The Unborn Opening Scene

Media Coursework - Deconstruction of The Unborn's Opening Scene

The Unborn is a possession horror, released in 2009.

Titles

• In The Unborn, there are no opening titles which is unusual for films of all genres.
• By not using titles the film brings the audience straight into the plot.
• The lack of titles also gives the film a sense of uncertainty because structurally things are not as you would normally see.

Narrative/Enigmas

• During the first scene there is no narrative, only non - diegetic music until the very end where there is a diegetic scream
• When Casey is jogging she finds a glove on the floor. It is a subtle prop which is a common convention of possession horror. This is introduced with an extreme close up shot. This leads the audience to the mystery of where this has come from and why it is so important as suggested by the close up shot.
• Having found the glove she turns around and we see a
  
  child in the distance. The audience now wants to know who the child is and where he has come from because he has not been seen before
• After seeing the child there is a shot back to Casey and back to where the child was but there is now a dog with a mask on. The audience wants to know where the child went and what the dog is
• Another enigma is the mask that was previously on the dog is now lying on the ground. The audience wants to now know where the dog went as well as the child
• The final section of the opening scene we see the mask is tied to something under the leaves. When it is uncovered it is very still and then uses a jump scare when the eyes open. The audience is left wanting to know what the creature is.

Sounds

• There is no diegetic dialogue or sound except for a scream at the very end of the opening scene
• The non diegetic music is mainly electric sound based.
• The music has deep undertones to it which suggest mystery and create suspense
• The music has a slow tempo which adds to the suspense
• When the child is introduced an electric guitar starts, adding pace to the scene, suggesting something is not right
• Along with the guitar, the music also increases in dynamics so becomes more apparent and adds to the suggestion of something being wrong and it becoming aggressively apparent to Casey

Appropriateness for Genre

• The opening scene uses low lighting which is a common convention of a possession horror as it suggests that there is something else going on. Darkness is associated with low mood and death
• There is a lone child who appears to be possessed or not of normal human nature, which is a commonly seen element of possession horror
  
• Towards the end of the opening scene Casey runs into woodland - a commonly portrayed setting for possession horror. It connotes mystery and abandonment
• The last few seconds of the opening scene include a jump scare which is a common convention of possession horror