The Strangers Analysis

The scene we watched from the strangers shows many different editing and sound skills to cause tension and suspensse as we empathise with the main character.

The film uses Non-digetic sound by using background music to help boost the tension because of an eerie feeling in the atmosphere that helps the audience to connect with the woman.

Also, the camera does not cut whilst the masked menace is watching her. She is unaware, but the establishing long shot shows us exactly what is going on, filling the audience with suspense and fear. It puts us on edge because she does not realise what we can see. This is very conventional of a thriller, as it builds anticipation for an audience, and creates the very adrenaline that makes people watch the genre.

The villain is masked, which also creates tension as we are unsure of who he is, and the power he may possess. It also creates a mystery as to what they may want, and if they are there to cause harm. The conventions used in this thriller do a very good job of making the audience empathise with the main character. The masks that are worn by the female villains are very unconventional, as they are both white faces. White is not usually a colour associated with danger, or violence, it is a much more innocent colour that is usually used when someone is given hope, or has escaped. A reason this colour could be linked to the film however is through the idea of heaven. The colour white often represents heaven, and this could be the idea behind it. The male villain however is wearing a sack typed mask which appears to be quite conventional to thrillers, as it has been seen on a few other occasions, such as the Spanish thriller 'The Orphanage'.

The whole way through this film, each setting is lit by low key lighting. This prevents the audience from becoming too comfortable as we do not know where the villains may be, as a explained y the plot. The fact that the house is secluded it would seem from any other houses or neighbours, means that the lighting may also show a sign of no hope, or no way of telling neighbours that there are people home, but may be in need of assistance. This is one of the most popular thriller conventions - use of setting. They use the idea of isolation as a way to not receive any help, the fact they are unable to contact anyway, makes their escape that much more important, and also attracts the audience to be empathetic towards the characters, as the audience should start to think exactly how they may react in the said circumstances.

When the clips do appear to make a transition to another clip, it is a simple straight cut from one scene to the next. This makes it look more professional, and also allows it to not loose the momentum of the suspense to the audience, by using a cheap fade effect from one part of a chase to another for example.