Cloverfield Analysis.

Cloverfield is a thriller film but also has a horror slant to it. I have chosen to analyse this film as I believe it will be valuable to see how the two genres mix and whether from the opening sequence it seems like a thriller or a horror, and what codes and conventions it includes in order to achieve this. With my opening sequence I aim to make it as much like a thriller as possible, so if I come across horror aspects in the opening sequence of Cloverfield then I will try to avoid having these aspects when I film mine. I will analyse the first ten to fifteen minutes of the film to give me a thorough insight into the techniques used.

Codes.

Camera Work:

The camera work in Cloverfield is very unusual, but it creates the desired feeling of curiosity, mystery and suspense. In the opening sequence and then for the duration of the whole film, is filmed from what you would think to be a domestic ‘handycam’. Not at any point within the first few minutes are there any professional cameras used. Using, this technique makes it feel like it’s not a story that’s being told but something that actually happened. This makes the film seem more realistic and that it could happen to the audience, therefore creating more tension and an element of mystery amongst the audience. There are no specific angles or range for the camera work and it is all very erratic, barely holding the same shot for very long. The only time that shots are held for a long time is when the people at the party are giving their testimonial for Rob. Throughout the first several minutes we see flashes of the girl that was with Rob at the beginning on a train. There is 

 

Composition:

There is a distinct lack of composition in the sequence once again due to the nature of the filming. However, when the testimonials are recorded the people speaking are placed in the middle. This gives the impression of two things. Firstly, being placed in the centre implies that they are trustworthy, noble and innocent; none of these characters are going to turn out to destroy the city. Secondly, it replicates the image of a newsreader. They are normally placed in the centre of the screen, portraying the standard position for  interviewing or relaying information, and also once again suggesting they are a trustworthy source for relaying information. If they had been placed at the side that would imply they were not so trustworthy and had a bad side to them. The majority of the shots are canted shots, this could show the drunk nature of parties and also the carefree life of the characters which is all about to change.

POV:

Due to it all being filmed on a ‘handycam’ the majority of the shots are POV shots (as shown in the two pictures above). Once again, this makes it more personal like the audience is the one filming it and makes them more involved. It gives the audience their own character in the play, helping to emotionally trap them in the film, helping them imagine they are at the party, they are running through the damaged streets of the city and they are the ones affected. This is a really useful technique if you want to get your audience involved in your film.

Editing:

The editing of the opening sequence is very simple. It uses straight cuts as it replicates the nature of watching back a home-made video, where you have recorded something, stopped recorded and then started recording something else.

Music:

There is no music in the first few minutes of the film. The only music used is at the party, creating the party atmosphere and making it seem like a real event. The music is very quite but you can pick it out in the background, and doesn't drown out the dialogue that is taking place.

Sound:

All of the sound used is diegetic. At the beginning we can hear the footsteps of Rob as he walks over to the window to look out and we can also hear the sound of the road. This could relate to how quiet and normal their lives were before the big attack. It also helps to create a carefree atmosphere of the party and the life. The dialogue at the party stands out from the background noise. 

Graphics:

The film starts displaying graphics. There is a watermark in the centre reading ‘PROPERTY OF U.S. GOVERNMENT DO NOT DULIPCATE’. From this we can understand that the following footage is under investigation. The font used to this is a serif font, projecting the heritage and authority of the US government. In contrast the font used to display the director’s and producer’s names is a sans serif font. Like on a police tape, there are a series of numbers counting the time the video has been running. Throughout this sequence, distorted black and white shapes interject into the titles creating the typical sense of tension and mystery because you can't work out what it is.

Lighting:

The lighting throughout is very dull. At first just a few lights in the room, provide the light as it is completely dark outside, however there are also lightings from the buildings and cars outside which provide some light too. Being filmed in the early hours of the morning enhances the idea of the city that never sleeps, showing how perfect it is and how through the night it doesn't stop, and implying that nothing can. Which will be tested later in the film as the action occurs.

Conventions.

Props:

During the party the main props used are the drinks that people are drinking. The majority of people are drinking alcohol from red plastic cups. Whilst these are a typical item at a party the colour of red has the connotation of danger and perhaps indicates that something bad is to come for the attendees of the party. 

To the right we can see an example of the red cups and also of the costume that some of the guests are wearing.

Costume:
The costume worn by the characters is a smart dress that coincides with the event of the party. The women are wearing dresses, with their make-up and hair done and the men are wearing suits. This defines the event and also the class of the people. From the first setting of a top floor apartment in New York we can assume that there is some wealth amongst the characters, so naturally the costumes will be up market too. 

Setting:

The setting of Cloverfield is a large city. At first we are in a top floor apartment of a skyscraper, looking down on the bustling city below, the party is in a bar or club assumingly in a similar location. This gives the impression of the perfect sophisticated lifestyle. However it all seems too good to be true, thus making the audience feel tension and making them feel like something big is about to happen.

Stock Characters:

Within the first ten minutes of this film, it is difficult to tell who the main characters will be. We can understand that the man and the woman at the beginning are likely to play main roles within the film but we do not yet have an insight into which. On the face of it, one could assume that they will play the victims, a very typical thriller character, and that perhaps the whole party will fall victim, but technically there is no indication of the role which each of the characters introduced will play.

Stock Events:
Once again like characters, no prominent, thriller stock events are presented in the opening part of Cloverfield. However, the main event is a party so you could look at that and say that it makes the basis of something going wrong or a disaster occurring, thus providing the grounds for the a stock event of a disaster to happen at some point during the film.

Narrative Threories:
Todorov's theory about equilibrium can be applied to the start Cloverfield. At the beginning, everything is as normal, there is an equilibrium, a status quo in the lives of the characters. To carry on with this theory the film must next break the status quo, have people plan to fix it, contain the 'fixing' and then finish with a similar but equal equilibrium. From the brief summary of the film it is evident that at least the next stage will occur and looks to follow this theory to the end. 

Overall Cloverfield does not contain any horror aspects in the opening sequence. It also appears to lack many thriller aspects when comparing it the Se7en. However, the director has cleverly used the camera work among other things to create correct atmosphere for a thriller film. Elements of mystery and suspense show through from tiny little pieces put together like the camera work, setting and idea that you know that something cannot stay as well as it seems. Also the fact that it barely resembles any genre makes the audience be in anticipation for what is the come later in the film, and makes them want more to be revealed. It is evident that Cloverfield is trying to be unique and it succeeds. The lack of camera work and editing subverts the genre conventions of a thriller, this is a risky move to choose but for this film it appears to pay off.