'Zombieland' Opening Deconstruction

 'Zombieland' Opening Deconstruction

Point 1: Flag on the car 
Camera Angles/Shots/Movements: Camera is upside down, creating a disorientating effect for the audience and then when the camera is put the right way up it acts as an unveiling where everyone understands what happened. Point of View shot when the zombie is killing the person (and when they are running) to give a sense of fear. Close up of the zombie eating the man creating a theme within the film.
Editing: Camera going a bit static & breaking.
Sound: American Anthem but it is distorted suggesting that something is wrong. Non diegetic speaking over the top telling us that there is someone who is still alive who can give us tips and is to be trusted. Diegetic sound of the zombie burping, giving a comical side to the event.
Colour: Orangey colour/reddish suggests death. Green of the trees could tell us illness or a virus (zombies)
Mise En Scene: Tells us that something isn't quite right, canted framing and the mass destruction shown in the scene.


Point 2: 'Rule 1'
Camera Angles/Shots/Movements: Over the shoulder shot of the zombie chasing the man, zoom into the football pitch at the beginning and has a 'hit the ground running' effect as it moves along the football pitch when it 'lands' and pans upwards to see the man running. Close of the zombie while he is eating the other man.
Editing: Writing on the screen (which becomes a theme) making whats going on comical as it is like we are watching someone die and saying what they should have done with pointers on the screen.
Sound: the same narrator (non diegetic) acting like a sound bridge to link all these events together, the diegetic sound of the man running and then dying.
Mise En Scene: Someone has survived and is telling the audience how to survive unlike the man.


Point 3: 'Rule 2' 
Camera Angles/Shots/Movements: Close up of the woman's leg and the dead zombie when it comes alive again. Birds eye view of the woman as she is being eaten giving her a sense of vulnerability.
Editing: The writing once again, and this time the blood that splatters into the writing which gives a sense of reality that these rules are linked to the events in the world at the moment.
Sound: Gun shot, the woman screaming etc. Gives a sense of reality which is broken up by the same narrator talking over the event and scolding the woman for not shooting twice which once again creates a comical reaction.

Mise En Scene: Mass destruction as even a police person is a zombie so there isn't any protection available for the people
Colour: Blueish hue giving a sense that it's not very realistic and the events that are happening are disorienting and dream like.



Point 4: 'Rule 3'
Camera Angles/Shots/Movements: birds eye view of the man on the toilet, sense of vulnerability. Framing of the shot outside the cubical is very loose telling us that the man had a choice and could have not taken such a stupid risk, adding to the comedy. But when he is in the cubical the framing is tight telling us it is too late and he is going to die there is nothing he can do about it.
Editing: writing over the top once again linking all the events and creating a theme throughout the scenes, also making the scene comical.
Sound: Once again the narrator's voice explaining the rules.
Mise En Scene: when you are your most vulnerable they will come for you, never really safe.
Colour: Greenish hue, the idea of a virus or an illness and of corruption.


Point 5: 'Rule 4' 
Camera Angles/Shots/Movements: birds eye view of the woman as she slides along the floor. Loose framing, it didn't have to end this way she had a choice but she made a mistake and forgot a key thing. Medium shots of the woman as she is driving the car and her looking at the toys and losing focus.
Editing: the writing seems to be part of the floor as it is worn out telling us that these rules should be obvious and she died of a stupid mistake once again linking to the comic side of it.
Sound: voice over linking all the events together and speaking rather sarcastically which adds to the comedy of the opening. Sound of the car crashing and the zombie children shouting adds to the realism of the scene.
Mise En Scene: Simple things still counted and although seatbelts wouldn't seem like a major thing it was and you still had to abide by health and safety regulations.
Colour: red smeared across the floor and the red on 'rule 4' linking to death and blood.