The terminator micro reading

I am going to analyse a 7 minute sequence from the film, The Terminator. The section I will be doing is from minute 26-33.

The first shot is of the TV reporters head, which fills the screen. He says ’News just in…’ This is fast and gets straight to the point of which shows it is important. It could also makes the viewer feel claustrophobic as they feel they can’t escape from what the TV reporter is saying, which makes the audience empathise with her. Sarah is also feeling the same way as she can’t escape the terminator. His voice is assertive when saying the victims name and he uses short sentences to keep the audiences attention. It also emphasises the fast pace of the film.

The director has indicated the importance of the message from the news by using a close up. He has also done this because we see the TV before we know it is in a restaurant, so there is nothing to distract our attention from listening to the reporter.

The whole film is fast paced with quick cut shots. Sarah, unlike the audience, is relaxed and getting her food. This shows the audience how unaware she is of what is going on. The TV has be

The Terminator then walks into ‘Tech Noir’, the theme to the music playing in the club is about being killed which fits with mood of the film.

The moment of killing is then over and broken by the phone ringing. As the answer machine picks up the call Sarah’s recorded voice is heard saying ‘Machines need love too’. This is quite ironic considering it is a machine that is tracking her down.

We see a flash of red flash of light from the lazer, fill the screen as it goes over Sarah’s eyes and we are shown this from her line of vision. The red represents blood making the audience feel tense. The audience is on the edge of their seats willing her to get up and run.

There is a low angle of Sarah’s friends feet and when the Terminator first comes into shot there is also a low angled shot of his feet. It is as if the director is comparing man and machine in every way. Another way of looking at it is that is also shows Sarah’s friend doesn’t have any shoes on, which adds to the thought from the audience she is will not be able or is going to get away.

As the Terminator pulls out his gun there is a slightly low angle. This makes it even more obvious even his gun has more power and is deadlier.

Music starts to play as Sarah turns away from the TV. The music is gradual and builds up slowly building tension at the same time as the audience has no idea what will happen next. I think the music tells the audience there is a change in the mood of the film from shock into trying to do something about it as she then decides to get out of there.

Sarah is then seen working her way into a night called ‘Tech Noir’, black or dark technology. This also gives the audience another reminder that technology colludes with the threat building up against Sarah . The use of this name is also ironic because it not only alludes to the technology prevalent in the film but also the time and type of film genre that ‘Terminator’ is placed in.

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