Lord of The Rings - Return of the Kings analysis

The scene begins with Frodo and Gollum walking into a dark, gloomy cave. A wide shot is used initially to show the enormity of the cave and the situation. Frodo is shown with his silhouette illuminated by the sunset outside, which makes the audience feel like it’s a bad idea going in the cave. It also makes Frodo look very small and vulnerable, in turn making the audience feel worried for Frodo. We can see a light at the end of the tunnel, but it has a bluish tint to it, which makes it look menacing. This implies that the light isn’t leading Frodo into something good but instead to his inevitable death. The use of low-key lighting also connotes a certain doom.        

The next shot shows Frodo entering the cave alone. We can see spider webs on the walls in the distance, implying that a spider-like monster is lurking in the shadows. The spider webs also imply that Frodo is trapped and has no other option but to carry on because he can’t go back. The camera slightly pans left to right using a tracking shot, which mimics Frodo’s actions and shows the audience his point of view. It also builds up tension because we’re as confused and scared as Frodo.

After that we experience a POV shot from the monster, Shelob. This was done by using a handheld camera, I know this because the camera was slightly shaky to symbolize the breathing of the spider. The POV shot was achieved by showing Frodo being watched through a little peepy hole. This shot is used to show the audience that he is being stalked. Frodo appears to be very small through the hole and there is a lot of space around the camera. This symbolizes how easily it will be for the spider to kill Frodo and also shows how big it is. Also the way Frodo is being watched when he doesn’t know is very voyeuristic, and because we are seeing it from the spider’s perspective makes the audience feel like voyeurs. Another reason a POV shot is used in this scene is to inform the audience that Frodo is being hunted, which in turn gives us privileged information. This makes us feel tense and scared even more.

The next shot is that of Frodo realising he is alone in the cave. It begins with a medium shot of Frodo from a low angle with camera focused on Frodo in the background. Using a low angle makes the situation more dramatic and makes Frodo look a bit taller, symbolizing the danger he is in. Next the camera changes focus to the object in front of the camera, a skeleton. This is used to foreshadow Frodo’s future and show him he is in danger of death.

Next we see a wide shot of Frodo moving through the cave, away from the light. The way he is moving further away from the light demonstrates that he is moving from safety. Frodo then hears a sound that makes him stop abruptly. The camera then tracks forward into a medium close up of his face to show his fear and the realization that he is being watched. After that the camera tracks back to a wide shot to show Frodo again, but this time he is obscured by thick spider webs in front of him. This symbolizes the fact that he will ultimately end up caught inside of them but also the thicker the spider webs become demonstrates how far he is into the cave.

The next shot is a medium close up of Frodo with not much room in the shot around him, this shows the audience that he is trapped inside of the cave. The camera then pans and tracks around Frodo into a extreme close up of his face to make the audience feel more empathy for Frodo and to position them closer to him.

After that we see a POV from Shelob who is looking around the corner at Frodo. The shot is again obscured with webs that she has spun herself, suggesting that she knows Frodo is exactly where she wants him to be. Next we see our first POV from Frodo, it shows him looking further into the cave with two ways to go. The camera pans left and right to show the audience there are two ways to go but Frodo chooses the wrong one, showing the audience he is doomed.