Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd is a well know horror musical which often classed as a period drama. It has regular conventions of horror films that are easily recognised throughout, there's blood which is a key convention in horror films, shadows that create a creepy feel the majority of horror films, there is no monster/alien in Sweeney Todd but there is Sweeney Todd himself who is known as the 'Demon Barber of Fleet Street' as he is the killer in this film, and having a killer is a regular convention of horror even if it isn't s obvious as it is in Sweeney Todd.
This scene begins with a mid-shot of Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) and Mrs Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) in the dark and dingy pie shop, the feel of the room is created by the use of low key lighting which reflects the horrific incidents that happen in Mrs Lovett's Pie Shop. The low key lighting gives me the feeling uncertainty as when the lighting is low its all very dark and you can never fully know what the darkness holds, just like part of the scene because at this point I'm not quite sure about what is going to happen afterwards which is that feeling of uncertainty that I get from being in the dark and low lit areas.
Low key lighting is a key aspect to this scene as it is a regular convention of the horror genre, and as a person who is scared of low-lit places and the dark, the low-key lighting toys with my personal phobia of the dark and makes me uncomfortable when watching because it can't stand the feeling of being in the dark or in dimly lit places as I am not fully aware of what could happen or what could be out there, it makes me automatically think of the worst.
The low key lighting in this scene is a clear representation of the melodramatic Victorian era.
The low key lighting the completely contrasted by a later scene where it is very high key lighting as Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett are in a dream like scenery but it still give the same effect of the low key lighting, it creates an odd atmosphere as both Mrs Lovett and Sweeney Todd are still very dark characters which is a contrast within the contrasting scene as they are give off a dark aura almost in a very light and bright environment; this creates a feeling of complete darkness from these two characters no matter the circumstances are,they are constantly these outcasted people that are constantly in the dark shadows.
The non-diegetic sound at the start of the song is very high pitched which creates a sense of alarm and panic due the the majority of alarms being high pitched to draw attention to the fact that something potentially dangerous is happening which is the case in this scene, as its the scene where the idea for the new pie filling is thought of because the body they have upstairs, the loud, alarming music fits well to the scene because it acts as warning for the horrific idea that Mrs Lovett has come up with for her business and the way she involves Sweeney Todd is quite a grim subject.
However as the song goes on it becomes lower and begins to sound sinister as Mrs Lovett describes her idea of what to do with the body and to pick up business in her pie shop, as she suggests using people as the meat filling in her pies and using Sweeney Todd's barber skills to get the people/'flavours', "Everybody shaves, so there should be plenty of flavours." is the line that gives that's how they'll get the meat, this also relates to the mise-en-scene when Mrs Lovett is by the pie ingredients and you can see the unidentifiable pie filling on the side, as she is on about swapping the unknown filling to human meat; this proves that the beginning of the song being high pitched, which has an alarming feeling, was in fact drawing attention to a very significant part of the scene and creates the eerie atmosphere around the two characters.
As well as the non-diegetic music creating the eerie/sinister atmosphere the lowness and deepness of Sweeney Todd's voice also adds to this as it has a slow sinister sound to it, this is also used in Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland, when Johnny Depp's character, the Mad Hatter, is telling Alice the Jabberwocky poem, his voice becomes very low and slow emphasising the darkness and sinister feel of the Jabberwocky; the deep, slow voice make me feel intrigued, like I want to know more about what is being said, it draws me into the story and that I need to know everything that the character, either being Sweeney Todd or the Mad Hatter, is saying to the other characters in the scene. It adds a layer of suspense and tension because its a contrast to other characters voices in the two scenes from to two films, it allows the character to interact with the other characters and me the audience in a different way as it grabs my attention in a different way as it seems almost sinister and that I need to listen to what's being said or else the danger could be true to me.
When Mrs Lovett stands up from the table you can see pies and the equipment and utensils used to make pies on the side which foreshadows the events that are to happen when it comes to Mrs Lovett making pies, this is very cleverly placed mise-en-scène, as it reflects the entire scene in little amount of props, like the pastry, the fillings, sharp butchers knives, that all hint towards to the horror of the people who will be killed to be pie fillings. Also when Sweeney Todd picks up the cleaver, which he handles precariously then dances around with Mrs Lovett with it in his hand, it indicates to sinister happenings within the pie shop. The use of costume and make up allows the scene to be enhanced as in this Sweeney Todd is wearing traditional looking men's clothes for the Victorian era which gives to the historical accuracy which to me gives more a creepy, eerie feel as it has made sure to have each detail perfect even if it is for lower class which weren't thought highly of; the paleness of Sweeney Todd and the darkness around his eyes adds to the idea of fine detail to even the lower class, even though he is the main character in the film. Using pale skin and darkened eyes is also used in Tim Burton's Corpse Bride where again Johnny Depp's character, Victor, is in traditional Victorian menswear with a pale face and dark, hollow looking eyes, this is vividly shown at the part in the film where Victor and Emily (corpse bride) are playing a duet on the piano, which makes me feel like I'm watching the film in the era it's set due to the accuracy, it gives off the feeling that it is happening now, at this time, which also adds to the horror of Sweeney Todd, it feels almost realistic; as well as the fine detail on lower class even with main characters it gives a dark edge to the characters in that the era these films are set there is a darkness known in the Victorian era which I noted earlier; I find this appealing in both films but especially in Sweeney Todd as the Victorian era to me is extremely interesting because of the grim stories and urban legends that originated in Victorian times, the use of make up in Sweeney Todd represents the people of the era I represent them in my mind, so it gives me the feeling of comfort knowing that this is often how the people of Victorian times are seen.
No comments:
Post a Comment