Jennifer Parsons

Textual analysis: Orphan 

Orphan film trailer:

The title of the film I am going to be analysing is ‘Orphan’ which was originally released in the UK in 2009 on the 21^st of July. The film was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and written (screenplay) by David Johnson. The genre of this film is Mystery, Thriller and Horror.

Narrative structure:

Throughout the film the narrative is faced with conflict, the audience are drawn to the characters. We sympathise with the characters during their emotion, whether they’re physical or mentally.   ‘The film starts off with its equilibrium, a broken family who have not long lost a child and are now looking to adopt hence the title of the film being ‘Orphan’. The film is clever are creating an atmosphere of hope for this family but of course the audience are prepared for a mystery and it’s not long before they adopt Esther and the secrets start to unfold. The film starts in a hospital, the audience straightaway are at ease and the element of mystery comes into consideration. The audience know something is wrong the atmosphere is eerie. Kate and John lose their new born child when she is born dead. There is a state of normality to the film as we’re aware of the equilibrium, everything is balanced despite the theme of broken families we see a recovery when they begin to move forward and adopt a third child.

The protagonist in this film is Kate, which is more noticeable when the disruption takes place. The disruption in this film is when Esther, the orphan child moves in and becomes a part of Kate and John’s family. As Kate becomes aware that something is wrong with Esther the audience become more aware that she is hiding something. The audience become aware that Esther is no ordinary child when she kills a pigeon and her carer at the adoption centre. This disruption is recognized by Kate but John isn’t convinced, after Daniel ends up in hospital after Esther sets his tree house on fire and Max is forced to keep quite.

 The new equilibrium takes place after Kate reveals Esther’s secret, that she is actually a mental patient who escaped. Esther is left to drown in the bottom of the lake after Kate saves Max. The new equilibrium is when Kate and her daughter Max are safe and the police find them. The protagonist in this movie concludes to be the hero and attempts, successfully, to restore a new equilibrium and overcome the disruption although her husband was killed by Esther; she is left again with a broken family. Throughout the film emotions are on edge and the film doesn’t have a happy ending, Kate loses everything. In the beginning we see her lose her unborn child and in the end she loses her husband and is left to mend the mental scares Esther has left behind. The audience see a transformation from the equilibrium to the new equilibrium which seems to be a neutral ending.

Genre codes and conventions:  

The genre and conventions are important aspects throughout the whole film. Characters are very important in this film because the audience play off their reactions and that’s what sells the horror and thriller genre of this film. Orphan has diverse set of characters; the most striking characters in my opinion were Esther the orphan child Kate and John adopt, Max their little girl who is death and Kate herself. Max being deaf brings a different emotion out in the audience because throughout the film you do view things from her perspective, not being able to hear her surroundings and only being able to see what she sees. She’s represented as vulnerable when she’s alone with Esther and she’s scared of her. You first notice this when Esther kills the pigeon by ‘putting it out its misery’ however; Daniel (John and Kate’s son) shows fear and cries. He is frightened by Esther and the audience sympathise with him. 

Ester’s character is very alarming towards the audience, at first she seems like a normal child; innocent and sweet. For example, when John and Kate first adopt her she is very well behaved and well mannered, almost as if she wouldn’t harm a fly. The switch in her personality inflicts fear upon the viewers. Kate is represented as a mother broken; she’s almost depressed but still holds herself together. You sympathise with her when her husband doesn’t believe her when she tells him about Esther. Her representation of a broken mother by the loss of her unborn child and fiercely protective of her two other children are central to her character.  John has a soft spot for Esther and believes throughout she is harmless, when Esther breaks her own arm and blames it on Kate he believes her which shows he is hoodwinked by her. 

The scene which highlights Esther’s jealousy of Kate and hatred is when she cuts the roses which Kate planted for the child she lost. In this scene you see how sadistic Esther is. Each character is represented differently; Kate is represented as a woman who is powerless over her husband who refuses to believe her over Esther. She is represented as a caring mother and audience empathise with her. When Kate finally kills Esther after they struggle in the lake you see an aggressive side of her, a side in which she will do anything to save her daughter Max. John is represented as level headed man, arrogant in being way he is always right which is typical in horror films. Max and Daniel are represented as children who’re very vulnerable and scared, always in danger. However Esther is represented as a smart, twisted little girl who is very manipulative and evil. Her clothes represent a girl who is innocent and neatly represented but her glare holds her secrets.

