Narrative Analysis Opening

The Grudge- In the first 10 minutes of 'The Grudge' a none linear narrative has been created, we know this because of the first scene at the beginning where a man commits suicide and the audience are left questioning why? We then are introduced to a carer and the main setting where most of the suspense is created. She looks after a very suspicious woman who looks unstable. The carer puts the woman to bed and walks up the stairs to make a phone call. This is interrupted as she hears animalistic noises from above, she goes upon an investigation where she becomes a victim of danger.

From watching the introduction to the film we are left questioning what has killed and whether it affects the man from the previous scene.

This film is set in Japan. The introduction is set in natural daylight as it is in the middle of the day, but as suspense occurs the lighting becomes darker and the threat becomes more prominent.



Poltergeist- In the introduction to the film a little girl is awoken by the television. She then walks downstairs to what we see is her answering questions from something within the television that we are not aware of. The family are awoken by her shouting to the television, they are very confused as so are the audience, because we are left wandering why? This is a Linear and restricted narrative, keeping the suspense throughout.

We think that the girl will continue talking to the 'television' and threat, this will then make the atmosphere become more disruptive as the narrative progress's.

This film is set in a typical American domestic household. The lighting is naturalistic as it is set in the evening/night time, when everyone is asleep. We are aware of the threat (which is the television) but we are not aware of the impact it will cause at this point in the film.


The Haunting- We are introduced to the story of an old house, which straight away we are told it is haunted by what we believe as a narrator. We are then told a timeline of events of the deaths that occurred in the house previously before present times.

After watching the introduction we are left guessing that the team of investigators become involved in the hauntings which will end tragically.

It is set in a large old mansion in a remote part of England. The film is in black and white which creates a larger contrast between light and dark. We are unaware of the threat and the victims involved as this keeps us in suspense.


The Orphanage- The introduction to this film gave the audience no answers of the narrative which will be occurring further on into the film. We are first introduced to a group of little girls who are in an Orphanage playing happily, one is about to be fostered into a new family but is unaware, this provokes tension as the audience become unsure about what will happen to her. The titles are then played for us to be also introduced to a new family whom we don't know a lot about. This creates suspense because the little boy keeps having troubled nights.

Because this is a restricted narrative we are unaware of what could happen in the film.

It is set in a spanish village or town, around family like characters. We are unaware of the threat and victims because of the restricted narrative, which keeps the audience guessing.