Research on the opening two minutes of The Ring 2

You can immediately tell that this is a horror film from the opening two minutes. The backing music used creates suspense and tension for the audience, and the aerial shot of the water creates an air of mystery for the audience, who do not know what to expect from this. 

Diagetic sound is used of the clock ticking to further enhance the suspense whilst the scene carries on. Close ups are used of the video tape and then an extreme close-up is used of the character inserting the video tape into the recorder which draws the audiences attention to this particular point of the film, emphasizing its significance to the narrative.

   An establishing shot is used early on after the mysterious shot of the water to give the audience a clear view of where the scene is being set. The use of silence is important in that it creates an uneasy atmosphere for the audience, who would find the scene unpredictable.  The 180 degree rule is executed so the audience do not become disorientated within the conversation and are aware of their surroundings and can then pay more attention to the dialogue.

   The mise-en-scene used is subtle yet affective. The characters and surroundings appear normal, to further create the feeling of unrest amoungst the audience.  The use of normal clothes and props in the home suggest that this is a normal film, though the use of sound and camera shots contradict this. For instance the low angle shot of the male character when he finds hand print up his arm, gives an impression that he is trying to gain control of a situation which is perhaps supernatural, a technique often used in many horror films.

Tracking is used to follow the movement of the male character from his point of view, though no other editing is used in the scene, as a sense of reality is clearly being implemented.