Cinematic Techniques In Tim Burton's Films

Tim Burton, a famous director of many movies, was influenced by Roald Dahl, Edgar Allen Poe, Vincent Price, Dr.Seuss, Grimms’ Fairy Tales, and Disney. Tim Burton’s influences have shaped and molded his unique style; Burton uses various cinematic techniques to create a dark and suspenseful mood while also maintaining a childlike innocence. Burton also doesn't hold back on using his imagination in his films; you can see his films tend to lean toward fantasy and fiction rather than being realistic. His style can be seen in Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Edward Scissorhands.

To begin, in Burton’s film “Big Fish” we see Burton using flashbacks, long shot, cut, low key lighting, non-diegetic sounds, eye level, and high angle; …show more content…
In a flashback scene, it shows the opening of the Chocolate Factory. In this scene, Burton uses high key lighting to make the scene bright and also uses bright and diverse colors to create a lighter mood and a more childlike scene. He also shoots it from a low angle making Willy Wonka look bigger and grander than he actually is. Both of the elements he uses creates a more innocent and childlike scene. To add on, in the scene where Willy Wonka and his guests enter the forest made entirely of chocolate and candy, Burton uses an establishing shot and high key lighting. You can see how the scene is flooded with bright light and bright colors, the establishing shot also shows everything so the audience can fully take in the magnificence of the forest. Both of these elements make this scene a more lighter tone. It also shows Burtons imagination and his style of having more unrealistic and fantasy films. Also, Burton uses the low angle and low key lighting in the scene with Willy’s father to create a darker and more menacing mood. In the scene you can see that Willy’s father, a dentist, is shot from a low angle making him appear bigger than he actually is; this makes Willy’s father more intimidating. This scene is also shot in low key lighting making the scene darker and more menacing. Burton uses …show more content…
In the scene where Peg finds Edward in the mansion, Burton used several techniques to create a feeling for the audience. When Peg first enters the mansion, the scene is flooded with low key lighting and uses a long shot to make Peg look vulnerable. Both of the techniques used here create suspense. Next she starts going up the stairs, Burton uses the high angle shot making Peg look smaller and more vulnerable and also plays creepy and mysterious music. The techniques used here build up the suspense and adds mystery to the scene. When Peg reaches the top floor another long shot is used to make her look vulnerable. Then she looks to the corner of the room where it is flooded with low key lighting making the scene more darker and scarier; she then sees a humanoid figure walking out of the shadows. This adds more suspense because the low key lighting makes it harder to see what it actually is. When it is seen more clearly as it is stepping out you can see it has scissors and Burton uses a cut and then shoots it at Eye Level angle; this shows Peg’s look of horror and the fear in her. The techniques Burton uses in this scene all create suspense and mystery and then it creates the feeling of horror; this represents Burtons unique style. We also see Edward with scissors as hands. What would be