The overall, intention behind this shot is to allude to not only the sinister element of the preacher but also the innocence that Rachel harbors in her home. In having the lighting come from outside, it represents the preachers intentions of murder to “leak” into the innocent home of the children. The surreal element of this use of unnatural composition in the scene demonstrates a constraint for realism in not limiting the connection between the children’s fate and the mothers, unless the Preacher is stopped.
In being a physical manifestation of the children’s future, the next opening scene establishes Rachel’s silhouette framed on neither the deck in a medium shot that doesn’t reveal her emotions nor feelings in the scene. Low-key lighting …show more content…
The light here acts the manifestation of innocence and its naivetés in the scene as Ruby unintentionally allows the preacher to leave the frame without being detected. As common element in the movie throughout, candlelight according Callou could only be used through the experimentation of Tri-X filming which was used to convey Laughten, the director, “fairytale” vision for the movie (43). The whimsical elements of this moment is achieved full through the medium shot framing that is reminiscent of a story book page as the characters are framed and staged in a clear corresponding way. With a distracted ruby looking towards the window while Rachel attempts to educate her on the harm of bringing light into a place of darkness, the audience is once again alerted of the preacher’s presence, as this use of light creates uncomfortable suspense on where he is. With Rachel blowing out the candle, she again takes control over the scene and is able to instill a teaching moment on the need of maintaining awareness when darkness is present instead of being oblivious to it in the light. Instead of creating a shock value moment of the preacher appearing right at the window, something done a lot in film noir, the direction of the scene simply has him disappear which in turn adds to the indirect and cynical nature of the character’s “bad”
In being a physical manifestation of the children’s future, the next opening scene establishes Rachel’s silhouette framed on neither the deck in a medium shot that doesn’t reveal her emotions nor feelings in the scene. Low-key lighting …show more content…
The light here acts the manifestation of innocence and its naivetés in the scene as Ruby unintentionally allows the preacher to leave the frame without being detected. As common element in the movie throughout, candlelight according Callou could only be used through the experimentation of Tri-X filming which was used to convey Laughten, the director, “fairytale” vision for the movie (43). The whimsical elements of this moment is achieved full through the medium shot framing that is reminiscent of a story book page as the characters are framed and staged in a clear corresponding way. With a distracted ruby looking towards the window while Rachel attempts to educate her on the harm of bringing light into a place of darkness, the audience is once again alerted of the preacher’s presence, as this use of light creates uncomfortable suspense on where he is. With Rachel blowing out the candle, she again takes control over the scene and is able to instill a teaching moment on the need of maintaining awareness when darkness is present instead of being oblivious to it in the light. Instead of creating a shock value moment of the preacher appearing right at the window, something done a lot in film noir, the direction of the scene simply has him disappear which in turn adds to the indirect and cynical nature of the character’s “bad”