The music and sound is very typical for the genre. It creates a scary atmosphere for the audience which is what horror film intend to achieve. The music represents characters weakness; it’s always played when something is wrong and when something has happened. For example when Esther pulls up the hand break in Kate’s car so it rolls down the hill with Max inside music starts to play and everything else is silent to enhance Max’s hearing. Her facial expressions show pure evil intentions. Max’s fear towards Esther again becomes clear during this scene.  The setting is also typical of the genre, a house being deep within woods during the winter season. The storyline itself reflects the genre because of the murders, attacks, secrecy, the unknown identify of Esther. A theme in this film would be broken families because from the beginning of the film right till the end Kate’s family is overcoming heartbreak for example, in the beginning she loses her 3^rd child at birth and towards the end she loses her husband when Esther kills him. The style of cinematography is very sharp and very accurate especially when the car is moving down the road. Various shot types are used during this scene, such as a POV shot, the audience see Kate chasing after the car along with another man trying to stop the car which is seen in Max’s point of view. Close ups are used to show Max’s expression of fear and also to show Kate’s expressions. Long shots allow the audience to feel on edge; the audience see the distance and pace the car is travelling down the road which makes the scene more intense. Along with the editing it’s fast and rapid especially during the scene where Esther and Kate fight by the frozen over lake. The sound during this scene keeps the audience on Edge, you hear certain this from Max’s perceptive, no sound at all and then sudden sounds of struggle from characters and music at other times. Pace of editing is slow during scenes of violence which build tension, for example when John discovers the mystery and sadistic side to Esther’s paintings and drawings which reveal a house on fire and death, the pace of editing is much slower compared to the ending sequence. The end sequence is much faster and swift. The fight between Kate and Esther when they struggle on the lake is very rapid and allows the audience to feel more involved within the scene. This seems typical for this type of genre because if the audience feel more involved within the scene and feel present, it creates anxiety and thrill.

Detailed analysis of an extract from the film:

The extract I’ve decided to analyse is the car runaway scene; this extract is when Esther releases the hand break so it rolls downhill with Max in the back seat. The scene starts with the car approaching Daniel and Esther’s school. The scene opens with a tracking shot; everyone leaves the car except Max who is sitting in the back seat. It isn’t long before Esther releases the hand break and the car starts to roll down the road.

Mise-en-scene:  

The most dominant part of this extract is when Esther releases the hand break; the audience are drawn to this moment because they know Max is in the car. It allows the audience to see how evil minded Esther is and what she will to get rid of Kate. After the car has stopped you see Kate discussing what happened with John and the psychiatrist, the sequence ends with Esther watching the conversation from the staircase.

The lighting in this scene is high key low contrast and natural lighting because it is outside in a fairly well lit environment; however there is a glow to the scene. It’s almost as if you can see the cold within the lighting, there are shadows around and harsh light which highlights the tragedy of the event which is about to take place. The audience are aware and the lighting adds to the dramatic tension in this scene. The car parks up into a giant shadow which could signify that something bad is going to happen. There is a contrast between light and dark throughout the scene which fits the genre, horror. There are dark shadows on both Kate and Max’s face when she gets her out the car, you can no longer see the expressions on their faces. Despite the fact this scene is outside in the light, shots within the car are low key, high contrast compared to the natural sun light outside.

The setting in this scene is outside the entrance of Esther and Daniel’s school on top of a hill road. When we’re in Kate and John’s house where they are discussing what happened with a psychiatrist, the room is low key high contrast. Everything is dark and the room is filled with shadows. The setting in this scene isn’t exactly typical for the genre however; it does still create an effect on the audience. Snow and ice surrounds the scene, there’s no leaves on the trees which could represent life, life ending in this scene or something terrible happening. It makes the audience feel on edge, the weather and the sound of the wind blowing, the background of dark woods creates a thrilling and chilling atmosphere. When the car is rolling down the more wooden land and dark trees are revealed, the snow on the floor increasing the speed and increasing the intense tension for the viewer. When Kate gets Max out of the car you can see a reflection of a building the on window glass. The other setting in this sequence Kate and John’s house, its cosy but to the extent where it is also spooky. You also see Esther sitting on the staircases watching John and Kate from above.

