Apartment 143, Funny Games & The Orphan: Weather

Psychological Film Deconstructions: Weather
(Apartment 143, Funny Games & The Orphan)

Within a psychological horror, the use of mise en scene is key to hint at the development of the storyline. Weather is a feature in mise en scene as it can be used to foreshadow events or set the scene, an example being a grey sky tends to be used to connote a death as the colour grey is rather dull whereas, the use of sunny weather would connote something positive within the plot. 

Apartment 143 (End shot of trailer)

• A low angle shot has been used as the shot looks up at the window slightly yet the shot is still able to catch the sun rays on the floor of the room.
• The make-up of this shot is very simplistic as the room is not furnished nor does it loko painted If the walls are white they are filmed with minimal lighting as they appear grey and dull, although the use of the sun overpowers any colour that may have been in the room, therefore making it look drained. 
• The use of sun in this shot subverts the idea of sun being used to connote happiness. "Apartment 143" is a psychological horror and therefore any positive moods being prevailed ay have a double meaning. 
• Therefore as the sun is illustrated as being over powering it can suggest that something within the plot of the story may take over the characters as the sun rays take over the majority of the room. 
• Additionally, the room seems to be isolated and rarely ever used therefore we can obtain that it is permanently out of use so the idea of the sun taking over it, seems to almost be an invasion of private space. 
• It can also be interpreted to mean that the characters involved are isolated where they are and there is no way out whilst the rest of the world get on with their day to day lives. 

Funny Games (Meeting of new neighbours)

• A point of view shot is used here as this is shot from the mothers perspective. 
• Additionally, it's also an eye line match as a cross cutting is used from this shot to the mothers face. As well as this shot being at eye level.
• The use of weather here again subverts any ideas of the psychological factor. The use of the sun connotes the happiness of the new family moving in however they are soon to find out about the horror of their neighbours. 
• Unlike, "Apartment 143" the use of the sunny weather suits the mood of the scene very well again wiping out any traces of the film being categorised as a horror. 
• In contrast to any other psychological horrors "funny games" subverts the conventions many times within the film. As well as playing with the use of mise en scene (including weather). The directors easily manipulate the audience by putting them in a vulnerable position as we are entirely unaware when the slightest of things can jump out of us. Such as the transition of classical music to heavy metal music within the opening credits. 

The Orphan (Sister Abigail's Death)

• A low angle shot is used as the camera looks up at the orphan. This makes her appear a lot taller than she really is.
• By filming her at a low angle she is illustrated as having a lot of power for someone that seems so young and her power is soon shown after she murders Sister Abigail and asserts her authority towards the younger girl present. 
• Unlike the previous films, "Apartment 143" and "Funny Games" the use of weather within "The Orphan" suits the morbid atmosphere.
• The use of the dark colours again connote death, which suits the scene well as the orphan has murdered Sister Abigail. Additionally, the snow creates a sense of coldness within the scene as after death a body turns cold. 
• Therefore in combination with each other, the darkness and coldness create an extremely morbid setting for the brutal death of Sister Abigail. 
• By using snow in conjunction with dark surroundings the colour white is emphasised on dramatically. By using snow the white suggests the innocence and youth of the orphan but this is subverted after her actions. 

In conclusion, the use of weather within a film plays a large role as it is part of the mise en scene. Although there is no correct way in which to present the weather to suit the scene that you are about to film as "Apartment 143" subverts the idea of sunny weather being used to connote a positive atmosphere as its majorly used in the point above. In addition when using sunny weather to represent something solemn as a way of subverting the conventions of weather within a horror movie, there must be something to counter balance it, so the use of sound can counter balance the audiences entire interpretation of the scene being perfectly ok. Therefore when using the weather as part of your mise en scene it's important to use other conventions such as sound or editing to weigh it out equally.