Mise-en-scene in a horror film.

The clip I have chosen to analyse is the first five minutes of 1996 slasher movie "Scream."

Setting

The swing in the foreground a symbol of childhood, innocence and fun.

• Night.
• A middle class American, family home mainly living-room and kitchen. 
• Front garden where we see a swing hanging from a tree, rocking by itself.
• Back garden with mist rising over a swimming pool.
• Doors and large glass windows.

The scene is set at night. Nighttime is often used as a main setting for horror films. Night and darkness have long been associated with the supernatural. Crimes such as robbery are more likely to occur under cover of darkness. The light represents safety and comfort, dark and shadowy areas represent uncertainty, fear and isolation. 

The home is a large, family house most likely middle class. It appears to be a safe and comfortable setting.

The twisted tree branches look creepy in the dark and the swing rocking by itself seems unnatural. It also enhances the sense of isolation. Swings are associated with childhood. Childhood in horror films is synonymous with innocence. 

Mist or fog is a common horror movie trope. The way it creeps upwards is unsettling. Like darkness it can hide people or objects from view.

Props

The knife block is given a prominent position in the foreground, right of centre. Casey playing with the knife foreshadows later events.

• A telephone.
• Popcorn cooking on a gas stove.
• Large kitchen knife.
• Video cassettes.
• Light switch.
• Door lock.

The identity of the caller is unknown as we only see the recipient. This adds to a sense of mystery. The telephone an ordinary household object becomes a sinister weapon used by the antagonist. He has managed to unnerve the recipient without even entering the house.

The flame on the gas stove appears more dangerous than perhaps an electric cooker or microwave. Popcorn is associated with going to the movies. An example of self referencing.

The protagonist playfully handles a large kitchen knife before replacing it. This foreshadows the use of knives later on in the film.

The protagonist carries several video cassettes of horror films. Another self reference.

She switches the garden lights on and off going from darkness (uncertainty) to light (certainty.)

She goes around the house locking all the doors. The lock represents safety from whatever is outside.

Hair/Make-up/Costume

• Blonde hair (female.) Straight, bob haircut with fringe.
• Fairly natural make-up with quite dark lipstick.
• Blues jeans and white sweater.

Blondes appear frequently in horror films. Hitchcock was especially famous for using blondes. 

The make-up is fairly subdued except for the striking dark lip colour which emphasises her mouth. She is dressed casually in a wool sweater. Wool is often seen as a warm, comforting fabric. The light cream colour may represent innocence. 

Lighting/Colour

• Living-room lit with numerous lamps, fairly bright. Also light from television.
• Night outside. Darkness, shadows.
• Kitchen area, brightly lit.
• Hallway unlit. Criss cross shadows.
• Outside lights. Light reflecting off water.

The living-room is lit with numerous lamps.

Night is an obvious setting for horror films. Darkness provides the perfect cover for criminals, monsters or other supernatural beings. Night is associated with danger and lack of knowledge whereas light is associated with safety and knowledge. The word illumination can mean both supplying an area with light or achieving knowledge or clarity. 

The hallway dimly lit and the walls are covered in crisscross shadows. The sharp angles are unnatural and unsettling. Such lighting harkens back to film noir and even further back to German expressionism, both precursors to modern horror.

Facial Expressions/ Body Language

At first Casey Becker is relaxed and smiling. Both she and the phone are prominent in the foreground. A bookshelf in the background suggests education. A middle class home.

• Happy, smiling.
• Surprise.
• Anger
• Fear
• Crying
• Running
• Screaming/Shouting
• Shock
• Bent double, vulnerable.
• Shaking

At first the protagonist is happy and smiling, dealing with the phone call in a relaxed manner. She shows surprise when the caller lets slip that he can see her. She becomes angry and aggressive but anger gives way to fear. She begins to cry and runs around the house locking doors in a panicked way. She loses her earlier composure and shouts down the phone whilst still crying. Screaming and shouting is common in horror movies especially from women. The name of the film is scream so this could be self-referential. She starts showing signs of shock, shaking and bending over. She appears very vulnerable and her fear is obvious.