Cherry Falls Film Analysis

Cherry Falls
Director: Geoffrey Wright
Year: 2000
Budget: 14m


IDENT

• Rogue Pictures

The film begins with non diagetic choir like classical music, denoting christianity and religion, possibly connoting innocence and purity.
An extreme loing shot of the church spiral ius the opening shot, denoting religion and could be signifying that the whole town is religious.
There is a long shot of a sign post saying "cherry falls" which is anchorage and exposition denoting the setting of the film.
An extreme long shot of a serene and peaceful setting connotes calmness, or possibly foreshadows the "calm before the storm"
There is a long shot of a car, which is exposition of time era.
Close up shot of a boy kissing a girl, both with brown hair, the boy begins to put his hands across the girls legs, denoting sexual tension.
The girl shouts "Keep that up rod and it will be your last act!" denoting that she doesnt want to have sex. Also possibly foreshadowing that he will die.
A long shot of the girl getting out of the car, signifying the area that the car is in and also that they are both visable to anybody in the park like area.
A long shot of a car hidden in bushes is showing, denoting that somebody is watching the teenagers.
A medium close up 2 shot of the couple kissing is shown, in the background, 2 flashing lights from a car becomes visable and moves nearer to the car, parking behind the car.
A close up of the first car's numberplate is shown, it says "virginia" which is exposition of where the film is set, it could possibly connote that one of the teenagers is a "virgin" as it is hinting.
The boy gets out of the car, convinced that the car behind him is one of his friends "messing around", he says "Ben, get your ass over here", the audience is led to believe that this is one of his friends, too.
The boy walks closer to the car an non diagetic music begins to build tension, as the boy bends over next to the car, the killer opens his car door rapidly which knocks the boy to the ground.
A long haired dark figure with manly features gets out of the car.
A close up of the girl screaming is shown, denoting that she is scared.
Medium POV shot of the dark figure stabbing ross is shown, denoting that the girl can see Ross being stabbed.
Non diagetic fast beat music is added to denote tension and horror.
Diagetic "stabbing" knife sounds are used to denote that Ross character is being stabbed.
Close up shots of Casey locking the doors to denote safety.
Ross comes up to the door and begins to shout his girlfriends name "Casey"
Close up shots of Casey unlocking the door to let Ross in.
Medium shot of the killer coming back and stabbing Ross to death as Casey tries to help him inside the car. The killer drags Casey out of the car, there is a close up shot of Casey being held against a tree, the killer has a long black leather jacket on and long dark hair, yet has manly features.
The killer begins to wipe the bloody knife across the girls face, possibly foreshadowing her death.
A medium low shot is shown of the bottom half of the killer and Caseys body is shown, the killer is wearing a long black skirt and tights with boots, and has weapons in the side of his/her waist. It is still unnapparent wether the killer is female or male, denoting confusion of sexual identity, possibly connoting that they were bullied or neglected at some point in their life.
There is a close up of the killers fingers moving across the girls mouth, the killer is wearing nail varnish, denoting confusion further, also possibly foreshadowing rape.
Close up of killer leaning into the girl, his hair covers the screen which turns black, there is anchorage that the killer will be moving to kiss and embrace the girl.
THE OPENING LASTS 4:18 MINUTES.