Analysis of the title opening of TV drama A Mother’s Son

  

Analysis of the title opening of TV drama A Mother’s Son

A Mother’s Son is a thriller television drama which aired on ITV in September 3rd. During the course of this analysis I will be examining how sound and camera angles are used in the title opening of the drama to create a sense of tension.

The opening starts with an extreme long shot of wave crashing onto a beach shore. Within the shot cold camera filter has been used to exaggerate how dark our setting but may also connote a fore coming dark event. This idea of a foreshadowing event is further reinforced by the semiology of waves crashing; we the audience tend to associate this imagery with death as it is believed that seagulls go to sea to die. Furthermore we hear the exaggerated noise of waves crashing to further indicate that something is wrong. This devices help create tension as we are given our location but already with the se of filters and sound we the audience can tell this isn’t a normal night at the beach and we are hooked in by one shot.

This then cuts to a close up shot of silhouettes of birds with this we can hear a non-diegetic sound of distorted bird screeching, this is then followed by an out of focus close up of reeds and then a tracking shot of someone feet running from something. Backing with this we hear a slow fade in of orchestral music as it cuts to the shot of the persons feet.  The use of the birds creates tension as our thoughts raised by the first shot are further reinforced we establish that not everything is all right with the connotations of the black birds convey death.

This is further developed upon with the use of the exaggerated sounds and the music as the music creates a sombre feeling whilst also slowly getting louder; we can establish that something is bad building up. The shot of the feet brings up the question who is this person and also why are they running. This helps creates a sense of tension as we are left guessing into what the situation is.

During the opening we start to hear sounds of people wailing which plays on the idea of danger which has been established with the last few elements. This causes the audience to become fearful for the well-being of this person running; its cause’s tension as we want to know what is going to happen to this person. Eventually the music gets louder and we become ever more fearful for this persons safety as the rise in volume further indicates a bad event creeping up on her.

Soon we see a POV shot of this person falling, we put ourselves in their position and we start to feel more concerned about their safety but also we start to think what they are trying to run from.

When then see an extreme long shot of this character running through a large field completely covered by vegetation around. This shot emphasises how vulnerable and isolated they are and yet again this creates tension as we grow more concerned for him/ her, however by this shot it becomes increasingly obvious that see won’t make it and the question that we soon start to ask ourselves is this person who is chasing her going to be revealed as well as his motives.

Next we see quick cuts from shot to shot to emphasise the fear this person is going through but also has been employed to reveal the identity of this person running in a frantic way. Furthermore it is revealed used these quick cuts why this person is running as it quickly cuts to a close up shot of this person who has been recently revealed as a girl holding a wound in her stomach. The blood dripping from her wound has been highlighted in bright red in contrast with the cold camera filter used to convey a harsh setting. These devices create tension as the quick cuts allow the audience to experience the fear that is she is going through. Secondly the use of the of the highlighted blood stain exaggerates the pain this person is going through and we the audience can  establish that she is going to die, however what constantly keeps us engaged is the prospect of finding out the identity of this mystery person who may have or may not have inflicted this injury upon her.

We then see an extreme long shot of this girls eye, we hope to see the identity of this mystery persons face reflected off of her pupil however his face is concealed thus causing tension as we anticipate this girl to speak perhaps revealing the identity of this mystery person. However in the next shot we see a close up of this girls face and in the background we hear her utter the words I’m sorry. Such an ambiguous phrase of speech creates tension as we are left hooked in wanting to find out more about the relationship between this girl and this mystery person.