FILM ASSESSMENT (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) 2

“All the Boys Love Mandy Lane”.

I will be analysing the scene from “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane” (genre: Horror) in which the main character is revealed to be evil. This is the scene when “Mandy” stabs and kills another character towards the end of the film showing that she is not as innocent as the audience once thought. The two micro-features I will be exploring are: Performance and sound. These micro-features will show how the film mocks the audience as they are expecting to see exactly what the beginning of the film gives them, when in fact the ending is something completely different.

Performance:                                                     

At the beginning of this scene we see one of the characters “Chloe” running away from a car that is chasing her, towards the main character “Mandy”. Amber Heard’s (Mandy) performance in this scene is very important as this is the scene where the audience is shown her true intentions. Then a bit further on in the scene “Chloe” is shown to be dying on the floor with a knife in her stomach. This reveals to the audience that “Mandy” has stabbed her friend. After this, Amber Heard’s performance changes as she is now portrayed as the villain of the film as she leaves “Chloe” on the floor and walks off like nothing has happened. This shows the audience a more cruel side to her as she almost acts as if it is what “Chloe” deserved. She doesn't seem fazed by the event. At this point the audience can tell that she as dropped her innocent act and her true personality has surfaced. This shows to the audience that she is not who they thought she was. Her personality changes between caring and protective to sadistic and heartless. This also suggests that “Mandy” has worn a mask throughout the majority of the film, but once she has completed her task she has taken off her mask and her true identity is revealed. By showing a quick transition between the caring “Mandy” the audience thought they knew to an evil “Mandy” shows how “Mandy” has managed to deceive everyone. This scene is important as it indicates that she has used her friends trust as a way of getting what she wants. Due to “Chloe” running towards “Mandy” shows the audience that both “Chloe” and themselves have no reason to doubt “Mandy” and her intentions. In the film it is shown that all the boys want to be with “Mandy” and all the girls want to be “Mandy”. This shows that no one would expect “Mandy” to betray her friends. It surprises and shocks the audience when her personality changes when she kills “Chloe” as no one see’s it coming.  The characters in the film try and protect her from the killer, when in fact they should be protecting themselves from her. All the characters literally die for “Mandy Lane”. Due to Amber Heard’s change in performance indicates to the audience that everything they knew about “Mandy” was all a lie. This makes the audience feel as if their sympathy and trust has been misplaced toward the character “Mandy”.

Vocal Performance: In the scene it shows "Mandy" shouting at "Chloe" to run to her. Amber Heard's vocal performance is important as it shows her quick change in personality. When "Mandy" is shouting at "Chloe" she sounds concerned and worried for her. This shows to the audience that she genuinely cares for her friend and wants her to be safe. But after "Chloe" is stabbed, "Mandy" laughs about the blood and starts joking around with her accomplice. Due to the quick change in the way she talks (showing sympathy then cruelty) shows how she has outsmarted everyone. The change in the tone of her voice also shows to the audience that she has manipulated people in to thinking that she is the perfect girl. At the beginning of the scene she sounds innocent, tricking "Chloe" into a false sense of security. After she has killed "Chloe" her voice is calmer and relaxed which shows to the audience a more sadistic side to her. This shows to the audience that killing one of her supposed friends hasn't affected her. She feels no regret or sympathy.

The performance in “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane” is one of the most important features as it used to deceive the audience and make them make their own assumptions of the character “Mandy”. The director forces the audience to follow the stereotype that the characters give “Mandy” in order for the reveal to be that more confusing and shocking.

The Performance within this scene creates meaning as the scene shows the transition between good and evil which is what makes this scene so important. Without the quick change in performance and the change in voice the scene wouldn’t have the same effect as it wouldn’t surprise the audience. The scene is supposed to shock the audience as they would never have seen it coming.

Sound:

The use of both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are important in the scene I have chosen as they are used to show to the audience that something is wrong.  When “Chloe” is running away, she runs into “Mandy’s” arms. At this point you can hear the knife being stabbed into “Chloe”. This is the first sign to the audience that “Mandy” is not the angel she is made out to be. The sound of the knife being stabbed into “Chloe” (being diegetic sound) is subtle but still easily heard. This confuses the audience as it gets them to question what they have actually heard. At the moment when “Chloe” is stabbed she is being comforted by “Mandy” which contradicts the idea that someone has been stabbed. The knife is not seen, but the audience implies it is there. The sound of the knife being stabbed into “Chloe” also symbolises the end to “Mandy’s” act. When the audience sees that “Mandy” has stabbed “Chloe” they now know what here true intentions are. The noise of the knife is the point at which the plot and the audience’s ideas of the film change.

The use of non-diegetic sounds is also important within this scene. Just after the diegetic sound of the knife, slow piano music is played. This is used for two things. Firstly, it is also used to make the audience feel as if something is not what it seems and that something is not right. The music makes the audience think that something scary or unpredicted is going to happen. The music also contradicts the action of “Mandy” comforting “Chloe” as it is slow and intense. Secondly, the non-diegetic music is used to create suspense within the atmosphere. The piano music is eerie and gloomy which changes the atmosphere of the scene from fast paced to dark and intense. At the beginning of the scene “Chloe” is running away from the killer. This is fast paced and full of action as the audience is unsure what will happen. But as soon as “Chloe” is stabbed and the music enters, the scene takes a dramatic turn becoming more sadistic. This has the same effect of the micro-feature, performance, as it is used to show the quick change of personality within the character “Mandy.

The use of sound within the scene is very important as it is used to trigger certain emotions within the audience. This is important as the use of sound effects and music allow the audience to make their own interpretation of what is going on with the scene

In “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane” the director uses both performance and sound to create evil within the character “Mandy”. These two micro-features are important as the main character, “Mandy” is able to both hide and reveal her true personality to the audience. She is able to manipulate everyone into thinking that she is someone she is not. Also these two micro-features trick the audience, as they watch the film expecting to see what they believe is going to happen but instead they put their trust into the wrong character. The scene shows how quickly “Mandy” can switch off her humanity. This creates an unexpected twist in the story line.