RESEARCH: Genre

The Invasion

Released: 2007

Certificated: bbfc 15

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel

Deconstruction of the first 2 minutes:

The first footage shown in the movie is a selection of
flashing-fast moving images and short clips which show scary faces, bacteria
and drugs; this is a montage. It introduces us the film and suggests that some
key factors in the story-line could be illness and psychological challenges, a
fast machine like squeaking sound supports the footage and suggests panic
because of its tempo; this sets the mood of the first scene before we have even
witnessed it.
The
establishing shot of the film is a mid-shot showing Nicole Kidman’s character
entering a rusty white metal doorway cautiously, this indicates that the
character isn’t supposed to be there a jump cut then switches to a point of
view shot which shows the shop she is entering. From this shot we can see many
shelves scattered with pills, ripped boxes and a refrigerator filled with fizzy
pop. The surroundings would suggest the shop is chemist; in the background we can
see the official entrance to the shop boarded in metal; this tells us that the
character has not entered the shop in a way a normal member of the public
would, also her cautiousness indicates that she is not a staff member but
instead sneaking in. The scattered pills and ripped boxes suggest a break-in
has happened, as a point of view shot scans the characters surroundings a
soundtrack containing merged and murmuring voices is played, this suggests that
the character is distressed from something that has happened previously. After
this heavy breathing fades into the soundtrack this infers the character has
just been running or is faced with strong emotions such as fear this gives the
audience the impression she is scared of something.
The character then rushes into
the room and frantically searches the boxes of drugs whilst doing this her
thoughts are played on a soundtrack; confirming if they are the correct drugs,
the fact that the character knows all the drug names suggests she is well
educated in a profession to do with medicine, also the effect given by the fast
non-continuity editing jump cuts shows panic, as if she has a time limit before
something bad is going to happen. A jump cut shows the character opening the
fridge and the tempo of the soundtrack slowly speeds up whilst a match on
action shot shows the character drinking a bottle of fizzy pop, this causes
tension to build up. As this happens the character whispers ‘must stay awake’
this explains the rush to take drugs which will keep her awake.
A shaking door followed by a match on action
cut showing the rattling door handle disrupts the soundtrack and acts as the
climax to the tension created, we know there are people inside because there
are cries calling ‘open the door!’ the character looks at the door, frantic
rushing collection of thoughts begin to play and fast shots suggesting panic
begin again, but this time a point of view shot shows her looking at the clock;
this image fades to a blur; this may suggest that the character is tiring. This
worries the audience because we know that is exactly what she doesn’t want to
happen.
Non-continuity editing then jump
cuts to a rocket flying towards earth from outer space and a soundtrack is used
to project the speed at which the rocket is travelling, special effects
containing explosions is used this creates an element of realisation because
the effects make the scene look real; as the rocket explodes continuity editing
shows the debris falling from different directions. After this a news report is
shown, we know it is a news report because of the formal tone of the reporters
voice and the consecutive inserts showing headlines across the bottom of the
screen. The news report shows different stories from a range of people who
witnessed the explosion and part way through a man wearing a blue uniform
(suggests he is a police officer) says no one should touch the debris because
it may be contaminated. The next shot shows an old woman who admits to touching
the debris this would give the effect of curiosity on the audience because we
now wonder what will happen to her. This shot is followed by a girl placing
flower by a gate which infers people have died. The next scene shows a healthy-fit,
well-dressed man exiting a posh car, as he does he is in the middle of the shot
this shows that this man is important and a tracking shot follows this man on a
short walk towards a tent, the man walks confidently; this represents him as
attractive because he contains qualities such as confidence, healthiness and
muscular and these are the same qualities contained by a stereotypically
attractive man. As the man walks many camera crews and reporters surround him
calling ‘Mr Hoffman!’ because the entire crowd know his name this suggests he
is well known and maybe has answers to the contamination.