Textual Analysis - Gothika

The opening sequence is started off with credits which are against a black background with white writing which appears and disappears with a blurry effect. They stop for a while whilst the conversation between the main character and the psycho lady. This is probably done because perhaps this certain part of the scene is important or significant towards the rest of the movie. The music is scary and very heavy on stringed instrument through the credits and the beginning of the sequence. The style of the music and the credits may have been done like that to get the audience to start feeling fear.

The first character takes up the entire camera shot with a close up shot which she talks straight into it. She looks scared and rough, but at the same time she looks like she is having pleasure, or about to. Of what we can see, she looks like she has been ill or she is mentally disturbed. Her clothes look too big for her, her hair is messy, her skin looks rough, she looks dirty, and her fringe isn’t cut straight. However, the character who is next to take the whole camera shot with a close up is completely opposite. Her hair is nicely done and well brushed, her skin is smooth, she looks clean, her clothing is nice, fitted, and looks warm. However, the tone of her voice and her body language towards the psycho lady is slightly patronizing. Her body language, as well as her facial expressions looks calm, relaxed, not really bothered, and rather bored. We realise that she is the main character because as well as this, wherever she goes, the camera follows.

Gothika is set in a mental hospital which is known by the background when the psycho lady, Chloe, is saying her short monologue. But even then the setting isn’t very clear until the camera shoots behind the wire where the main character and the psycho lady are. However, when the camera switches to the main character, we don’t officially know that they are having a conversation. Only when the shot is a long shot with the camera the other side of the fence, we see that they are having a conversation between each other.

The title of the movie is said twice by the psycho lady when she is being strained. This gives the audience the idea that perhaps Gothika is a person and is calling for help, or maybe she is using the word to curse the main character or those around her. With this, or any of the psycho lady’s words and actions, the main character does not seem affected or disturbed, or really bothered in any way. However, when the psycho lady grabs the main character’s wrists, it is as if she is trying to warn her because, maybe she knows what is about to happen to her.

Later on in the sequence, we find out that she is married to her boss. But we only know this because he uses the phrase, “keep an eye on my wife for me will you”, and even so it is hard to catch as it is said rather fast. But it isn’t otherwise evident that there is form of relationship between them two except from a few hints like two kisses, and the employee saying, “Sorry am I interrupting the happy couple”. We see the love and devotion from the husband to his wife, but not really vice versa. The husband is always willing to help his wife and you can hear and see the unconditional and irrevocable love for his wife in his voice, but this isn’t really returned by his wife. Whilst they are working their conversations are strictly about work and nothing personal.

As the sequence continues, information and the plot are revealed rather slowly which is quite good as it creates more tension and suspense for the audience. Suspense and tension in this sequence occurs more than once. For example, when the main character is in her office writing things about her patient, thunder begins, lights are gone, but they flicker. Then a figure from know where with a torch shines the light in the main character’s eyes. This creates tension as we don’t know who the figure is.

To conclude, Gothika’s opening sequence is slow moving and doesn’t reveal much, but it gets the audience in the mood for a thriller, and after you’ve watched it you will want to watch more.