Case Study Notes: Along Came A Spider

Along Came A Spider:

*Shallow Focus on Alex Crosse and Gary Sonji, switch between them, worm’s eye view on G, Low Angle on AC, this shows AC’s dominance over G.
* Switch between every “good” character individually, Cu’s, rule of thirds. Zooms out to show everyone.
* Switch between Agent Flannigan (high angle) and AC (low angle). The LA on AC shows his control of the situation, and the HA on AF it shows she needs him, looking for reassurance.
* AC points his gun straight at the camera, audience involvement.
* Over the shoulder shot, focus on the person talking, audience involvement.
* Reference to Lindbergh Kidnap.
* Extra Long Shot on Unknown man, you’re not sure whether he is good or bad. Audience have to make their mind up.
* Establishing Shot of where XLS man was found, after being killed, shows you the loneliness and isolation of the area where he was found, and this links to how the girl feels.
* Large house, private exits, private corridors, large cell like gates, again links with the theme of being imprisoned and secrecy.
* Heavy rain, chiracusuro lighting, phone box, train carriage- claustrophobic, police cars: typical thriller conventions.
* Slow motion adds effect, and tension to the film, showing that they need to hurry up in order to save the girl.
* Continuous use of CU’s, LA’s and HA’s, involves audience and shows the importance of the characters.
* Lots of over the shoulder shots, and shallow focus, brings attention onto the character.
* Always HA on Agent F, and LA on AC, again shows who has control in the situation, and who is that one step ahead.
* Sonji and FBI called “bait”- spider eats flies, web is the trap, FBI and Sonji are trapped, not in control like they think they are.
* Secluded farm house, girl is the fly trapped in the spiders web, isolated, cant escape.
* AC and Agent F have face to face showdown, CU’s, reference to westerns?
* AC’s gun out of focus, making it unimportant even though it is a showdown, making the focus still on him, he is the important one.