he is still alone. A jump cut from the actor siting inside, to him walking outside. As a result, time is missing. Low-key lighting creates fear as anything can be in the dark. A J cut is used because the audience can hear the police radio overlapping in one scene and seeing the object in the next scene when the actor uses it in the car. This could be used to give the audience and think about what the significance of it is. The camera then moves behind the actor giving a sense of someone watching him from the back. The camera then focuses on the trees making the audience focus on it.

The trees then become out of focus as the focus is directed on the actor. Therefore, this makes the audience become inquisitive because they would be asking why he is staring at the trees and what is the importance of it. Another jump cut happens where the camera uses a long shot to establish the setting of the car being at the gas station. The lighting is high key and low key. The camera pans slightly to the left as the car continues to drive forward until stopping. The camera is now already in a mid -shot showing the actors current reaction to the caravan when the camera changes showing what he is looking at. Next the camera uses a crane shot to show how far away the actor is away from the caravan. After, the camera switches to inside the caravan showing the man in low-key lighting, creating mystery. In addition, the non-diegetic sound becomes louder, demonstrating fear and indicating that something is good. The camera switches to the side mirror showing the first actor walking closer. It is hard to see him as he looks like a shadow making it difficult for the audience to figure out if he is good or bad. The camera cut again to show behind the actor in the caravan, looking into the right mirror. After this is does, the camera cuts to show the mirror and blue lights appear indicating this is what he sees, and foreshadows that the first actor is linked to the police. A dolly shot is used to follow behind the actor outside giving a sense that the police is following behind him as he walks closer to the caravan. Diegetic sound of the car engine indicates to the audience of the second actor’s intentions to drive away. He reverses back in a semi- circle; the camera also cuts to different positions always showing the front. The builds the suspense because it has a sense of rush due to how fast the camera changes. As the camera changes to the actor with a zoom in, it shows emotion and the camera again quickly switches back to show the caravan. As it hits the tree the camera is showing the front, making it feel as though it is coming towards the audience. The camera pans around the caravan as the flashlight shines into the window. As the actor steps into the caravan and non-diegetic a drum sound is heard to create fear again. The camera constantly switches from a zoom in of the actor and the curtain to demonstrate he reaction the situation. Next, there is a jump cut to outside the van as the drag the suspect along with a group of people. As the camera shows a close up of the actor, it is low key lighting, showing more mystery and fear because the audience is so close to the face. After, the camera switches to show behind the actors shining a torch on the suspect. It constantly switches back to show that the actors shining the flashlight. Finally, a close up is sued to show the actor once more and his emotions. this time it is clear to see his face. the lighting is both high key and low key. As he turns to face the trees, it is low key which could demonstrate that the woods symbolise something bad.