Give a detailed analysis of the film 'The Sandman'
Give a detailed analysis of the film 'The Sandman'
The theme that appears to be the most prominent is that of childhood fears. The director has exhibited this by using an abundant amount of creative and interesting camera techniques. The techniques cause us, as an audience, to become captivated in the short film's horror.
As the film begins, the mis en scene is very welcoming - a mother and her son in their residence, doing natural and everyday things. Whilst the boy is playing, his mother is sewing in a rocking chair. This leads the audience into a false sense of security, making them think that everything is perfectly fine when - in actual fact - it is the total opposite. The director does this to add to the effect of eeriness and mystery that was created in the opening scene before the title - which was a mysterious place that seemed out of this world, we get the sense that this was the case by the camera zooming down giving the sense that Earth is below.
The young infant appears and acts relaxed but only before the clock chimes. After the clock chimes the boy seems to be anxious and worried of what is about to happen. To ad to the effect of suspense the director cuts from the boy, to the mother and then to the clock. This gives the audience the impression that the time signifies an important part of the day; causing the mother to stop what she and tend to her son.
It is as the mother gets up that we see the insecurities of the young boy being revealed. When the mother removes the drum from around the boy's neck and takes away his instrument sticks, we see the boy become both upset and nervous. The director has done this, I feel, to add to the child's insecurities - making the boy feel like he is on his own. The director also conveys the child's insecurities by using a long shot - showing the boy's whole posture. By doing this, the director has created a sense of vulnerability. The boy also seems fairly insecure; not only within himself but also with his surrounding. The director puts this across by moving the boy's eyes - making him look around as if he is searching for something.
As the boy is looking around his mother eventually ushers her offspring to an oak door - that seems large and intimidating. The mother hands her son a miniature candle, which I believe to be a significant sign that the boy is inferior to his surroundings. To show how the boy is feeling, close-ups have been used and these show the boy's expressions and movements. The director has done this to build up more tension and drama, giving the audience the impression that there is a lot more to come.
When the little boy looks out of the large, oak door we see one of a young child's worst fears...darkness. To add an effect of urgency the director uses a montage, cutting from the boy, to the mother, to the door. Just by using this simple cutting technique the director had formed a message in the audience's mind - what is so threatening behind the door. By doing this the impact on the audience is quite uncomfortable - making them fear for the young child.
The mother comforts her son, but in a way which leads the ...
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When the little boy looks out of the large, oak door we see one of a young child's worst fears...darkness. To add an effect of urgency the director uses a montage, cutting from the boy, to the mother, to the door. Just by using this simple cutting technique the director had formed a message in the audience's mind - what is so threatening behind the door. By doing this the impact on the audience is quite uncomfortable - making them fear for the young child.
The mother comforts her son, but in a way which leads the audience to think and feel that the mother is reluctant to do so - this can therefore create further insecurities. The director has done this so, it keeps the audience still enticed within the film, and also gives the sense of anguish which the boy is feeling.
The mother then forces the young child out of the door and shuts it behind him. This makes the boy seem even more vulnerable and petrified. The director conveys this by using camera techniques such as zooming and high angle shots. The camera zooms out to reveal a flight of long and gloomy stairs; ad the high vulnerability and, also, to make the audience think that the young child is diminutive and innocent compared to his surroundings. From just this short scene we can tell that, although they have a relationship, the mother and the son do not have a strong bond - which is not what should be seen from a parent and their child's relationship. The director has also used point of view shots to show the son's weary expressions - which are cautious and preparing for something unexpected to occur.
As the boy reaches the top of the stairs the director uses zooming out to give the impression of fear and also giving the sense of tension and build up within the film. The director has also used close-ups of the boy's face - this gives the effect that the child is terrified by the look of the hallway and stairs.
When the boy enters his room the director has used a high angler shot - looking down on the boy, showing him at his most reliable stage. The audience can feel the horror through sound effects, which add both drama and tension. The direct does this to create a great deal of suspense and drama. As soon as this technique is over we see the young boy run into his room. The director uses another high angle shot to make the boy seem again vulnerable and unsafe; by using this technique the director has caused the audience to believe that the boy is not alone.
The boy then runs and hides under his covers. The director had brought up another common feeling in a young child's life- if the child cannot see the source of the horror; the horror cannot see the child. The child then calms himself showing a sense of relaxation and belief. The sound effects also become light but as the boy begins to drift asleep the noises begin to change - the sound effects become louder making the audience feel that this is intentional and a real, intense and dramatic scene is about to occur.
