Analysis of the Opening Scene of a Horror

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Nightmare On Elm Street is an American horror film from 1984. It involves a young girl called Nancy being tortured in her dreams through the powers of a child murderer called Fred Krueger. It was very influential in a series on slasher films released afterwards and originates many clichés found in low budget horror films.

The use of mise-en-scene in the opening scene ties into the conventions of horror. Smoke, darkness and shadows are used to hinder the view of the audience to create a sense of disorientation and confusion as to what is happening. Also, the use of weapons is conventional to a horror film, all of which have connotations of pain and death such as metals, blowtorches and blades. This then contrasted with little children in white dresses, the white has connotations of purity an innocence which highlights the murderous and evil nature of the antagonist. The protagonist herself is also always in light colours such as baby blue, which highlights her innocence and vulnerability towards the antagonist which helps us empathise with her.

Sound in A Nightmare on Elm Street is used effectively to interlink with the conventions of horror. The use of a high pitched instrumental sound throughout helps build the suspense and creates an eerie tone to the opening, as it highlights the danger she is in. The scratching noises against metal and through clothing shows the audience his murderous intentions and foreshadows what fate she may encounter if she doesn't escape. Furthermore, the juxtaposition of a psychotic hysterical laugh and a baby crying symbolises the girls audience vulnerability contrasted with the antagonist's evil nature and is a regular motif throughout the opening with the further use of nursery rhymes which have a surprisingly sinister effect.

The director utilises the camera angles and movements to reinforce typical horror cliche's. At the beginning of the opening there is quick editing on close ups of the antagonist making weapons yet we never see his face. This shows the audience his murderous intentions and the fact we never see his face doesn't allow the audience empathise with him and this further portrays him as an evil character. The use of quick cuts evokes panic and chaos and builds suspense in the scene. Furthermore, as the girl is walking through the seemingly desolate factory long shots are used to show that she is alone and therefore vulnerable to attack. In the point of view shots from the villain towards the victim, the framing of the shots is behind objects creating obstructed viewing and there are tracks from behind her. These both show that she in unaware of the antagonist's whereabouts and shows that he is in control, it once again highlights her vulnerability as we see that she could be attacked from any angle.

To conclude, it can be argued that the opening scene to A Nightmare on Elm Street is fairly conventional in its use of mise-en-scene and other factors. Through these conventions the director creates a scene of true suspense and horror as we see the true vulnerability of the victim and the power the villain holds.