Textual Analysis: Women In Black

 Women in Black (James Watkins, 2012)

Story-line: The opening extract to The Women in Black involves three small girls who are playing with dolls and a china tea set, until they are controlled by some unknown figure off-shot. The camera then pans round to the window and we see them jump out of the window before a scream is heard and the camera zooms out and we see the veiled figure standing just on the right of the cameras shot.

Enigma Codes: What are the girls looking at off-screen? What has made them jump out the window? Who is the veiled figure at the end of the opening sequence?

Characters: We are only introduced to three minor characters but we only get a small sense of how we should feel towards them, as we they are not involved in the full movie. We get a sense of the joy of the children playing. However, the representation

Location: The location of this opening sequence is set in one single room. This adds mystery as to whos room it might be and where this room would be. The location of the three windows play a significant part in the opening sequence. However looking more closely at the mise-en- scene of the opening sequence, the audience immediately makes connections that is a small nursery for children.

Lighting: The lighting in this opening sequence is very naturalistic and this in turn contrasts with the un-naturalistic turn of events that happens at the end of the opening sequence  The main source of lighting is supposedly meant to be the windows that are open and allowing a 'fresh' light to filter in from outside.

Music: The music compliments the opening sequence very well. The subtle music is almost like a music box that might have been found inside the girl's nursery that the opening sequence is set in. It then builds up and develops as the action develops.