SSC Film Studies

The Lord of the Rings- King of The Return Analysis

The scene begins with Frodo entering a mysteries cage. The first shot we see is Frodo walking away from light, being consumed by the darkness; this also has conations with what is happening in Frodo’s life as we see him becoming a much darker character in the film. The wide shot places Frodo in the middle where we see surrounded by darkness, this suddenly creates tension as we don’t know what is about to happen, as he is leaving the light and approaching what seems to be like an unsafe place. We suddenly see that Frodo is already trapped this is suggested with the low-key lighting this has conations with danger and evil, this also creates tension and suspense throughout the scene as information is being withhold from us the audience.

The next shot we see is again another wide shot, here we see just the cave walls this suggests that the space is getting smaller as the walls are being to become in enclosed in them selves. The scene doesn’t allow much light this suggests that something bad is about to happen as we cant see Frodo, here the audience suddenly fears for Frodo’s safety as he seems to be vulnerable and isolated in such a small area, with no way of escaping.

The shot begins with a point of view shot from Frodo, as where seeing the scene through his eyes. At this point the audience is beginning to feel empathy with Frodo, as he’s afraid. The scene shows holes in rocks, this suddenly informs both Frodo and the audience that something is the cave and whatever it is un-natural as well as very powerful, this creates tension, as we don’t know what the monster is, tension is also created as Frodo is getting further away from light and entering more of the dangerous and unsafe cave. The shot changes to a tracking shot here we see Frodo getting drawn into an un-natural light, he’s being more trapped as he can’t go back anymore. As Frodo moves forward the camera does, this makes the audience feel as if they’re in the cave Frodo behind him. This shot also has conations that Frodo is being watched by something, and what he is being watched by is getting closer to him this suggests he’s being trapped.

The next shot we see is from the monsters point of view as it shows Frodo being watched and stalked, this has conations with Frodo being prey as he doesn’t know he’s being watched. The shot in this scene is a wide shot, it places Frodo in the middle and the background is unfocused suggesting that Frodo is the main focus for whatever is watching him. The camera seems to be hand-held as the movement seems to be un-natural this has conations that the monster is also un-natural, this creates suspense as the audience don’t know what is about to happen. This scene also shows Frodo being drawn to the light again this creates more danger and tension for the audience. The slightly high angle suggest that whatever is watching him is above him, this angle has also been used to make Frodo look smaller and more isolated, this also could have conations with what is actually happening to Frodo as he’s becoming smaller because he’s becoming more scared about what is around him.

The mid shot of Frodo suddenly goes into a close-up of a dead body; this suggests that Frodo is moving closer to death, as the audience here see a visual connection between Frodo and death. The size of the body is average size; same size as Frodo this shows how the monster must be big and powerful.  The body seems to be on a tilt upward or a low angle shot this suggests that this is important information as death is few feature.