FILM ANALYSIS: All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)

FILM ANALYSIS: ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE (2006)

dir. Jonathan Levine

BBFC 18 , MPAA R 

Opening Length: 8 minutes

Budget: $750k

Box Office: $1.9 million

Theatrical Distribution: 20 territories

Production Company: Occupant Films

Distributor: The Weinstein Company, StudioCanal UK, Dimension Films 

Synopsis: A group of high-schoolers invite Mandy Lane, an innocent, desirable girl, to a weekend party on a secluded ranch. While the festivities rage on, the number of revelers begins to drop mysteriously. (IMDB)

LINKS: wikipedia, IMDB, Box Office Mojo 

Trailer: 

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Possible Influences For My Film: The slasher archetypes used, inspiration for character of Mandy, blurring of scream queen/final girl trope, using a party setting.                       

Companies/Idents: 

This was the only ident used in the opening, and 

it lasted for 10 seconds. This is conventional as it is a small budget film and there isn't as much risk involved for the companies. 

Opening Shot: 

The opening shot is a close up on an exit sign, a possible sign of foreshadowing as well as being a slasher convention of signalling danger to the audience (privileged pov).  The sign is in the central third of the screen denoting its importance. The camera then pans down and tracks through a school corridor. This is counter typical for an opening shot, as they tend to be ELS to reveal as much exposition as possible. 

Titles:

The only company title shown is the name of the producers, which is in the centre of the screen in a serif font. This denotes a serious film, and the red background connotes blood and danger. 

The main title is against a black background, and is all white to denote Mandy's innocence and role as the hero. There are red animated splatters that appear connoting blood. The name Mandy Lane is capitalised, showing its importance. 

 

Mise-En-Scene/ First Five Shots: 

The shot pans down from the sign into a school corridor. Teenagers are seen on the left and right thirds of the frame and the focus is blurred. 

There is a close up of a blonde girl's chest, catering to Mulvey's theory of the male gaze. The low cut flowery shirt is stereotypically feminine, as well as the long blonde hair. Her position in the central third of the frame denotes her as the protagonist. 

There are close-up shots of students turning to look at her, and the camera tracks their glances, and creates a sense of voyeurism. This focus on the girl further anchors her as the protagonist. Narrative enigma is also built up as the shots are tightly framed.

This medium close up reveals the protagonist's face, providing exposition. She is conventionally attractive and her blonde hair and appearance denotes a stereotypical scream queen. Verisimilitude is created of a school, with the crowded corridor and lockers in the background. 

This medium close up shows a female character staring at the protagonist, placing her as on object of desire for both the genders, denoting a scream queen. The next shots showing a variety of teenagers also allows for personal identification with the target audience of the film.

Sound: The titles are accompanied by sharp, drawn out notes, that force the viewer to hold their breath and create tension. This music is also distorted and creates an uneasy feeling. There are sounds of slashing and splattering when the blood appears on the title. A scream is heard, and then a bell, which transitions to the first shot. A soft pop music soundtrack is playing, and contrasts the tension of the title sequence.