Susanne Bier created a film straight out of my nightmares when she directed the film Bird Box. The opening scene Bird Box (2018) certainly sets the horror tone of the film through the use of many different elements including camerawork, lighting, costumes, etc. These are further explored in depth in the 9 frame analysis of the film opening below:
1, The first shot is an establishing shot that establishes the location from a low angle which is taken from a considerable height. The shot appears to have been shot early in the morning, therefore it is relatively dark, but still has natural sun lighting. The shot has been colour corrected to make it appear darker and in a more blue tone, which gives a gloomy and mysterious mood, which is ideal for a horror film. This establishes the setting of the film. The mist towards the end of the mirror also adds to a suspense factor, which makes audiences ponder on what's on the other side.
2, A close up shot of a woman appears next, who appears to be talking. This shot has low-key lighting in the background with a focus on the woman's face which gives her relative importance and establishes her as a dominant character. Another factor that adds to her being a dominants character is the fact that she is in the center of the frame. She appears to look worried while talking, which is not unusual for a horror film. this is a potential indicator that the climax took place or is about to take place.
3, The second shot is a close up shot of two children. The colours and lighting of this shot are also low-key and dull, similar to the shot above. They appear to be listening to the woman carefully with a worried look on their face, which is evident through the use of a close up.. This shot also establishes that the shot before this was a point of view shot of the children possibly looking at their mother.
4, The next shot is a long shot with the woman and children present in the same frame. The rule of third has been applied here, and the camera is focusing on the characters, which is evident by the blur coffee table, we can see a candle here, which cues us in on the fact that no artificial lighting has been used, which is probably why the shots are so dull. Here, we also see the woman bent down to talk to the children to remain on eye-level, which shows that they have a relationship, however they may not be close, because as the proxemic code suggests, they are standing at a distance.
5, The 5th shot is a close up of a bird. This shot adds some considerable colour to the sequence, which amplifies the importance of the bird as a source of positivity. The bird and cage are in focus while the background is blur.
6, The next shot is a midshot of the woman putting the bird in a box (yes, quite literally the name of our film). This again, amplifies that the bird is a symbol of hope and positivity, and is much more than just a mere pet. The woman appears to have softer features in this shot as opposed to her first appearance, which shows that she is emotionally vulnerable in this shot.
7, The next shot is a close up shot of the woman putting the bird in the box with care.
8, This is a long shot taken from a higher angle. Here, we see the woman and children occupy 1/3rd of the fame, while the rest of the house is empty. This portrays that they are alone in their journey, which foreshadows the narrative. The lighting also cues us in on the fact that considerable time has passed since the first establishing shot taken in the early morning because of the sunlight in the windows.
9, The last shot is a mid shot which applies depth of field. We see the woman and children come out of the house in focus and blurred leaves, which shows that this shot has been taken from behind a tree. This adds to a mysterious effect that gives the impression that they are being watched. They are also seen wearing blindfolds, which potentially gives the viewer hints on the narrative.
Watch the film opening here:
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