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, 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 could be cut as it’s not analysis
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; this mise-en-scene is created by the use of low-key lighting,
which represents the horrific incidents that happen in Mrs Lovett's Pie Shop.
The low-key lighting gave me the feeling uncertainty as when the lighting is
low it’s all very dark and you can never fully know what the darkness holds. 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. This is what horror films do, they play off well known fears that a
majority of their audience will have, like the dark and low lit areas, which is
exactly what this scene is doing, Tim Burton uses this fear of darkness in his
1999 film Sleep Hollow which is a film shot with low-key lighting throughout
the film, which hooks the audience on a personal level due to the personal fear
of the dark as well as the 'Headless Horseman'.
Low key lighting is a key aspect to
this scene as it is a regular convention of the horror genre, as it is used in
many other horror films, such as Mama, this film is shot with
majority low-key lighting due to the fact it makes people uncomfortable to be
in low-lit places, 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. I felt
uncomfortable when watching because it I 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, things
like I'm being watched by the killer/villain of the film and that I'll be their
next victim, being a pessimist is only emphasised when watching horror films
due to a large number of them involving being followed and later killed,
Sweeney Todd has this effect as they are watching everyone and analyzing how
they'd taste.
The low key lighting in this scene
is a clear representation of the melodramatic Victorian era, as it was a very
dark era, with freak shows becoming a widely popular form of entertainment,
Jack the Ripper, and the urban legend of Sweeney Todd. Also low-key lighting is
used in other films that re based on events in the Victorian era, such as Guy
Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes, this has low-key lighting, even though
it isn't a horror, it's used to represent to atmosphere that the Victorian era
would have had. 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 outcast 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 majority of alarms being high pitched to draw attention to the fact that
something potentially dangerous is happening. The idea for the new pie filling
is thought of because of the body they have upstairs, the
loud, alarming music enhances this scene. 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 more sinister as Mrs Lovett describes her
idea of what to 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 bout swapping the unknown filling to human meat; this
supports the idea of the beginning of the song being high pitched to alarm
towards danger as the plan to use human as a filling for pies has come to light
and has now created an eerie atmosphere around the two characters who are
involved in this horrific plan.
As well as the non-diegetic music
creating an eerie/sinister atmosphere the lowness and deepness of Sweeney
Todd's voice also adds 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 emphasing the darkness and sinister feel to the
Jabberwocky; the deep, slow voice makes me feel intrigued. I wanted to know more
about what was being said, it drew me into the story and I needed to know
everything that the character, either being Sweeney Todd or the Mad Hatter, was
saying to the other characters. It adds a layer of suspense and tension as it
contrasts to other characters voices, allowing them to interact and grab my
attention in a different way, as it is a subtle tactic to engage with people
without using any special effects for doing something drastic like hitting or
breaking something, it seems more sinister because it shows that something s
simple as a tone of voice can instantly change the atmosphere of a room or
situation, and that I needed to listen to what was being said or else the
danger could be true to me, as if I wasn't listening I could be seen as an easy
target.
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, not only shows the closeness to sickness and disease
to the lower class but also 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, and the piece of music they play adds to the feeling of being in the
era as it sounds like a Victorian piece of music. 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.
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