Analysis - Silence of the Lambs

I decided to look at this particular piece as i heard that it was a nail-biting thriller which is what i wish to achieve (or at least the opening of one).

The first thing i noticed was the diegetic and non-diegetic sounds. The music contained no lyrics and played mainly low pitched instruments. I think that this introduces the eeriness to the scene and makes the audience feel as if something is not right here. This is then embellished when the sounds of birds flapping and trees whistling are introduced. The music and sound effects influence the audience greatly and this is something we will need to pay close attention to.

Another thing i noticed was the lack of action. The background was very still which adds to the creepiness of the forest. The lack of action gets the audience on the edge of there seat and biting their nails. It really helps with tension building and i've learned that the footage does not need to be explosive and exhilarating to be "thrilling". The less action the better.

I've also learned that the setting is very important. It sets the foundations for the scene and is vital to tension building. The setting in the opening in silence of the lambs really makes the audience feel enjoyably uncomfortable due to the mist and dead trees. We will need to find a decent setting for our thriller which will help us create eeriness, tension and suspense.

This opening sequence has helped me understand where our priorities should be. The four micro elements: mise-en-scene*, sound*, cinematography and special effects.

*= especially these