The director brings in another distraction - the window opens. As this happens, the young child shots up, sitting upright and tense; the director has created the feeling that something foreboding is present or about to enter. The sheets of the bed then begin to shake, giving yet another obstruction. The young child reaches under the bed to examine what is beneath it. The camera techniques which the director uses; such as close-ups and low angle shots, giving the audience the feeling of relief. The, now pleased, boy returns to his bed relieved and thankful. But this is all about to change!
The director then cuts to the next scene - where we first see the Sandman. The Sandman slams the large, oak door - giving the impression that he intentionally wants the child to feel threatened and know that he is there. The director has now created dramatic irony - the audience know that the Sandman is present, unlike the young boy - who, at this moment, again awakes in shock.
The Sandman begins to ascend the stairs. The director has made the Sandman be so vivid to make the audience believe that the Sandman is more of a threat to the young boy than the stairs. The director conveys this by making the Sandman bright and stand out, giving the feeling that the stairs are less threatening that the Sandman.
The sandman comes to a creaky stair and he, again, intentionally, makes it creak so the young child can hear him coming. Again, the director cuts the scene - going back to the young boy.
At this stage, the child seems both petrified and daring - we can tell this because the young boy has got out of bed, but this was a mistake. The child gets out of his bed and knocks over the candle, which his mother gave him, which then smashes. As the boy does this the director uses a close-up of the Sandman's face; by doing this the director has created a scene of which has a great amount of suspense, tension and drama. The camera, again using the cutting techniques, goes to the boy - showing him run back to his bed and begin to quiver. By doing this, the director has created further tension. Furthermore, fear has been put into the audience, making them feel the anguish of what the young boy is feeling.
As the boy shakes in his bed, we see the Sandman's long spindly fingers clutch the door handle which leads to the boy's room and begin to turn it. Apprehension is then created by the camera focusing on the door handle but as the door is opened it is the mother who pulls back her son's covers, the Sandman is out of sight - making him seem as if he is just in the child's imagination.
It is here that we see the mother comforting her son - making him feel secure within himself. I believe, the director does this to make the audience feel that the son is now comforted and also that he is calmed down because the mother has taken some of her son's insecurities away - as a mother should do in a loving and caring relationship. This shows that the mother and the son have a deeper relationship than first thought. The child falls asleep and the mother removes herself from the boy's room. The director has now created a scene that makes the audience feel comfortable and relieved with the situation.
The mis en scene of the following scene, however, is quite different. The eerie image of the Sandman reappears... leaving the audience to feel helpless as the Sandman begins to draw closer to the boy. At this stage the director uses a close-up to show the mischievous look which appears on the Sandman's face - which resemble the moon when it is moved sideways.
The director speeds up the scene y creating a sense of urgency - using, both, camera techniques and sound effects. The Sandman begins to jump over and around the boy; trying to get his attention. The boy begins to move around and fidget... now is when the Sandman gets ready to attack. A close-up is used, by the director, showing the Sandman's bony hands begin to fill with a glittery substance, which I believe to be sand.
The boy begins to wake up and just as he is about to open his eyes, the Sandman throws the sand into the eyes of the boy. The audience, now, feel very shocked by what they just saw and a feeling that there is worse to come.
The director then uses shadows and certain colours to show what is happening to the stunned boy. The director uses black and red flashes to show what is happening - black to make the scene seem sinister and red to give the sense of blood or danger. The shadows give the audience a more intense interpretation of what is going on.
The shadows reveal the Sandman scratching at the boy, but it is not seen what ha actually been done until the Sandman exits. The Sandman exits in a peculiar way - flying out the window like a bird of prey. It is at this moment that there is a close up of the boy. This shot leaves the audience feeling fearful, as the boy has been left with no eyes. This creates the audience to believe that it was the scratching of the Sandman what they saw in the previous scene which has left the boy disfigured.
The Sandman has now returned to his home and the director uses another close-up to show what is in the hands of the Sandman... the young boy's eyes. From this we get the sense that there is a reason as to why the Sandman plucked the eyes from an innocent child. The reason is then revealed- to feed the Sandman's offspring. This brings the audience to believe that the Sandman is not as malicious first thought - he is only providing for his family. By doing this the director has caused us, as an audience, to think about whom is most caring and considerate out of the Sandman and the child's mother. I believe the answer is the Sandman - as it is he who would do anything to protect and fend for family.
In conclusion, I believe that, 'the Sandman' is a short, horror film, which shows just how much insecurities there are in a child's life and how far a parent would go, be it mother or father, to protect and fend for their offspring. 'The Sandman' is a film which would leave most of the audience feeling both insecure, themselves, and also more weary about the insecurities of a young child.
It is the director use of the fascinating camera techniques, sound effects and also colours which have given this film the effectiveness, which it has. Leaving the audience feeling astounded that so much horror and fear could come from a cartoon.
Alisha John
Media Coursework
'The Sandman'
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