Horror- The Ring Opening Scene

The Ring

Although barley anything happens within the first 2 minutes of the film, it is still extremely obvious that this falls under the horror genre, we can see this through the use of a dark setting outside as well as the big empty house. The main character of the scene is a school girl who is completely alone, young and vulnerable; typical stereotype for a horror.

Most of the shots are medium shots and long shots following her around the big empty house which also fit in with horror stereotypes. Very first part of the movie is too do with the static television which keeps turning its self on. As the character starts to realise she is alone, she begins to panic, the camera then zooms in on her showing the terror in her face. When the fridge opens the audience begin to feel on edge as we understand something out of the ordinary is occurring. Towards the end of the clip we see water coming from the underneath the door, we aren’t informed to what this meant, but it caused a sense of curiosity, especially when she was so hesitant into opening the door which build suspense. Static television is again introduced into the scene; the picture suddenly changes. It then quickly zooms in on the TV then a close up of the girl’s face, which has been transformed. Although all of the shots are very vague it leaves the audience to imagine what might happen this creates and builds extreme suspense.

Not much sound is introduced at the beginning except the static muffling noise of the TV, we wonder why all the focus is on the TV, making us pay extra attention. The character calls out for someone, her voice sounds inquisitive, so at this point of the film she isn’t in fear. It’s not until no one answers and the TV turns its self on that we hear fear in her voice. An abrupt scary, gloomy noise occurs which shocks not only the character but the audience too. We hear her heavy breathing so we know exactly how she feels. The clip ends with screaming at the end, this is very effective as we as the audience want to find out whose scream it is, why they are screaming and what’s about to happen.