'The Ring' Scene Deconstruction

This short sequence is taken from the final scene of the 2002 psychological horror film 'The Ring' directed by Gore Verbinski. Throughout the sequence, there is strong use of sound, both diegetic and non-diegetic, to create suspense and build up the horror feeling from the audience's perspective that the sequence as a whole revolves around.

• There are several repetitive sounds throughout the sequence including the diegetic sound of a telephone continually ringing in the background and the non-diegetic background orchestral music which pulsates and crescendos while a medium pitched droning sound plays under it. These sounds are especially effective when they are mixed with the continual breathing of Noah, the main character, in fear of Samara, the main possessed individual of the film. This heavy breathing also brings use of audible repetition and adds to the build up of tension within the scene, almost mimicking a heartbeat sound. 
• When Samara exits the television screen from the inside into Noah's apartment, there is an abrupt high pitched non-diegetic sound which conveys Noah's (and the audience's) fear of Samara as she climbs out of the screen into the apartment. 
• Noah's fear is also conveyed within the diegetic sound of him falling backwards whilst making other desperate sounds to get away from Samara such as heavy breathing. 
• Samara also makes diegetic sounds which resemble bubbling or flowing water as water is something heavily referred to and used in the film as the character of Samara emerges from a well. 
• Other than this diegetic water-like sound, Samara's movements as she crawls on all fours do not make any other sounds which give the character more connotations of mystery and horror. 
• Samara very suddenly appears standing in front of Noah where there is major use of an abrupt non-diegetic sound used to accompany Samara's movements and ultimately scare the audience. This sudden almost supernatural movement of Samara causes Noah to be propelled backwards into a shelving unit in fear and shock which causes violent diegetic sounds of smashing glass and Noah again heavily breathing and making desperate sounds during his attempts to escape from Samara.
• As Samara's face is revealed, the non-diegetic orchestral music slows down and later other blunt and shocking non-diegetic sound crescendos dramatically as a POV camera shot of Samara speeds towards Noah who screams. 

• The sequence uses close-up camera shots (right) of Noah's face as he watches Samara walk slowly paces towards him within his television screen. This is used to clearly illustrate and convey the character's fear and anxiety of Samara and what he is watching on the screen of his television. The director or director of photography has chosen to use a close-up shot of Noah's face to emphasise the character's emotion so the audience can clearly follow what is happening in the sequence through mise-en-scene.

• The sequence uses a close-up and panning shot to convey the movement of Samara as she exits the television screen and crawls towards Noah. The fact that the camera follows Samara as it pans to the right and keeps her entirely within the frame at all times conveys that Samara is the focus of the scene and is the thing or individual which is most important within the sequence. 
• The way the camera is put on the same level as Samara as she crawls on the floor again shows how she is focus of the sequence and does not give any sense of inferiority or superiority through high or low angle camera shots, creating a sense of mystery as in the audience doesn't quite know who or what she is. 
• However, later on in the scene the camera shots (right) frame Samara in the foreground with Noah in the background or mid ground with Samara taking up more of the frame and appearing bigger. This, unlike the previous shot, does show Samara in a clearly superior position to Noah who is constantly shown in vulnerable positions as apposed to Samara who takes up most of the frame and seems to have control of the whole situation and it is evident who will ultimately come off better of the two of them.