1. The opening scene of "Black Metal" shows a close-up of a heavy metal singer screaming in a microphone. This is diegetic sound, making the man appear demonic and alarming. The colours behind him are red, suggesting danger, anger or even satanic references. Close up shows singer's expression, who appears possessed.
2. The shot cuts to a mid shot, showing singer centre of large group of people (suggesting he is the centre of attention and with the power, as well as perhaps the lead in the storyline. The command over the audience makes him seem fearful, the audience do heavy metal hang gestures implying they're at a gig.
3. Scene cuts to a long shot- pans up to person walking. Pan reveals this person is a police officer. The colours of the room the officer enters are a nauseating, sickly green colour (suggesting a strange environment.) Police officer stops to look at something (element of suspense.)
4. Cuts back to the gig- slow motion of crowd dancing and repetition of hand gestures suggests a calmer atmosphere than scene perviously. Singer still in control.
5. Camera pans to follow police, panning slowly to red blood on the wall, revealing a crime scene. Pan is slow for effect to build a tension and a sense of drama (especially with non-diegetic sound bridge from previous scene to add to the horror, linking two separate scenes together.
6. This is reinforced by match on action of blood on the wall painted a cult symbol, matching the symbol on the lead singer's T-shirt- links singer to crime scene and build story and questions the singer's motives.
7. Shot cuts to singer in centre of the crowd- he's in control and people seem to worship him (linking to demonic references.)
8. Cuts to title- suggests story is beginning.
9. Shot reveals two people in a car, revealed one of them is the singer (close up of him removing makeup suggest the gig is over.)
10. He leans in and kisses the other person (a woman) establishing they're romantically linked and maybe indicating at another softer side of singer. Woman is positioned in the light whereas he is positioned in the darkness. This suggests she is important to the man but also makes him appear in the shadows, suggesting he is dark and she is 'light' (angelic.)
11. Man walks into supermarket. There is diegetic supermarket sound and man is positioned next to 'ordinary' shoppers, his makeup and clothes make him look like an outcast and freakish. This idea is reinforced by cashier, who throws him a dirty look. Bright shop lighting fits with uneasiness of situation.
12. Another man enters the mid-shot of singer (suggesting he's intruding the singer's space.) He probes singer with questions about his band- revealing to audience that a young teen has killed his teacher in the band's name (linking earlier shots together.)
13. The second man keeps probing the singer with questions. Clearly the topic makes him uncomfortable as he tires to avoid the situation. Second man uses aggressive language "that shit was all over the news tonight", implying the man holds singer responsible (reinforced by cashier and singer uncomfortable in close ups.)
14. Singer punches man after he pushes him too far. Cuts quickly (rhythmic editing) of earlier woman running inside shop (elliptical editing.) She is clearly frantic.
15. Scene changes to woman and singer together, as she applies cream to his cut. Close up shot and no background music emphasises intimate situation and makes man more venerable with woman caring for him. Shot of couple holding hands shows intimacy and support. Tattoo of symbol on singer's arm suggests the issue is still looming in the background.
16. Woman holds man, as tear rolls down his cheek. Suggests his tough demonic persona is broken down and not who he really is. Shows man is effected by situation and not to blame for the teen's actions (and woman understands that even if man blames himself.)
17. Idea of the singer being blameless is reinforced by pictures of family pictures. diegetic sound of a phone call ringing getting progressively louder until singer reacts and slams it down, showing build up of singer's worry and frustration.
18. Final scene shows a young girl coming up to the singer. The lighting and set of scene suggests a cosy atmosphere and a good household. The singer greets her with 'hey monkey' and offers to read her a story, which suggests this angelic looking girl is his daughter and they have a good relationship (she lies down next to him on the sofa.) He is loving towards her, and she is to him as she asks him about the cut on his face. He explains in simple terms what is happening, ending his dialog with "and people think I helped him". Lighting again (like the mother) shows girl in the light and man in the shadows, suggesting she is innocent and, like his partner, the 'light of his life. The film ends as the girl asks "did you?" The man doesn't reply, confirming he blames himself for the death caused by someone else and is struggling to come to terms with it.
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