The main prop in this scene is the car because it is where the trouble happens and it’s the main focus in this scene. Other important props this scene is Daniel’s school bag and books, they gave Esther the opportunity to pull the hand break and when his books dropped out his bag they distracted Kate. Props within the house are a note book which everything discussed is being recorded in and the mug Kate is drinking from.

Costume in this scene is normal for all characters, typical clothing, apart from Ester. Esther is wearing a chocker ribbon around her neck suggesting that she’s hiding something and also shows her sadistic side. Also, her hair is very neat, nothing is out of place and her dress is very tidy.

 Facial expressions and body language are very important in this scene. Esther has an emotionless look on her face as she leaves the car to roll down the road which again allows the audience to see the evil side of her. When Esther walks past the car, she glares at Max and the audience are aware that something is about to happen. Max shows terror on her face, and her body language is very fearful, as the car rolls down the road she doesn’t move, her body is stiff. When Kate releases the car is moving backwards, she’s begins to shout out, her facial expressions are deep with emotion. The audience is on edge as she runs down the road trying to stop the car, in tears her face is in pure shook. When the car comes to a stop and Kate gets Max out, she clings to her crying. These emotions of fear bring out the element of thrill in this scene and this is important for the genre because they want to scare the audience of what might happen. Kate’s facial expressions when telling John and psychiatrist what happened is fearful, she’s shocked and nervous because they doubt her. They don’t believe her when she blames Esther for the incident. When Esther is watching from the stairs you seem resentment in her face but also pleasure when she over hears John blaming Kate and telling her she needs help otherwise, he will take the kids away. As he mentions this Kate’s face is distraught because no one believes her.

The sound in this sequence creates tension, slow music getting louder as the scene builds up but also the screams and cries of Kate. But also the silence when you again here it from Max’s point of view, you here nothing put see everything. The cars bibbing and the noise from the tires as they move out the way create more tension and dramatize the scene. The only sound whilst back at the house is the sound of cups hitting the table, Kate’s fingers taping the glass showing her nerves and the dialogue. As we see Esther watching the conversation between John and Kate becomes a lot more quite to show she is ears dropping.

Moving onto cinematography and editing; the scene opens with a panning shot as the car pulls up the hill outside of the school. Various close-ups are used to highlight the significant moments, for example when Daniel’s books drop you get a close-up of them hitting the ground which then cuts to Esther ‘s hand releasing the hand break. Close-ups were also used to show facial expressions and body language. When the car is rolling backwards a tracking shot is used as it rapidly increases and creates more tension and fear. Various cuts are used to show Kate running after the car and point of view off Max is used as she watches her mum run after the car, this allows the audience to see things in her perspective (POV shot), almost as if you were there. Shot reverse shot is also used when Kate and Daniel are talking; this allows the audience to see what Esther is doing in the background while they’re talking which creates suspicion. Use of camera is very significant when the car is moving because the audience feel as if they’re in the scene and not just watching it unfold on a screen. Fast, rapid cuts and movement is typical of the genre because everything is moving fast, building up the thrill. A birds-eye view shot is used when the car comes to a stop and when Kate is running towards it. When in the house shot reverse shot is also used to show the intense discussion Kate and John are having about that happened and about Esther, this allows us to see their faces, emotions and body language. A high angle point of view shot is used when we see Esther watching from the staircase, the high angle could represent the power she now has over Kate.

ANAYSIS OF A FILM POSTER: ORPHAN

ANALYSIS IN DETAIL:

Film title: The title of the film isn’t necessary in the focus of the film poster however it still catches the eye of the viewer. The white lettering stands out on the red background and they contrast well which again grabs attention.  The title has a mysterious and intriguing impact on its audience and has a mystical glow, which connotes the film its self could be secretive and leaving you on the edge of your seat. The letters themselves are different font sizes which could suggest that this is not any ordinary Orphan child. The ‘r’ is the title is not capitalised compared to the rest of the lettering.

