Scenes which create suspense- Black Swan

Black Swan

In the film 'Black Swan' suspense is created to make it look like the main character (Nina) the chosen black swan is going insane and can’t control herself. 

In one scene a hand held camera is used when other members of the dance community are hugging Nina in congratulations on her position. This camera technique is used because it shows her being pushed from one pupil to the other and creates suspense that she is losing control because the camera shoot was very chaotic.  The girl now looks very venerable because she is unable to control herself. The camera shot is constantly moving therefore suggesting the girl is over welled with the news or very disappointed and she now could be hallucinating creating the effect that she is weak. A weak character is stereotypically an easier target for a criminal therefore creating the suspense that something could shortly happen to her because of her timid character. When Nina is informing her Mum on her role the expression and atmosphere is very settled however a sudden loud 'boom' is let off as Nina opens the toilet door. This sudden noise juxuposes the before atmosphere therefore creating suspense on the audience as they are unaware on what has happened. This contrast in sound also makes the audience a bit edgy as it could have made them jump, it is very common in thriller films that when something bad is occurring or is about to happen the tempo and loudness of the music becomes quick and deep to big the suspense, this technique is used in this certain scene. This sudden change of music follows this contention of a thriller as the camera then uses a panelling shot to show the word written on the mirror 'whore' in red lipstick. Where Nina is in a venerable positions at this set of mind she is very scared about what has just happened however it creates suspense on the audience because they are unaware on who had done this and why. It is suggested that because she had got the main part there would be many other girls in the dance school which would be jealous for not getting the main role therefore it could be another one. However this scene is at the beginning of the film therefore only a few characters which have been introduced therefore it narrows down the options. The actual word 'whore' is quite offensive especially to a virgin therefore it makes her even more venerable but also creates the suspense that people are out to get her making the suspense grow as Nina is being marginalised. 

The second scene was shown in the middle of the film. In this scene another close up is used however in this shot the image Nina is shown ripping the skin around her nail, this then leads into the whole finger skin bleeding. The close up creates suspense because the audience can see the graphic image of the skin. This allows the audience to show her pain as having loose skin around your nail is quite a common but painful thing, when blood is shown in any circumstance then it shows pain, blood and death. Pain is a common theme within this film because Nina is in pain within her actions and choses. As this image is so graphic the audience will feel uncomfortable and some maybe feeling a bit ill however the editing technique of quick cutting is used as the finger is moved under the running water from the tap. The shot if the bleeding finger is held for approximately 3 seconds then it quickly cuts to it being under the pure water, this is to relax the audience however it creates suspense because the water under her finger is running clear where as if her finger was bleeding it would have a tint of red in it. The purity of the water puts the audience at ease as the film in a thriller not a horror therefore the horrific images aren't meant to be a massive convention. This whole scene itself is set in the bathroom, Nina is wearing a white dress, this highlights that she had the lead role of being the swan, swans are mainly white therefore it foreshadows her having this swan role. The other female character in the toilets is wearing a black dress, this suggests to the audience that she is the dark character who could possibly be the black swan, this contrast within dress colours creates suspense. Throughout the film there is someone who is out to get Nina therefore because she is wearing a black dress it is suggestive to the audience that it is her now she is own her own she is more venerable as she now has no one to help her. Throughout this scene the soundtrack is played at a consistently throughout the scene with only additional high notes here and there. This high notes create suspense because every time one is present something bad happens therefore the audience will be waiting for the next high note to appear to commence the negative/ terrible thing. This technique is shown throughout the whole film.

The last scene was set on the stage near the end of the film, the power of her having the lead role is at its full and she is hallucinating the night before the premiere. It starts with her rehearsing in the mirrored room, when the lights go out a massive diegetic 'boom' is realised. This creates suspense because the audience are unaware of who done it and why did they do it if they were aware that someone was in there way would they. This confuses Nina and she becomes a bit sceptic and venerable the audience too feel quite scared and fidgety because the not knowing the unknown is quite agitating and confusing. Nina then goes onto the stage, here she sees through the wings her dance teacher becoming intimate with one of the dancers (the one she was talking to earlier on in the film). A close up is used on the teachers face as he transforms into the swan. This creates suspense because Nina has become so involved into her role she is starting to relate the play to reality, her hallucinating mind sees the teacher as the crow from the storyline, the way Nina has become so addictive to her role is almost scary to the audience because they can see she is becoming ill just from a dream she loves. A long shot is then used; the image within this shot is Nina stood singly on stage. The stage is her comfort zone because of her career however here she looks venerable and weak because of the proportion size between her and the stage. This long shot shows her looking small therefore increasing the amount of venerability put on her, this build suspense because the audience are becoming worried about her body language and her state of mind, they can see from this one shot she is looking lost and weak.  To show her mind becoming even more distracted a hand held shot it used while she runs off the stage away from the 'crow'. This hand held shot shows the chaotic atmosphere and the distress the female is going through because the image isn't fully clear, also it emphases the fact she is running.