Link to this scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr57GJgGxjQ
The opening shot of the film shows the protagonist in a hospital . This immediately gives the idea to the audience that the film will be about a kind of medical outbreak. There are other subtle hints that the film will be 'zombie' related. A patient has been moved to ICU after suffering a simple bite. A patient who has been bitten is wheeled passed the camera. This scene does start off like many horror films, as a typical day. There are lots of mid-shots here to show that the characters are not in danger at this point but are not in any special position of power. There is also no non-digetic sound, also emphasising that this is starting off as a normal day.
As she leaves the hospital on the way home there are a couple of high angle shots to start to introduce the idea that the character is becoming more vulnerable (the virus is spreading closer to her. There is also some non-digetic sound to increase the tension in the film. This sound shows the audience that there will soon be a turning point in her life and the film. Other digetic sound also hints that something is happening. As she flicks through the radio stations in her car there are news bulletins saying that something is happening of note. 'Have A Nice Day' is also playing on the radio. This highlights, in a mocking fashion, that something terrible will happen.
The first two shots of the protagonist in her house show her in places often associated with vulnerability, a bed and the shower. These two places are often associated with vulnerability, a bed because it is where you sleep and you cannot sense anything around you, and the shower because you are normally naked here (Alfred Hitchcock was the first director to use this idea in the famous shower scene in his film Psycho). While she is in the shower there is a special news bulletin on the TV. She misses this news bulletin which shows she may be vulnerable to whatever it told the public later in the film.
As the couple are sleeping there is a track across a wall in their room and then a zoom on the outside of the door and finally on the inside of the door. This movement creates the feeling that there is someone else in the house with them. The non-digetic sound is building which tells the audience something major is about to happen. The sound is also a sound type associated with the horror genre so this shows something that may shock the audience is just about to happen. There is then a zoom on the door which then creaks open. This is also associated with the horror genre causing suspense and tension among the audience. A small girl is revealed; also typical of horror films.
Again, the fact that the couple are in bed shows they are in a vulnerable position. A high angle shot picturing the couple reinforces this idea. The girl is hiding in the dark which connotes that she is a monster/villain. The non-digetic noise reaches a climax as the child attacks the man which helps to reinforce the idea of shock among the audience. In the following action, there are various close ups and extreme close ups which highlight different features of the set, props and characters as well as creating a fast paced, exhilarating sequence. A zoom on the door which highlights fact that there is something scary behind it. The camera is moving around to create the feeling that everything is out of control. There is quick non-digetic sound in the background adding to the creation of a very fast paced scene.
Again the girl is stuck in the bathroom. This regurgitates the idea that she is in a vulnerable position and is in danger. Point of view shots try to put the audience into her position to increase the terror among viewers. The non-digetic sound lowers to create the feeling that for now she is safe. And slowly cuts out to help the sound of her panting come through. This creates the sense that she is panicking and is stuck. The non-digetic sound then increases again to emphasise that the amount of danger she is in is increasing. A close up of her face is used to highlight her facial expressions showing that she is scared. Suddenly the non-digetic music starts up again and the camera keeps changing shot to show her panicking and that she is in immediate danger.
After she exits the house there is a pan around the neighbourhood revealing lots destruction of the area. This pan helps the audience to see what the protagonist can see. More close ups and fast camera movement help recapture the sense of panic.
A camera follows the car driving around the neighbourhood in an attempt to show the audience what has happened to the town. Finally there is an extreme long shot which tracks behind the car to help show the audience that what has happened reaches across a wide area and is not an isolated incident.
Editing also helps create the correct mood in the opening of the film. Instantly there is an occasion of match on match action which leaves the viewer confused as to what will happen in the rest of the film.
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