Friday the 13th (2009) is a horror film about a serial killer called Jason, who kills young campers in the woods, in revenge for his mother's death. The first 5 minutes show how his mother is killed, by a young girl at Camp Crystal Lake.The title sequence is mixed with the first scene, which is a flash back of what we discover to be the murder of Jason's mother. This title sequence and flashback in the first scene are all in black and white. This black and white content, assists in emphasising that the scene is from the past. However, the date of June 13th 1980 is also flashed onto the screen to confirm this.
The first shot shows a night scene in the middle of a wood, during a thunder storm. The non diagetic music is in a minor key, which creates suspense. It then cuts to an old wooden sign 'Camp Crystal Lake', which helps to set the scene for the whole film.
It is interesting that the whole of the background to the plot is inter spaced with the title sequence.
The tension & suspense is built during the first 5 minutes by jumping from the title credits to the plot. This is further emphasised by the non diagetic music. As the titles & plot progress, the music fades & sounds from the plot, for example, the girl screaming, the wind & rain. This emphasises the eerie atmosphere because the viewer is aware something is happening, but the screen is black to show the white credits.
Quite cleverly, the film switches from music effects to sound effects to help intensify the atmosphere. The sound & visual effects of thunder & lightening help to create the feeling of tension & fear, when the music stops. This continues throughout the opening scene.
Through out the first scene, long shots & panning are used to suggest that as the girl is running through the woods, she is being watched or followed. This makes the audience feel as though they are 'included' as though they are watching with the person who is watching. There are also 2 close ups included in the opening scenes.
As the audience becomes aware of the figure lurking in the shadows, the use of diagetic dialogue, emphasises the audience's feeling of dread. Although there is very little dialogue, what is said confirms to the audience that this girl is in dire trouble, 'you are the last one, I have killed all the others!'
The next scene is of the present day, approx 30 years later, of the same place as the title sequence. It is an establishing shot of the lake during the day. It is now in colour, & shows a calm, tranquil setting. The shot then zooms into the woods, which appear to be the same but are now much more colourful, tranquil & calm. This time the atmosphere is cheerful, as the shot zooms in further to a group of young people, walking a long a road in the middle of the woods. The viewer almost feels as though they are safe. The path suggests the idea of an easy escape. However, as they leave the path, & walk into the woods, the viewer becomes aware of a feeling of danger approaching. Subconsciously, the characters become more agitated & argue more, emphasising the calm & tranquil setting is drifting away.
The next scene shows a panoramic view of the lake, which then turns to a low angle shot of the moon in a pitch black sky. This leads to the build up of tension & suspense. The silence emphasises this tension further. The scene then zooms to a camp fire which contrasts sharply to the black sky. The redness of the fire emphasises blood & adds to the creepy atmosphere. It is also a filler scene of dramatic irony, as one of the characters, Ritchie, is telling the story of Jason & his mother, to try & frighten the other characters. The audience however, knows the story is true.
Through out this scene, a long shot is used, as though some one is watching them from the trees. As 2 of the characters, Whitney & Mike head into the woods for a romantic interlude, the music begins, but remains soft & gentle. The characters walk out of shot, which also suggests they have walked out of some ones vision. It then cuts to Ritchie walking away from Wade & Amanda, who are messing around the camp fire.
In the next scene, Ritchie is seen walking alone in the woods, singing to diagetic rock music, which contrasts sharply to the setting. It is shot in a long panning shot, as though some one is now following him. As the character turns & moves around, the camera stays in the same place, emphasising he is being watched.
The tension & suspense increases as the build up of music reaches a crescendo, as a figure suddenly appears. At this point, the visual picture fades to blackness and the music fades, whilst the sound effects take over. The viewer only hears a swishing sound as though a sword has been swung through the air. The blackness then cuts to the Camp Crystal Lake sign, which has moss growing over it. As Whitney & Mike walk back into shot, the viewer already knows that the killer is on the loose, & they are probably the next victims. The non diagetic music is soft & eerie to help create more tension.
As the camera pans around the woods, the music becomes louder. When the music hits it climax, an old abandoned house is in shot. The viewer knows more terror is to come.
Through out these first scenes the characters are all stereo typical. The teenagers are taking drugs, drinking alcohol, swearing & indulging in sexual behaviour. The first teenager in the opening scene is hysterical & screaming. This is typical of a horror movie characters behaviour. In addition, Jason as the villain is hidden with glimpses of some one who doesn't appear quite normal.
The setting of the film also lends itself well to a horror movie. It is in the middle of the woods, creating a feeling of isolation & darkness. In fact, all the action takes place at night to emphasise this feeling of loneliness, isolation & fear. Everything always appears worse at night, as any one can hide in the shadows.
Overall, the opening of this film is very effective, as it sets the scene for the rest of the film. It grips the audience with it's use of visual & musical effects. It is unusual that despite people being murdered viciously, there is no show of blood or gore. It is almost too clean to be a true horror movie.
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