Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Bebe Henderson

Sets the scene. We can see what looks to be a young girl walking into an old fashioned house that looks un-lived in. The only proper source of light within this shot is the light creeping through the doorway – this creates a shadow of the girl on the floor. This confirms that the house is definitely unlived in and

is actually quite a scary place full of history.

We now know that there is a group of teenagers in this house. Teenage victims are stereotypical of Slasher films. Have they all come on holiday?

We can see more light within this shot as it is pouring through the big windows. They have used a full length shot here so we are able to see the

people properly.

We assume that the girl looking at the picture is the Protagonist as she is in this shot alone. She is staring at an old picture of a woman – could this be the woman that owned this house. A Medium Shot is used here so we are able to

concentrate on the two people. The lighting is quite dark which injects an effect of Horror into the shot.

This gives us some background historical information. Again, in Slasher films there has always been previous events that have happened and it is crucial

that we know this.

Someone putting on a mask to hide their identity – this is one convention of a Slasher film. There is minimal lighting surrounding the person and

their actual face/mask is incredibly dark so we have no idea what it looks like. This makes the audience want to know who this is and what their plan

is.

One of the young girls being tortured and attacked with a chainsaw – typical victim. We cannot see who is doing this to her but yet again the audience want to know. The fact that a chainsaw has been used now confirms what the title of the film is about. A Medium Close Up has been used so we are able to see the girls reaction and emotion. The light is visible on her face

but everywhere else is fairly dark.

Another location shot. One person all alone in the woods, completely isolated. Not only stereotypical of Slasher films but Horror films in general.

The main source of light falls on the path where the person is walking making them the dominant feature within the shot.

More background information, but this time it is taken further because it tells the audience that the same case is happening

again. Gives us a major clue into the storyline.

The same girl that was being attacked is now alone in a Graveyard - a very conventional location. As we now have a vague idea of the

storyline, we assume that she is hiding from the person with a chainsaw. The lighting within this shot is minimal.

The final shot is the title – this is normally always shown towards the end of film trailer.