Analysing Horror Movies Mise-en-scene

The Thing: Mise-en-scene

Today I will be analysing a horror movie of my choosing and using the “Mise-en-scene” that my teacher gave me. The movie I will be analysing is John Carpenter’s The Thing, which is a remake of a 1950s classic “A Thing From Outer Space”.

The first thing I want to analyse is the setting. The setting that the movie is set in is Antarctica. The most loneliness place in all of the world. Its a very morbid, grey, featureless scenery which is perfect for a horror movie of this calibre. There is isolation and a sense of loneliness from the western civilisation that us as humans live in. The props are of course not really something from your typical horror movie. These characters are all wearing arctic attire, that is typically worn by people who are living in very cold areas and especially in Antarctica, one of the world’s coldest areas.

The hair/make up is not seen throughout the trailer. It’s usually seen when the characters are in their warm bases, where their hair is neat and having different styles. Their makeup is used to show the characters looking very cold and showing them looking very tired through what they have to go through. As for the facial expressions shown in the trailers. They range from different expressions. From the shock of what they have discovered, to the horror of what is yet to come, to some of the characters taking matters in there own hands to prevent the alien from escaping the cabinet and into our world.

The lighting and colour that is shown is a mixture of different colours. You first have light colours when the characters are shown outside in the Antarctica lands, which contrasts with the darkness when the characters are in there base and even when they go into the night in the scene shot in the trailer. It shows just like the characters, that colour is changing throughout and it represents what the movie is about. The change of characters that is present throughout the movie.

 The first shot is of 3 of the characters looking at what is below them, which is where the thing is hiding. The lighting of this shot is quite bright and the characters are dressed up warmly. This shot shows mystery and we don’t know what is going to happen with these characters and what they’ll find. But we know what they will discover down under.

 The second shot is of the main character talking to the remaining members. This shot has a mixture of different colours. From brightness that is shining on the main character, to the darkness in the background. The character is dressed up warmly being in the Antarctica landscape. This scene shows that its very dramatic and the main character and his crew are going to make a final stand.

The final shot is of one of the characters meeting his end as his facial expression says it all. The lighting is primarily dark with a tint of light coming from the white snow floor and his bloody hands. But mainly darkness. The character is dressed up in a winter attire, and his facial expression shows he is meeting his end. Thanks to the Thing.