TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF TWO SCENES FROM KILL BILL- VOLUME 2

First Scene:

In the first scene there is a diegetic sound of cricket, which suggests that the film is set in a isolated area, typical for a horror film. There is a non-diegetic western music playing in order to indicate the setting of the film to the audience. Furthermore the dark lighting shows the audience that it is at night. The audience are then introduced to the blond first girl, which again suggests to the audience that this film is in the horror genre. There is a close up to the first girl showing how beaten up she is. The audience then see two men and immediately believe they are guilty of beating her up due to them being placed in a wide shot hovering over the first girl. Moreover the wide shot shows the audience how isolated the first girl is from society, highlighting there is no where for her to escape to. The editing tool eye-line match is used between one of the men and the first girl when a man holds a pepper spray to her eyes. This allows the audience to worry for her safety, as although she has killed people, she is the anti-hero and the audience are therefore on her side. The close up to her face shows how petrified she is as she is placed in a coffin. 

The camera filming downwards making the coffin seem smaller.   

One of the men said that this is revenge, and the audience wonder what for. Furthermore as she is lying inside the coffin, the camera films at a low angle giving the man the power and superiority over the first girl who is filmed at a high angle to appear weak and vulnerable. As the men begin to drill nails into the coffin there is a close up in order to emphasise that as the nails go in the light dims out, suggesting that all hope for her to escape is gone. At this point the non-diegetic sound stops. This change of sound indicates a change of mood as the audience realise there is no way to escape. There is only a diegetic sound of crickets and the sound of the truck driving her to a mysterious location. Inside the coffin is pitch black, absolute darkness which sets a eerie mood for the audience. Moreover there is a diegetic sound if mud being poured onto the coffin whilst she us banging on the box which emphasis her torture. Inside the coffin all sound is amplified and enhanced by echo done through editing which again makes this scene more horrific to watch by the audience. When the torch is turned on, the audience can finally see her in the coffin. The coffin appears really closed and small due to the camera tight on face shot, making the coffin appear claustrophobic and her scared. The shot is filmed from above the coffin looking down making the coffin appear smaller and darker. When the torch shines on her face the camera zooms in to see the mud and sweat on her face emphasising how panicked she is of dying due to being buried alive. There is a diegetic roar of a car, as it drives away from her buried in the coffin, informing the audience that there is now no one left to help her. 

Second Scene:

Wide shot of her in coffin- coffin looks bigger.

This scene begins with an establishing shot showing the audience where this scene is set, in a grave yard, immediately giving the audience a chilling vibe. During this shot there is a non-diegetic drum, representing a heart beat emphasising that she is still alive. Furthermore this heartbeat is slow presenting the idea that she is calm which leads to a zoom in shot to her inside of the coffin. The torch has changing colour to a more bright golden light suggesting hope, unlike the dull yellowish light in the previous scene representing darkness. Furthermore in the previous scene the coffin appeared very tight where as now the wide camera angle makes the space appear bigger again suggesting hope for the audience. This is done as the camera pans across her via the torch which evidently makes the coffin appear larger. Precendently she appeared as muddy and bloody, but now she is clean, shining blonde and glowing. She comes across as almost angelic. The low angle camera shot indicates that she has power and strength and so a non-diegetic hopeful music begins to play as she begins to plan her escape. 

Her planning her escape from the coffin.

The camera pans across to demonstrate how she is planning to escape which is amplified by the music getting more heroic and the lighting getting lighter. The camera cuts from her eye-line to her boots in order to direct the audience's attention to her boots where her pen knife is hidden. The hopeful music suggests to the audience that she is going to escape. There is a close up of her face showing her smiling as she gets closer to her escape. The pace pocks up due to the quick cross cuts which is matched by the sound increasing in tempo and speed as her liberation is near at hand. She begins to punch her way out of the box. As her hand comes out of the mud with a triumph fist punch, the music stops immediately symbolising that she is going to live. 

Her hand coming out of the mud.