The music in this film is loud, dramatic, and instrumental and had no lyrics. The loudness occurs mostly when the horse is chasing an actor through the western woods. The dramatic instrumental occurs when the headless horse man cuts off the head. There are no lyrics due to the fact it wont create an gothic atmosphere.
The atmosphere it creates is suspense, tension especially when the last testament and will is being signed and then sent away to kept safe.
Tim Burton has created a sensational sound effects. The audience will know that the headless horse man is about to strike due to the thunder or lighting (due to no electricty), the noise of a horse galloping, the sound of his sword being drown, dark, dull and the use of fogginess.
The thunder noise of a horse galloping, the sound of his sword being drown creates an image in your head even before its shown. The music contributes to the atmosphere very well for
Example the candle a typical gothic film.
The ways the credits (actors) appear are spread and in different range. The use of fogginess in the western woods, smoke used to make the actors disappear or not 2 be seen but still on stage.
The way that western wood is presented is dark, dull colours such as brown, grey, red at times and black. This creates a feel of unhappiness, cold atmosphere, the feel of set in autumn or winter, when quite dark the sense of midnight, the time also helps to create the atmosphere. The sensation or red makes you recognized murder or in injury will be taking place shortly or even has.
Sleepy hollow is a real place and does exist today in upstate New York. this shows that is a historic town/city and also shows that Tim Burton wanted to make unreal reality challenge to make a fantasy words real.
The western woods have trees, which are bair, with no leaves, or even numberless leafs.
This creates loneliness, soundless and insufferable.
There are also many loose branches scattered around the ground, and also uplifted roots. This creates shadows whilst in the western woods and a danger of falling.
Scene one: western woods
Scene one is located in the western woods. This scene had a classic gothic opening with the effect of rain and thunder. The dramatic beginning boozes the audience attention and to get to like it from the very beginning to the very end.
In this scene there is no dialogue with the actors acting. Instead Tim Burton is trying to show you through images. The audience is supposed to see the drama through visual effects nather to be told. For instant was dripping whilst the last will and testament is being sealed.
Tim Burton does this because he prefers to show you rather then tell. He says people prefer to watch then listen and monitoring the noise in western woods.
In the first scene the visual images we see is the red candle being used to seal the will and the last testament. This creates and gives us as the audience a message on what is going to happen next. Like someone getting murder and for the audience to be prepared and expect it to come, the fear of scariness. The candle is also a dim of still sense of blackness.
In this scene the will and last testament is
Being signed. This is important because it is the last testament which going to be passed down to van tassers daughter.
In this scene the camera angles are fast, short shots and exterior. This gives the audience a feeling of being chased.
Tim Burton does not show the man being decapitated in the beginning because it’s more shocking to reveal to the audience at the beginning of the film even ifs it’s a gothic film.
Instead he shows a body of a scarecrow and a head of a pumpkin and cuts the head of the pumpkin with scatters of blood over it. This symbolizes that it is connected to Halloween.
Scene two: New York
This scene is set in New York. This is important to the film because it provides the contrast of sleepy hollow and shows the difference between the two places.
This is different to the opening scene as it’s slightly brighter; set in a courthouse where murders are investigated differently and also treated more as animals then humans. This also the first scene where actors come and the introduction Ichabod crane.
Scene three: Sleepy Hollow
In this scene Ichabod crane goes on his journey to visit sleepy hollow. When he arrives at
Sleepy Hollow he sees that it is deserted, lonely,
Dull and monochrome. The residents that live in Sleepy Hollow react to Ichabod Crane as he’s not a human being as shut him out whilst walking up the street.
They do this but closing windows and closing of doors
Upon him, and also by the looks given.
Conclusion:
I think that Tim Burton does create a gothic atmosphere and also does a very good job of it. I think this because of the vision and expression given to us by the symbolism such as the wax from the candle used to look like blood and send a message out to the audience. The dark colours, lighting, dull as no electricity, use of fogginess and instrumental music. The use of the church and grave yard is a typical place used in gothic films. The mention of unknown, referring to people and creatures as ‘things’ or ‘something’
Costume Was designed by Collen Atwood. These costumes provides colour. These all create a cold atmosphere.
