Thriller - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

(Mike Newell, 2005)

The film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, is set in modern times and is about Harry and his friends trying to defeat Lord Voldemort.

Camera: The camera within the opening sequence pans in and follows the snake. It is one long take, with no cuts. By doing this it gives the sense that the danger in the film may be ongoing and a constant feature.

Editing: There is one part within the opening sequence that does look like after the camera zooms through the middle of the titles it fades from what was the grey sky into a grate full of bones.

Mise-en-scene:

• Set within a graveyard - very dark, mysterious, foreboding
• Shows a grate full of skulls and skeleton hands
• A large angel/grim reaper statue - horror
• Shows skull within the angel/grim reaper hood
• Also carrying a scythe
• A large snake is shown - looks strong and writhing
• A darkened sky - (showing titles)
• A small house with angels statues surrounding it and a larger house in the distance

The setting is very dark and is within a graveyard, giving it a sense of horror. The lack of light also gives it this effect. The use of the snake, which is seen as a dangerous animal, as well as the noises that go along with it, also add to the dark effect and theme. The skulls, the large angel/grim reaper statue overlooking the area and the graveyard also add to this, as they are connected with death and dying, which adds a morbid and dark sense to the opening sequence.

Sound: The music within the opening sequence is very foreboding and it has the sense of danger and mystery involved within it. It gives a sense of foreshadowing the coming events within the film, as they feel from the opening sequence that the themes are dark, disturbing and nightmarish. It feels like the film is hinting at a powerful danger later on within the film, from the music at the start. Strings such as violins and woodwind instruments are used. The music starts heavily, using a variety of instruments to make the music very powerful. There is a note used by the violin within the music that is often used in horrors or thrillers because of its jolting pitch. The music dies down, it becoming softer and more gentle, but still with a dangerous tone.

• A soft hissing is heard from the snake
• A soft voice is also heard
• The slithering sound of the snake on the grass

Together, the hissing and the voice can cause the audience to become quite frightened and the slithering sound of the snake upon the grass is quite grotesque. Along with the dark and dangerous music that gives a sense of a powerful force nearby, the sound shows from the opening of the film to be quite dark.

Titles:  A title which appears is the logo for Warner Bros. Pictures, which also has the words A TimeWarner Company on the logo. The logo is recognisable and large. The camera zooms in to the logo and the camera moves through the logo.

The titles used within the opening sequence are the words Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire which are done in the familiar and iconic Harry Potter style. This gives the audience a sense of familiarity as the film has many sequels and is easily recognisable from its style.

The Opening Sequence