How does Thompson create an atmosphere of threat in the ‘School Yard’ scene?

Thompson creates a threatening atmosphere in the School yard scene by using lots of different techniques. For instance, the  use of lighting is very effective in this scene, because even though it is very sunny outside when Nancy Bowden gets into her mothers car her face is completely covered by shadow and so is a large proportion of her chest, the fact her face is obscured form view means we are unable to she her expression and could also foreshadow the darkness awaiting her. And because her chest is covered to its almost as if she’s trying to cover herself up even though she is fully clothed.  

A sense of threat is given when we first see Max Cady, this is because we see him at the end of the street, he walks down the street and is near enough in the center of the street, people are walking in front of him and so are cars, obscuring him from ours and Nancy’s view, making us feel uncomfortable about where we might see him. All of the other pedestrians are walking away from her in the car, this is threatening because it makes us see that she is being abandoned and all on her own.

The use of diegetic sound is really effective as well because when he walks past the fountain it hisses like a snake this symbolizes danger and could even be linked back to the devil, indicating that he is pure evil and dark.

The darkness of Cady is shown when he uses a prop, a cigar as a sexual innuendo. The way he looks at her and smokes his cigar is threatening and away for him to say what he will do to her if he gets his hands on her.

The was this scene is set up and the cinematography used also shows us how sinister and threatening Cady is in this scene there. There lots of close ups of Nancy’s face showing us the innocence in her face and how terrified she is. There are also a lot of close ups of Cady’s pelvis signifying a sexual tension. There is also a low angle shot when Cady grabs Nancy, the effect of this shot makes Cady look big and threatening while Nancy looks small and feeble. When we see Cady outside the school gates he appears to be behind bars reminding us that he is a criminal and sinister. But when we see Nancy behind the school bars we get the impression that she is young innocent and trapped. The bars are also shaped like phalluses which is also threatening because they are part of the school gates, where children should feel safe and secure which is the opposite too how Nancy is feeling.

Again diegetic sound is used to show threat because even the way Cady walks is threatening, his steps are robotic and inhumane, they are equal in pace and are threatening in contrast to Nancy’s clumsy and light foot steps. Because she is so clumsy we feel sorry for her and that she has no chance of getting away from him. When she is crying it makes us feel sorry for her too because we see how vulnerable she is and how young and scared she is.

The non-diegetic music creates a threatening atmosphere because it is chromatic and speeds up and gets louder as Cady approaches the car. It is also staccato, making the scene feel jumpy and us as an audience are put on edge because the music makes us feel unnerved and worried for Nancy’s safety. The non diegetic sound track blocks out the sound of the diegetic music on the radio. This music was comforting to Nancy but when Cady gets close he ruins this for her making her panic and feel threatened. 

Nancy feels threatened when she is chased into the basement of her school. The mise-en-scene of the scene is threatening and create atmosphere. This is well portrayed when she is forced to run around the lockers, they look very claustrophobic and maze like, almost as if she is trapped again. Again we feel sympathy for her because she is crying and whimpering to herself. Through out this scene she is made to look small sweet and innocent where as Cady looks big threatening and dangerous.

In conclusion, threat is portrayed well in this scene and the juxtaposition of the devil and angel, Nancy Bowden and Max Cady works really well. These two characters are polar opposites and their actions fit them. Threat is clearly seen all over this scene, from the sound of the fountains to the way Cady smoked his cigar. Everything he does is meant to be hinting to a threat and make Nancy feel small and threatened.