A Secret Window - Analysis!

Analysis of A Secret Window 

The opening sequence of a Secret Window starts with the Columbia statue and opening credit. We then hear non-diegetic sounds of the wind screen wipers but we do not quite know what the sound is until the Columbia logo fades into the wind screen wipers. This creates suspense as we are unsure what is about to unfold. The weather suggests that it is winter and it looks cold with heavy rain. Here we then see a close up of a character sat in the driving seat of a car. He is wearing a black hat which adds to the dark atmosphere and he has shadows underneath his eyes which suggests that he had not slept. As it is dark we can tell that is night time. The non-diegetic sound of a voice over is then amplified to create a larger impact. The voice over then says “Turn around, turn around… don’t go back, turn the car around and get the hell out of here.” This non-diegetic sound acts as the characters thoughts suggesting that he could be put in danger. When looking at the character as he goes to disobey his thoughts and turn the car around we can see that he wearing a wedding ring. This shows that he is married and that his wife maybe associated with the danger fronting him. 

     As the character turns the car and pulls off we here non-diegetic sound of the vehicle screeching. We feel slightly disorientated as we can not see through the windows of the car so we have no idea of where the vehicle is heading. The voice over then says “don’t go back”, this is tell us that danger is on the horizon. As the voice over is saying this the characters wedding ring significantly stands out. 

     The vehicle then reverses up towards a building with a large Motel sign. The colour red is associated with danger and this colour is hugely significant as during this long shot red is the only colour present that stands out. From here the colour red then becomes a theme as we see a medium long shot of the car highlighting the red  break light. Now we can see that there is ice on the car which adds to the bleak atmosphere. 

     As the character climbs out of the vehicle snow is blowing in the same direction as he is travelling. This creates a larger impression that the character is heading towards the danger. 

     Whilst the character is entering the Motel we see a pan of him passing all of the closed red doors and grabbing a set of keys where they are placed on a red shelf. This creates the impression that the tension built up could be from something behind one of the doors. As we see a shot of the keys from where the pan stops we instantly know where the character is heading. 

     A man who looks in is forties then enters the clips a second after the main character leaves. He pulls on his pyjama top and we are given the suspicion that he is the owner of the Motel. 

     As we then see a medium close up of the main character getting back in his car the owner of the Motel shouts “hey!” to try and catch the main characters attention, as if to appose to try and stop him from what he is about to do. This sound is diegetic. 

    The car then races towards the other end of the Motel passing all of the red doors, until reaching the one right at the end. The camera is a view from the drivers seat of the vehicle so we can see things as the character sees them. This adds to the mood as we are put in the characters shoes. Through out this we continuously hear the non-diegetic sound of the wind screen wipers and the car engine. By doing this it shows that there is silence but we are still kept alert. The camera then remains where it is and as there is camera shake we are disorientated as we wonder what will happen. The main character gets out and hurries to unlock the closed door. This creates fear as it is as if we are hiding behind the main character as he is faces with what is the other side. 

     As the door is opened there is a fast transition edit of the door opening and going into a shot if a couple in bed. This shot puts us in the main characters shoes as we are seeing things from where he is stood. It is made clear that the woman in bed is the main characters wife having an affair. This is clear to us as a Motel is a sleazy place where you would associate someone going to when having an affair. As it is night time but the couple in bed are not asleep this also is an indicator that he the couple are having an affair. The colours with in the Motel room are still dingy but the car light shinning in put the spot light on the couple in bed. 

     Confusion is then created as non-diegetic sound covers up the diegetic sound by a muffling noise. We hear a scream but are unsure what the man in bed is saying to the main character. It looks as if the main character stabs his wife for cheating on him but then turns and holds his head as if he is regretting what he just did. The camera then travels backwards out of the door and to the rear of the running vehicle. In this long shot we then see the hotel owner running into the Motel room. From this long shot there is then a juxtaposition from night to day as the camera fades to a lake. During this transition there is a sound bridge as the sound of a cello is being played. The tempo of the music is fast which draws us into the film. 

     The camera swoops over the moving water like a bird giving us a birds eye view. When we first see the house it is in the distance and very isolated, this is because it is surrounded by trees and looks like no one would go there. 

     The opening credits start as the camera is moving over the lake. Big names a featured such as Jonny Deep, this attracts people to watch the film as popular names are usually associated with top class productions. The names appear in white but Secret Window fades from white to red. This brings the red theme back and tells us that something bad maybe going to happen in the film. This then creates suspense as we want to know what is going to happened. As we get closer to the house, camera shots fade into ever closer camera shots of the house telling that this is where the action is going to begin. Both the camera and the music then slow down as the camera moves around to the side of the house and enters through the open top window. 

     When entering the house we are given the impression that who ever own the house are fairly wealthy as the house is quite posh. On the other hand the house looks a little bit shabby as it is untidy and the furniture is slightly old and had its wear. We can see that who ever lives inside the house maybe a writer as there are books stacked up and an open laptop with writing up on a word document, which is on a desk. As the camera continues to swoop through the house we see piles of unopened letters on the desk. This shows that the person living there could be lazy and can not keep on top of things. 

     The camera then continues to move and passes through a mirror to where the main character then reappears. We see him lying on a sofa with his back to us. It looks as if he has not left the house in a while. His hair is matted as if it has been left to go wild. His clothes are torn and grubby and the camera stops moving as it reaches a medium close up of the main character. This makes him look as if he is living with his guilt and has not been out of his house since. We do not even see his car from the outside of the house when being led to the open window.