The incredibly slow cutting rate induces extreme tension and upholds it. The audience are positioned with the character, and hold the same amount of dread and more ignorance to what is ‘around the corner’ as such. The first shot of the opening sequence is a steadycam LS and the female character (Clair) approaches the camera as she exits the bedroom. It backs away from this MS of her and goes around the corner. This sweeping camera move gives the connotations of swift, ghost-like movements, drawing connections with the supernatural force acting as an eerie spirit.
In this same shot, the steadycam stops near the entrance of the bathroom door. Clair approaches the camera cautiously and the camera (and audience) only follow until she has entered this steamy room. This upholds the tension of the extract. As a 90 degree pan around her and stops, the slight movement in the mirror is emphasised due to the static nature of the camera.
The camera proceeds to peer into the bathtub, as she would. Seeing as this is the same take, the positioning is ahead of a POV shot. The unnatural nature of the multiple reflections of the woman in the bath give connotations this character is not alone, and possibly surrounded by others. The camera pans out and displays a CU reaction shot of the woman aimlessly peering around with a terrified expression. As she walks out, a shot displaying the character looking into the mirror at text that has formed due to condensation, it pans in to a CU to bring a climax to the extract.
In this same shot, the steadycam stops near the entrance of the bathroom door. Clair approaches the camera cautiously and the camera (and audience) only follow until she has entered this steamy room. This upholds the tension of the extract. As a 90 degree pan around her and stops, the slight movement in the mirror is emphasised due to the static nature of the camera.
The camera proceeds to peer into the bathtub, as she would. Seeing as this is the same take, the positioning is ahead of a POV shot. The unnatural nature of the multiple reflections of the woman in the bath give connotations this character is not alone, and possibly surrounded by others. The camera pans out and displays a CU reaction shot of the woman aimlessly peering around with a terrified expression. As she walks out, a shot displaying the character looking into the mirror at text that has formed due to condensation, it pans in to a CU to bring a climax to the extract.
I believe the extremely long first shot; dominating the majority of the extract displays fantastic tension building features. The way the opposite of dramatic irony is employed, and the audience remain ignorant as to the outcome of the protagonist is effective. Despite the slow moving camera and character, the cutting rate increases incredibly simultaneously to the mood of the protagonist. Fast, swooping tracking shots connote the panic and terror possessed by this character and give the impression of the supernatural force; allowing the audience to imagine what is next. The traits of this psychological thriller are evident and used successfully.
The energy of the etract is heightened in the next shot, as there is finally a cut. Furious scrabbling of her feet down the stairs connotes hysteria, and as the camera follows her round and left, the tracking shot displays her running manically. The combination of her hair flying around with her hands up connotes panic. The next shot is a up in to her face as she realised the computer is being controlled by a higher force and seemingly typing by itself.
What a long duration for the first shot! Whilst this fits well or this film by creating tension, I don't think a slow cutting rate would aid our opening because we are trying to set the scene more than purely create suspense.
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