When A Stranger Calls Opening Analysis

• The scene begins with a black screen and the titles dissolving in and out with an almost ghostly effect. The whole time, the sound of a strange phone call can be heard, despite not being shown. It begins with a long, slow ring which builds tension.
• The black screen then dissolves into an establishing shot of a house, focusing on an upstairs window with a light on, suggesting the person inside is being watched. The phone call is still being played, giving the impression whoever is inside the house is the one being called.
• This seemingly normal establishing shot of a house then pans to the right to reveal a large and lively fairground. The scene is filmed at night to allow the powerful effect the many different lights coming from the fairground and to create a situation with more likeliness of dangerous events occurring.
• The same sinister music is played throughout the scene, with other sounds over the top such as children screaming, rides going round, the sound of people talking and a dog barking. Parts of the phone conversation are also repeated.
• The same house is repeatedly focused on, foreshadowing the events to follow here.
• An aerial shot of a mother calling her children home from her doorstep is used to show the normal street of houses and the contrasting lively atmosphere of the fairground behind.
• This then switches to an establishing shot of her house and her in front of it, using wobbly camera work, which gives the effect someone is watching her. This tension is added to by the fact you can hear an unexplained sound of heavy breathing.
• The peaceful shot of a wind chime blowing in the wind and chiming is interrupted by the abrupt passing of a dark figure, suggesting a danger situation is about to occur.
• The titles dissolve in on a shot of a carousel rotating.
• The scene then cuts back to the original house and the upstairs window, where a black silhouette is seen and a piercing scream is heard. The rides then begin to crash and balloons pop, adding to the tension.
• A red balloon is released into the sky which symbolises death.