The opening sequence introduces this suspense with the effect of gripping the audience with use of lighting; sound
The camera is used to zoom in and out through photos with relevance to the film. Such as the children drawing or reading the bible, it also pans and tilts along the photos slowly. Lighting is also used to focus on segments of the film and keep others hidden in shadow, this appears mysterious to us as we want to know what is in the shadow. The transition between the images is a very smooth fade, which allows them to hand in our mind. The overall effect of this sequence is that the audience is confused by the images which at the time mean nothing to them but as the story unfolds we learn the relevance.
Props play very small parts in building suspense but are used quite a lot in The others. The rosary is probably the best example and is seen a few times and it helps build suspense because it makes the audience feel that the only reason for it being used is it something unnerving is about to happen, we think this because it is mentioned earlier on in the film that it should be used whenever you feel frightened. Also the statues in the junk room are made to quite scary.
The conclusion
I think that the reason cinematography, characterisation, setting and narrative sequence help build suspense is because all these techniques have been established as classic elements of horror movies. These elements build suspense when they are sustained throughout the film, maintaining the audience’s interest in the film through use of mystery and subtlety
Sound also plays a big part in suspense, both diegetic and non-diegetic. A lot of sounds in the film lead to a climax or look like it is leading to a climax. There is also the very affective diegetic breathing sound of footsteps as she proceeds towards the door and a diegetic breathing sound once she is in the junk room. There is a moment of silence in the junk room which grabs the audience’s attention because there is very suddenly no sound at all and the anticipation which has been building up grows towards its climax. We also get some silence building up to the climax of the scene with the curtains, when the curtains are drawn the non – diegetic music immediately starts.
The children are said to have a strange condition which the audience feels uncertain about and it feels almost as though the children are trapped inside the house and there is no escaping it. It is also unnerving when it is mentioned that the previous housemaids had ‘vanished into thin air’ which makes us feel very uncertain about grace and the children. Mrw mills is a strange character who worries the audience through her dialaogue; she talks of how she ‘knows the house very well’ but this is only explained at the end. It is speeches like these which build tension with the audience.
