Camerawork Analysis- ‘Daniel Isn’t Real’ .
Shot types:
Close up:
Close ups are usually used to show significant detail or character emotions. In this close up, its denoted use is to show the protagonists’ fear. It connotes that our protagonist is at a very low point and signifies to the audience that we are at the stereotypical disequilibrium of the movie and are coming close to the third and final act. The shot also lingers uncomfortably close to the character's face for a few seconds. This makes the audience feel the discomfort and terror of the protagonist and makes us fear what will happen next.
Long shot:
Long shots help to show off the environment and location to the audience. In this shot we see our protagonist wandering uncomfortably at the end of the corridor. The denoted meaning of the shot is to show that our protagonist is in a strange new environment that he doesn’t understand, but the connoted meaning is that our protagonist isn't marching through the hallway and guiding us (the audience) through the fear but instead is scared to continue and wants to head back. This challenges the audience's idea of a heroic protagonist and instead presents us with a much more realistic, relatable character and makes the audience want to see him overcome his fear and succeed. This shot also helps to unnerve the audience and creates tension and suspense as we can't see what is behind us/down the branching paths of the corridor.
Angles:
Low angle:
The denoted meaning of this low angle is to show that the antagonist looks down onto the audience and protagonist. The low angle of the antagonist connotes the power and dominance they still yield at the resolution of the movie, this isn't stereotypical for a resolution and makes the audience question who won the final battle between the protagonist and antagonist.
Canted angle:
After losing the final fight between him and the antagonist of the movie Daniel, Luke falls onto the edge of the building and laughs. The canted angle used in this shot disorients the audience and captures how Luke must feel dangling upside down off a building. The angle also connotes the uneasy feeling of being so close to death and how odd it is that Luke is seemingly happy during this moment. The use of the high angle in this shot also helps to connote the imbalance of power of the protagonist at the end of the movie. It challenges how the audience is supposed to be feeling and the stereotypes that the protagonist is supposed to succeed.
Movements:
Panning shot:
The panning shot moving from left to right whilst the protagonist charges at the antagonist creates a sense of movement and action during the final battle, making it more intense and exciting for the audience to watch. The camera centering and following Luke in this scene as he charges at the antagonist (who he has always tried to hide from) connotes the journey his character has been on and how he has grown as a person which creates further excitement for the audience. This is stereotypical for the resolution of the movie where the protagonist is able to stand up to the antagonist, it is what the audience want and expect to see in the resolution of a horror film.
Tracking shot:
After finding the dead body of his therapist, Luke walks through his house as the camera follows closely behind him in a tracking shot. This makes the audience feel as though they are right in the scene with Luke and helps to build tension and suspense after an already tense scene, especially as something is seen lurking in the shadows of the house. The camera following Luke connotes his fear as he walks through his house, not knowing what could be around the corner. The use of this long, tense scene after an already previously tense scene builds up more and more suspense, creating the feeling of terror that is stereotypical of horror movies and what the audience expects and wants to see in the movie.
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