The use of lighting in this film played a huge role for me in character identification as well as a prop. The shadowing and darkness really kept the suspense high throughout the film. Using reflections as well as low key lighting enhanced the bad intentions of certain actors. In the first scene of the movie, a male figure places a bomb in the trunk of a car. It seems to be an abandoned parking lot by the use of lighting, until the camera pans back and you actually see there is a town. The scene gets brighter even though it's a night scene. With this being a black and white film, I really noticed the intense use of different lighting between the actors.
Other then a few long range shots of vehicles driving, I believe the film to be on a set. Even though there are several takes where the actors appear to be outside, it seems to me that it's a realistic set.
Jill Loucks
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Thanks for posting, Jill.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to know what clues you got that it was filmed on a set? I agree with you, but wonder how you came to that realization.... By the use of reflections, do you mean the use of shadows? Shadows cast on faces, shadows cast from one character onto another, shadows cast on the walls, all are used to create a mood of lurking mystery and "evil" and also to add characterization. How is side and bottom lighting used to create similar effects? Also, what about the film's setting of the Mexico / American border and how it speaks to attitudes about relations between the two and the two nationalities on their own? Also, what about the specific locations you mention, like the motel, the tarot card reader's home, the streets of the Mexican border town? How do these places foreshadow plot, character, and mood?
Stacy