I decided to analyse and deconstruct the opening of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" as it is an iconic film that helped set many of the modern conventions and tropes of a slasher film. For example the idea of a slasher as a morality play with the virginal and innocent girl being the 'Final Girl'- the last surviving member to face the killer- whose purpose is to evaluate the consciousness throughout the film.
"A Nightmare On Elm Street" is an American film produced by New Line Cinema and directed by Wes Craven- whose other films include "Scream" and "The Hills Have Eyes". The film is set in an ordinary suburban neighbourhood in the fictional town of Springwood, Ohio where teenagers are pursued and murdered in their dreams, and in reality, by the blade glove killer, Freddy Krueger.
The film opens with a close up shot of shoes of an unidentifiable figure, characterised as sinister due to the slow dragging of feet; combined with the contrapuntal non-diegetic background music of a synthesised piano and low key lighting, creating an eerie and foreboding atmosphere. With a series of the high angle and eye level shots- as if the audience is observing- the mysterious figure revealed to be the villain-Krueger, who's amending gloves to create blade claws using hammers, blow torches and knives, showing that he has the tools and is capable of violence and establishing the figure as the villain.
Krueger also wears a bright red clothing, which contrasts greatly with the brown and rusty hues of the workshop; suggesting to the audience that there is something unnatural and other about the character as they don't fit into the surroundings. Also the fact that all that is revealed about Krueger in the opening are his feet, red jumper and his burnt hands - is unconventional for opening, allowing the audience to create their own impression of Krueger and then to be shocked when his genuine physical appearance is revealed.
The tension in the scene is built further with the heavy breathing Krueger and the jarring sounds of the scraping and tapping of the metal tools, the film title works to ease the tension slightly. But the audience is then shocked by the piercing scream and the violent image of the clawed hand ripping through fabric- an uncomfortable sound, possibly related to the idea of how easily the claws can rip the skin.
The film title works effectively to portray the idea of contrast of "ordinary/other" and "good/evil". The red, messy and unstable nature of "A Nightmare" representing the danger, horror and the bloodshed within the nightmare and the neat white font representing the innocence of the people living on the street.
The tone of the film is changed slightly with the off centred close up of a youthful teenager with a pure white background, contrasting greatly with the previous dimly lit and dark shots; but still highlighting to the audience there is something suspicious and sinister going on. There is then an unnatural, top lit close up shot of the girl's face to show the determination and fearful expression and the artificial nature of the shot making the audience feel uncomfortable. The girl wears a white frilly nightgown, fitting with the idea of an innocent and pure, makes audience think she is the final girl and main character (until the point she is killed by Krueger later on in the film).
The scene is then established in a dark, wet tunnel with a long shot of the girl running; but the sound bridge of the sinister background music creates continuity, foreshadowing the meeting of Krueger and the girl- keeping the audience on edge. As the girl runs closer the music starts to crescendo, unnerving whispers and heavy breathing starts to be heard as the camera zooms into the back of the girl, building the tension and the fearful atmosphere until the jump scare of the sheep appearing- relaxing the tension slightly. Jump scares are done very effectively throughout the film and this opening sets the tone of questioning of nightmare or reality throughout the whole film.
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