Tagline ‘THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH ESTHER’: The tagline is extremely eye catching and it seems the producers wanted this to stand out and be noticed, possibly more than the film title its self. This tagline is also at the top of the film poster and above everything else. It is also quite unusual, but still thrilling because it makes the audience consider what exactly the producers mean and leaves them wanting more; it questions the audience .What is exactly wrong with Ester? You also consider why the tagline is all in capital letters whereas the title of the film is not. It’s a thrilling and chilling message. The full stop at the end also stands out.

Tagline ‘YOU’LL NEVER GUESS HER SECRET’: The second tagline is a lot smaller but possibly asks a lot more questions for the audience than the first. Unlike the film title and other tagline it is in red which is also the colour of the background, so it blends in a lot more. This could suggest the danger she brings within this film. However, it could suggest that her secret will be tougher to discover or unravel. After reading this tagline the audience are left wondering her secrets and what an orphan child could be hiding. It does suggest to the audience that the film is going to be thrilling and brutal if her mysteries are revealed. It emphasises the secrecy in this poster and does create a fear factor. 

The red background: The red background represents the horror and blood this film holds. It signifies the expectance of death and gore. It suggests that the film will hold danger and not just secrets and mystery. The red is darkened by the black boarder, closing in on the poster context almost as if it’s a black hole. The black is moulded around the picture of the girl, the house and the film title. It creates a spooky atmosphere when looking at the poster. The red shadow around the image also suggests torture.

Background image: In the background there is an image of a house, at first glance the audience considered it as being haunted. Even though it is in the back, it is still a significant part of the poster and suggests the secrets it can hold and the mystery that will unfold inside.  The connotations of a home are safe, warm environment however the word home is questioned, is this poster suggesting that home is no longer safe? Every light in the house is off except one, which is shining in the direction of the main image and focus point of the poster. The little girl named Ester.

Centre image off the main character: The main focus point of the poster is the image of the main character, Ester. Her glare is striking and the audience are almost bewitched by her black, fearless eyes.  They create a scary and spooky atmosphere. Her hair and outfit are also interesting because she seems like a normal, innocent child. An innocent child with bows in her hair and a ribbon around her neck, this could play on the audiences emotions. Her character is represented in two different ways in this poster: her innocence in the way she is dressed and her secrecy that hides behind her glare, secrecy being the main focus of the poster its self. She wears no smile and no expression also leaving the audience on edge.  She creates a sense of suspense and unease for the audience. The imagery does suggest that the film is a horror movie because she becomes threatening towards the audience. Nothing is out of place and her hair is perfectly parted. Referring back the ribbon around her neck, resembles a chocker and induces the mental image of a torture which helps sell the idea of a horror film.

 The film poster includes credits for the recognition of the director, producers etc. This poster doesn’t include a release date for when it was going to be showcased in cinemas. However, despite this it does make the audience want to watch the film and definitely leaves you questioning what the film is going to be about because this poster holds secrets untold to the viewer and the only way those secret will be revealed is through watching the film.

Analysis of a film article: Orphan (2009)

The article/review I am analysing is from Empire’s official webpage (WWW.Empireonline.com). The focus point of my analysis is the content used in this review. The film review is on Orphan which was released in 2009 and directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

The review contains a summary of the plot and the main elements of the film. It doesn’t go into much detail of the plot, it is kept short.

The review itself isn’t exactly long either, the review discusses further into the story and what the film is actually about and also pulls out the negatives and critical acclaim in the film. The content is straight to the point and very critical, it summaries the film as being ‘clumsy, if entertaining’ and doesn’t give much detail. The main focus point of this review is the main character, Esther. The writer talks about her character and how she is portrayed. Despite Esther (played by Isabella Fuhrman), the review doesn’t mention any other actresses/actors which go to show stars are not the main focus in the film. The main element is possibly the genre; the horror aspect is the main focus of the film because it is meant to scare the audience.

A verdict is also included in this review, the film is summarised as predictable but entertaining. Empire also rates the film in their review only giving it two stars. Along the side is the poster for the film and the details of the film such as: the certificate, cast, directors, etc. Not including the image of the poster on the left, there is only one image used for this review which is of Esther. Esther is the main character in this film and despite her not being a star, her character is talked about throughout the review. The image is from a murder scene in the film. The review mentions the genre and the main character.