Fatal Attraction - Laura

Camerawork

• Extreme Long Shot to establish the setting which is dark, with lots of skyscrapers and there is a sunset which makes the skyscrapers silhouettes; which creates an ominous setting. A slow pan of this shot is also used, therefore heightening the tension as the audience don’t know what will happen next. 
• There is a tilt zoom into the dark skyscrapers, which therefore means tha audience don’t know where they are going to make them more on edge
• High angle long shot of a window. The blind is drawn to show a silhouette of a woman, this is a stereotypical shot within thrillers as it makes an easy murder scene whilst concealing the murderers identity. Furthermore, the high angle gives a vulnerability to the woman, therefore the audience worries for her.
• There are just mid shots used with the individual family members, rather then close ups. This is so that we can see what they are doing. This shows us that they look like a traditional family, with the mum checking the laundry etc, and we cannot see their expressions clearly. This means we only see them as a family unit, rather than feeling connected to an individual protagonist. This does not conform to the binary oppositions theory, as there is no villain and we have not established which one is the hero. 

Mis en Scene

• We see from a long establishing shot of the apartment that there is lots of furniture. This makes it seem secure, and the family sitting cosily on the sofa look safe, therefore the audience feels connected to them. Also putting the audience at ease for a moment, with the mid shot of the innocent child and dog.  

Editing

• A fade is used within the beginning shot, to bring us to a different set of skyscrapers, which has more street noise and more lights, this therefore puts the audience into a sense of false security, therefore intensifying the fact that something bad may happen soon.  
• An eye line match is used with the shot of the TV. This again shows us that we are safe in the family life. However, the shot/ reverse shot between the TV and the child also heighten the feeling that something will happen, as in this shot we only see the child, therefore the composition shows us that she is isolated form everyone else, therefore we worry for her.

Sound

• It is silent during the institutional information, therefore heightening the tension of what is to come. Furthermore the institutional names are in white on a black screen, which holds the connotations of opposition and darkness, therefore raising questions in their minds as to why they have wanted to create these connotations  
• In the beginning establishing shot, it is relatively silent to build tension. There is also an occasional far-away street sound, therefore signifying the isolation from the top of the skyscrapers.
• The diegetic phone ringing suddenly disturbs this cosy family scene, therefore the audience ask the questions of who is it, and whether it is a bad thing.