This first image of hot wax sticking to the kitchen side as the camera tracks the surface, illustrates a messy lifestyle that can be communicated as

dysfunctional and maybe gives a slight hint of a key theme in the film? The fact that the wax dominated the shot shows its’ importance to the entire film.

The camera continues to track the side of the stove and the noise of bubbling liquid can be heard as well as non diegetic sound of very faint opera singers giving an eerie feel to the

images on screen. Additionally, the fire from the stove demonstrates danger and foreshadows what is to come in the film.

This close up shows the audience the source of the bubbling sound and it reminds me of a witches’ cauldron because it is black and mysterious. The sound of violins and subtle screeching has now become louder highlighting the climax of the object and the idea

that this substance plays a big part in the film.

This following camera shot is side angle shot of the kitchen side and what appears to be a woman’s hand flicking ash off of a cigarette; this relates to the fire of the stove and maybe

she is smoking because she is stressed out or fed up with something about her life. The year 1974 is displayed as a communication to the audience that this was a long time prior

to the making of the film.

The close up of someone stirring the pot of hot wax gives the connotation of a witch stirring a potion and therefore entails villainous actions. Also, the music has more of a creepy melody to it; kind of upbeat in a way that makes it even more chilling and this

adds to the thrill of what’s next to come within the opening of this film.

This birds eye view shot changes the course of thought I initially had. It is clear now that the person dealing with the wax is a woman, but she appears to be making some sort of mask? It’s

definitely of a human face because of the way it is shaped from the inside. Additionally, the tools shown on the table illustrates that she is probably very good at this craft. However there’s

still the eerie feel to these opening shots as the music is still playing.

This is an extreme close up of the wax falling into the mask and filling in all of the cracks to get the most authentic wax face after the wax has set. At the point of this shot the music begins to get louder and this adds to the chilling effect and also the theme of skill and the art of what the woman is doing. I think the reasoning behind this shot is to show perfection through what the

woman is doing with this mask. She’s trying to be powerful in creating s new face.

Yet another birds eye view shot projecting a high chair with a small child eating his or her cereal. Due to the fact there’s a blue plane on the table, I'd feel correct in assuming it’s a boy. I also thought that this was a strange contrast to the music and what we saw the woman doing in previous shots and this added to the drama caused by the music because now the audience

feels danger for the boy, where earlier it was a general feeling of future danger.

This mid shot of the boy’s legs show that he is sitting in a high chair and it wasn’t apparent why this shot was used until later on in the scene. It was used to communicate the idea of

being free and this child in particular having the freedom of sitting happily eating his cereal swinging his legs. The sandals give the idea that maybe this is set in a hot country?

This is a cut away and shows the woman perfecting the mask. This makes the audience wonder what this has to do with the boy because he is happily fending for himself not harming anyone. Furthermore, the music has an increasing edge to it and you know that whatever we’re waiting

for, is about to take place!

The continuous use of cut away and close ups illustrates the detail that the director wants us to see and all of these shots add to the build up of what is to come. Again the theme of messiness is viewed here by all of the cheerio hoops scattered on the high chair table.

A final cut away to the woman putting down the mask to see to the child in the high chair. This shows the love of a mother to a child because she is putting aside her original task to see to the well being of her son. This could mean that she values the part of her life that is normal because it obviously isn’t nice to have to make a wax mask everyday,

and the love she shows for her child who can sit there happily to himself could also trigger the opposite part of her life that makes her fed up and stressed.

This mid long shot of the kitchen shows a number of things. Firstly, the mother tending to her son and offering him more cereal and secondly, that there is another highchair in the room?

Another child within the family? Could this be who the mask is for? Again, the influx of climaxed music hints to the audience that danger is once again approaching.

The mother is caring for the son and giving him more cereal and as this happens, screaming is taking place off screen. This is at first very sudden and unexpected however there was always something coming because of the build up of music and the

idea of imperfections through the use of a mask. I also noticed the milk bottle on the table has a smiley face which gives the idea of a mask – all smiles even though something is

clearly wrong.

It’s not very clear in this shot but there is actually a man carrying a child into the room while he is kicking and screaming. The man says, “he’s really being a monster today!” Although this made

me think, they’re not giving him a chance as it’s only breakfast time? Additionally, something must have provoked him in order to react in such a way?

The boy is fighting away his dad and does not want to sit in his high chair and the smashing of the mask (through it falling off the table) shows the disruption the boy causes to his family and

finally illustrates the danger that was coming all along.

This eerie image shows what the mask would have looked like had it not smashed. It’s definitely for a child’s face and this again shows the power the mother has because this

mask would take away any show of emotion the boy would have had. It’s a plain face, and the fact that it’s now exposed on the floor like this relates to the way the boy

is neglected and treated wrongly by his parents.

Shows the contrast

between the boys’ freedom!

Again, the theme of power...

The boy is being strapped in and his freedom is being stripped from him....

He tries to fight back by scratching his mothers withered hand ...

She slaps him across the face and this ends the scene, fading it to black...

The eerie title of the film is then brought onto the screen with liquid wax seeping through the outlined

letters.