Fatal Attraction - Alex's death (final scene of the film)

Clip starting at 0.15 Music : The music we begin to hear is a drum pattern played repeatedly creating the effect of time running out. This also builds tension for the audience and makes the whole scene feel greatly dramatised. When Alex is being drowned the music changes to low string instruments underscored by quick notes played by the glockenspiel. The music fades out when the Alex has finally drowned in the bath. There is no music for the rest of the scene which creates tension and curiosity. Sound : Once Dan has run up the stairs we hear him shout whilst he forcefully pushed Alex into the mirror. We can hear the sound of the mirror smash which helps the audience understand that her head must of been hit against it really hard. This then leads us to diegetic sound of Dan falling into the bath and Alex trying to hit him. There are then various realistic sounds that occur during the next few seconds of the clip which brings us to the scene when Alex is being drowned in the bath. The audience can hear splashes, interacting that she's trying and struggling to get out. There is then complete silence until we hear a loud gasp from Alex, assuring the audience that she is still alive. Before she has the chance to stab Dan, we can hear the sound of a gun shot as Beth shoots her. Narrator : The opening to our clip shows Dan in a low angled shot running up the stairs. This quickly cuts to a shot of him running into the bathroom and then pushing Alex against a mirror. We see a medium close up of Alex's reactions and facial expressions which helps the audience understand that Alex isn't mentally right. There is then a medium shot of Dan being pushed into the bath, and Alex trying to slash her way through the shower curtain to kill him. We see her knock into various bathroom items and then Dan run to pick her up and push her head down into the filled bath. There is a high angled shot showing Alex trying to free herself from the bath and Dan using his strengths to keep her in, this leads us to shot reverse shot of Dan looking down at Alex and a point of view shot from Alex looking up at Dan under water. The audience knows that Alex has died because we see her stop struggling and a slow zoom shot of her still face helps us understand this. This then leads to a medium close up of Dan sitting on the side of the bath looking tired and relieved but shortly after we see a shot of Alex still laying in the bath water with small air bubbles coming out of her mouth. The audience feel shocked and tense because they know that Dan wouldn't of noticed she was still alive. There is then a gasp as Alex rises from the water and attempts to stab Dan but quickly gets shot by Beth standing in the doorway holding a gun.

Esther reveals herself as a 32 year old woman

Clip starts at 2.26 Music : We can hear a faint sound of string instruments playing high staccato notes throughout the clip. This helps to keep suspense and creates tense atmosphere for the watcher. Sound : The clip begins with a voice over bridge of a doctor talking about Esthers secret. Whilst the voice over is continuing we then hear Esther take out her false teeth and put them on the dressing table. Throughout the rest of the clip, we hear the conversation between the doctor and the mother. Narrator : At the opening of this clip there is a medium close up Esther taking her false teeth out which then changes to a close up of them being placed onto the dressing table. We can then see a low angle shot of the mother looking stressed whilst walking through the hospital and this leads to a medium shot of her walking through the corridor. Esther is then shown in a high angled shot rubbing mascara off her eyelashes. The shot sleekly moves into a close up of Esthers face. This shot makes the audience feel tense and concerned.There is a quick view of the mother walking through the hospital again on the phone, but this quickly moves back to Esther taking her make up off. The whole clip builds drama and worry throughout.

The Orphan - Esther kills a bird

Clip starting at 0.25 Music - At the beginning of the scene we hear low legato string instruments played by lightly brushing the strings. This makes the scene give a sense of mystery and builds the suspense. The music slightly changes by building and becoming more intense, it then quickly cuts off when Esther holds the brick above the bird at 1.05 and a ambiant sound is used. The music then comes back in with a mysterious tone which enables the audience to feel anxiety, fear and alarm. Sound - The scene begins with ambiant sound of the footsteps of Max and Esther walking over to see the bird which Daniel has recently shot with his paintball gun. There is dialogue throughout this scene between Esther and Daniel which cuts out when Esther holds the brick above the bird, preparing herself to kill it. We then hear the ambiant sound of Esther throwing the brick onto the suffering bird, the sound is synchronous which makes the scene more believable for the audience. The dialogue then comes back in. Narrator- The clip starts by showing a medium shot of the bird laying on the ground which then pans around to see a low angled shot of Daniel looking down at it. This then leads to a medium shot of Esther and Max walking up to look at the dying bird. There is shot reverse shot used whist Esther and Daniel are talking and then a high angled shot establishing Esther picking up a brick. We then get shown a shot reverse shot of Daniel and Esther talking which leads to a wide two shot of Esther about to throw the brick down onto the bird. There is a close up of the bird laying in the snow and in the same shot we see Esthers hand smash the brick into the birds body. Finishes at 1.08

The Orphan - Esthers drawings about her past

Clip begins at 0.05 Music - The organ is being played piano using only low legato notes. When the pictures get lit up we hear a crash of drums and the organ beings to play higher notes soon followed by string instruments playing the melody. Sound - The scene starts with a sound bridge of Esther clicking a button which creates mystery and enigma. There are no other sounds used throughout this scene which makes the audience feel tense. Narrator - We learn a lot about Esthers character within this scene because the pictures she has drawn explain her past life. Collet-Serra uses a zooming low angle shot at the beginning of this scene in order to make the audience feel curious about what is behind the door. It then cuts to a shot of Esthers hand on a button turning it on and off also creating suspense which leads to Esthers face. There is no light highlighting her facial expressions which mirrors the darkness in her actions and then contrasts with the bright colours lighting up her pictures. Collet-Serra also uses this so show the psychotic behaviour Esther is performing. The scene ends by seeing Esthers face slightly lit up by the UV lighting reflecting from the pictures, she shows no emotion through her facial expressions which tells us that she isn't remotely regretful for what she has done in her past.

The orphan, Esther seducing John

Starting at 1.00: Clip ; Clip from "The Orphan" seducing John scene where Esther enters in a open shot holding a knife. MUSIC - Intense string instruments, sustained low notes. Build up of suspense using brushing effect on the drums. Music slowly fades when Esther places down the cheese board and knife. SOUND - Esthers footsteps are heard. Footsteps cut out when cheese board and knife gets placed down. Narrator : The opening in this scene creates a sense of suspicion and anxiety. Jaume Collet-Serra uses Intense string instruments playing low sustained notes with a simple brushing on the drums to create the darkness and seriousness in Esthers character. We see Esthers new appearance slightly blurred from John's point of view which indicates that John has been drinking. Later on in the scene we begin to see how Esther tries to seduce John (her adoptive father) and we soon realise that there is something Psychologically not right.

My rationale

My documentary examines how directors use cinematic techniques to portray madness/obsession/psychosis within the psychological thriller. The directors of The orphan, Psycho and Fatal attraction employ a range of cinematic techniques for dramatic effect