Script for Nightmare on elm street

Emma: 

·         Title flashes in red to resemble blood and death, which links to the genre of horror.

·         Film Company is shown.

·         Screen fades completely black to add tension and mystery, and also links with the main character going into a dream.

 Emily:

·         The small screen suggests that this is an important part of the story because it you have to focus more on it. You can't see the man’s face which adds mystery and tension for the audience.

·         Producer is shown

Flynn:

·         You can tell the man’s intentions aren't good because the close-up shots highlight the fact that he is building a deadly weapon.

·         creepy breathing links with the conventions of horror, and suggests the character has some sort of disfigurement?

·         The Director's name is shown, and due to it being a well-known name it attracts a wider audience.

Max:

·         The title of the film is shown, and ‘Nightmare’ is large and bold to suggest that it will have something to do with the film.

·         It's a creepy font style, the red signifies blood, and the title animation makes it seem like it's creeping up on you; which again links with the theme of horror.

Emma:

·         Enters the character of a woman, the white background makes her look pure and innocent which juxtaposes with the theme of horror. Through an extreme close-up shot, we can see how terrified the girl is, and she is also dressed in a white night gown which shows she doesn’t belong in the environment.

Emily:

·         Extreme long shot, shows setting (long dark creepy hallway), links with the conventions of horror. She is on her own to show she’s isolated from civilisation.

·         There is a bright light in the doorway (associated with death) and she runs away from it, suggesting she doesn’t want to die.

 Flynn:

·         There is a close-up shot of the character’s face, and she is partly hidden within a shadow, which creates a suspenseful atmosphere as the setting is very poorly lit.

·         A zooming shot is used to create the effect that someone is approaching her from behind.

Max:

·         The audience is scared as she turns around, but we realise it’s only a sheep. Sheep represent new life, and this juxtaposes the girl’s situation- which is death. However the sheep links with the girl as they are both young and ‘pure’. 

·         There’s a face hiding behind a wall, which shows that she is being watched, which creates fear in the scene.

Emma:

·         The music is very suspenseful, and adds to the sense of tension within the film.

·         Rattle of chains, symbolizes the feeling of being trapped. For her this would mean her being trapped in this nightmare.

·         More important crew members are shown in the credits

Emily:

·         We can see that the setting is very vast through this extreme long shot, and we feel for the girl even more as we know she will have difficulties escaping.

·         In the distance the laughs of the killer are heard, and this contrasts the girl’s fear.

Flynn:

·         The camera is following her from behind, and this creates the effect that she is being watched and pursued.

·         The steam and mist in the factory add atmosphere, and link with the conventions of the typical horror scene. Red lighting also symbolizes death which could be foreboding.

Max:

·         Close up of killer’s claws, and this scares us as we know it was the weapon seen in the beginning. The noise also sounds similar to nails scratching down a blackboard- makes most people cringe.

·         The use of a hand-held camera following her running away makes it seem even more suspenseful, as it seems like it’s from the Point of View of the killer.

Emma:

·         She has nowhere to run, and the fire behind her adds to this feeling of being trapped.

·         As the girl screams, so does the sheep. This connects them both further as they are both equally defenceless to the killer.

Emily:

·         The killer appears from behind her and she gets caught, and this makes the audience jump. The setting changes and she wakes up in her bedroom, and we realise it was actually a dream. Match-on-action shot?

·         Equilibrium is restored, as she is now at home; which is a stereotypically ‘safe’ place.

Flynn:

·         However, there are still cuts on her dress, which makes us question if what just occurred was actually real, and this generates tension. Also the lighting is still dark and shadowy, making the audience feel uneasy.

·         We are made to wonder if the killer will return into her dreams, and whether or not she is actually ‘safe’ in real life.

Max:

·         The cross on the wall in the background also could be quite ironic, as despite her thinking it will protect her, she was injured in her dream.

·         After this scene, the audience is left wondering what will happen to her next, and through the use of this opening the audience are now hooked into the storyline of the film.