Favourite image analysis - The Orphanage (2007)

In The Orphanage, 2007, this shot was taken from my favourite scene. Having chosen this as my final image analysis, I feel that “J.A. Bayona” will really give me a chance to investigate the style of psychological horrors by using one of my favourite horror films.

Standing central to the frame, a young boy, representing the protagonist’s son, Simon (Roger Princep) mysteriously stares down the corridor, captured with a long shot, wearing the typical uniform worn by the orphans previously living in the home. From the knowledge of the audience, we already hear the story about the poor young boy who was severely handicapped and was brutally abused and killed. Having previously seen an old film with the young boy in it, we automatically associate this image with the dead boy. With a sack on his head and a face sewn into it, the young boy appears like a fast moving monster or psychotic killer but also includes an emotional attachment that the audience feel for him.

When focusing on cinematography, point of view shots show how Laura (Belen Rueda) has a fear of being trapped, being in the bathroom whilst Simon blocks the exit.  In terms of mise-en-scene, low key lighting enables the creepy location of the orphanage to evoke a sinister and gloomy atmosphere. Both the costume and the mask work well together to illustrate the connection between Simon and the handicapped child who died in the orphanage. By a handicapped child being portrayed as frightening, I feel that a Cultural Dominant Ideology of outsiders being strange is shown through the diegetic heavy breathing coming from the child connoting this fear of the different.

I feel that Andrew Bazin’s theory of “Genius of the System” is demonstrated throughout this scene by the narrative, formulas and visual style generating as much power as the auteur.  All of the horror conventions successful used lead to an arresting and memorable scene.