"The Cell" Essay Analysis (New and Improved)

This clip begins at 0:50 and ends at 3:46.

"THE CELL" is a psychological thriller, and this particular scene is where the protagonist first enters the mind (dream world) of a serial killer. This film was distributed by a mainstream institution called New Line Cinema and released in 2000.


The beginning sequence is a montage. This builds up tension as is fast paced to create enigma for its genre: thriller. During this, the diegetic sound is enhanced to signify each subject matter’s importance. This could also connote the confusion of the serial killers mind. It is also low key lighting which could signify the dark thoughts of the killer’s mind and creates enigma.

For example a low angle shot of the character is used, where the audience are looking down on her, wondering if she is ok or she might be unconscious. It could signify the little physical power she has, she unable. This could also connote she is the protagonist hero, one of the narrative roles according to Propp.

Also included in the montage is a range of close up shots of different subject matters. A shot of blood drops in slow motion is used. This slow motion edit could signify its importance and makes it very significant. Dripping blood connotes death or suffering. This could foreshadow her destiny at the end of the film. Repetition of the shot and the sound creates enigma, tension and fast pace for the audience, as it is a thriller. The use of a regular jump cut is an unexpected interruption and could signify the interruption of the blood dripping and fast pace.

Another extreme close up is of an eye that blinks. It has a blue hue to it, added in editing, which connotes coldness or sadness. This could signify how cold, lonely and isolated the protagonist feels.

There is also an extreme close up of a lady bird getting blood dropped on it. The shot jump cuts and repeats the same thing but is slightly zoomed out. This disorientates the audience and signifies the confusion of the serial killers mind and thoughts. A lady bird could represent people or other characters getting hurt in the film. This could foreshadow violence or pain that could happen later in the narrative.

In the mise-en-scene there is a cloth over the protagonist’s face. It could connote death, isolation or the unawareness of her setting. When she takes it off, a sense of clarity for both the audience and protagonist is signified. This makes the audience identify with her. In this shot there is use of a top key light, which signifies the attention is on the protagonist. It also makes her look glamorous and contrasts with her dull, bland setting which is binary opposition.

There is a short shot of a wolf walking off, which creates enigma. Later on the wolf howls which is diegetic and creates more enigma.

There is a close up of her hand with the cloth and the blood on it. It is a point of view shot which means the audience identify with her. This is also signified because both the audience and the protagonist know as little information as each other.

Grasshopper, lady bird and leaf signify nature. This could connote the setting has outside qualities but is inside. This binary opposition could signify the confusion of the setting, protagonist, the serial killer’s mind and the audience.

Camera work of the first shot rotates while tracking which disorientates the audience. It could signify the protagonist is regaining consciousness. The establishing shot signifies distance and the character’s isolation. There is little identification which creates enigma codes, a theory of Barthes. The non diegetic sound is of a cell gate closing. It could also signify isolation or loss of freedom or escapism. This is also signified by the framing; she is positioned in the middle of the frame showing her loneliness.

The use of medium and long shots connote the size of the setting and her loneliness. For example there is a long shot of the protagonist looking into the darkness as she hears a diegetic howl from the wolf. This creates fear for the audience as they and the protagonist are relying on sound as protection, as she is alone. There is then a shot of the wolf shaking bloody water of its coat. This uses reversal shot of the protagonist and the wolf. The shot of the wolf sutures the meaning of the protagonist confused facial expression.

There is a shot of another character running up the stairs. Again there is use of low key lighting with a top key light, which creates a silhouette. This creates uncertainty and enigma for the audience. The top light could also connote foreshadowing of the next setting in the film which is in high key light.

The next scene is of a horse in a room. Again the animal nature reference could connote the binary opposition of the thoughts in the character’s mind. This shot is cross faded from the last which shows a time period of her walking up the stairs. This scene is high key lighting to connote a calm and angelic setting.

The shot pans from the horse to the protagonist. This creates enigma as the audience wouldn’t know what the large shape is. Then there is a long shot of the horse and the boy. This shows the setting to be inside and filled with clocks-props in the mise en scene. A close up of the protagonist shows her caring facial expression. This connotes protagonist’s sense of catharsis and therefore the audience catharsis as the boy is content. Along with this there is a loud enhanced diegetic sound of clocks ticking, this highlights its importance and could foreshadow events in the future.

A point of view shot of the protagonist from the boy’s perspective. This is signified as his head is positioned at the side of the frame- as if we are next to him. The audience identify with him and share his fear.

There is a close up and medium shot of a clock ticking, particularly the hand. At this point the diegetic sound of ticking gets louder. This connotes an action code will happen. It also creates tension and enigma, which is common in this genre.
A low angle shot of the razors in the ceiling create enigma. The angle connotes the razors are scary, intimidating and powerful.

Non diegetic sound builds up to create tension and provoke fear in to the audience. It is fast paced and exciting.

The character of the mind the audience see (the murder) is represented as a confused person. There is binary opposition of the dark side and the innocent side. On one hand it could reinforce their stereotype because many people have come to realise that psychos have their feelings and thoughts based on their past. He starts off as the Proppian villain and almost ends up as the innocent Proppian princess of the film.

This film is about understanding the world of a serial killer. Many people have stereotypical views of criminals which are created by the media. Sensationalist stories in the media about psycho killers recently have created a moral panic about people’s safety and wellbeing; society has not yet become desensitised to this issue. This has created stereotypical views and has stopped people understanding the “truth”. This text challenges these stereotypes and makes people aware of what serial killers think and what their thought processes are. This film therefore has positive ideologies because they want to change or make people aware of their though processes. This text could also have liberal values because it progresses the thoughts of the audience, personal growth.

The narrative of this clip is linear. There is chronology which signifies the audience are going on a journey with her at the present. In terms of Todorov’s theory, this section could be the disequilibrium because the character and the audience have little understanding of what is going on-there is no feeling of normality nor resolution and closure. Narrative pleasures from this clip include suspense, stars and escapism. Jennifer Lopes, the protagonist, is a big celebrity, which would appeal to her followers.

This film would appeal to Explorers and Reformers from Young and Rubicam’s 4C’s psychographics groups. Explorers would appeal to this film because they are willing to try out new and different styles of film such as this one. Reformers are for personal growth and social awareness, so this film will appeal to them as the values and ideologies behind it are similar to theirs.

In terms of demographics the audience would be B, C1 and maybe C2 from the Socio-economic scale. This is because the film challenges very adult values and ideologies. Also the B group would appreciate the creativity in the cinematography in the film as their jobs involve creativity. From the Uses and Gratification Theory, audiences would consume this text mainly for escapism because the settings and action codes are far from reality. It would also provide entertainment and social interaction because people would discuss the ideologies behind it.


To conclude, the clip is full of lots of shot, a montage, which builds up the tension needed for its thriller genre. It is done very well as little is revealed to the audience, engaging them and raising lots of questions. It also reflects the minds, thoughts and feelings of charters in the text creating a powerful, dynamic and "out-there" feel to the text. This is also created through the use of post-production effects:enhanced sound effects, jump cuts and colour hues, and the setting: a binary opposition of high key and low key lighting.