NARRATIVE ANALYSIS: THE SKELETON KEY.

1.       The narrative structure of the film is linear. The story flows in order and the sequence builds up to the end.  This is the main reason why this type of narrative was chosen, as you always want to be clear with the storyline and plot when it comes to horror/thriller and because the main , big and shocking point of the film is the ending. More evidence for this is that the narrative is also a three act structure; where the opening introduces the setting, the middle is where the main protagonist tries to figure out the answers to mysteries and questions and the end is where the main protagonist is trying to find a way to escape and save another character. Again all of these events are setting up the audience for the ultimate, climax twist, which is the ending.

2.       In this film are restricted narrative is used and throughout the film, the audience follow the main protagonist discovering and understanding everything in the way that she does.  The reason why this is an effective choice is because, if for example an omniscient narrative was used, then the several jumpy and scary moments in the film would not produce as much effect and the whole film together with the ending would become more predictable, dissolving the brilliant twist at the end.

3.       The trailer of the film also uses linear narrative structure and the trailer is a short sum up of the events of the film, without ofcourse revealing the main scary parts, the twists throughout and the twisted ending. Although the narrative is tried to kept mostly restricted in order to avoid spoiling the film, there are several elements present that can be said to be part of omniscient narrative. For example a part in the trailer concentrates on the voodoo powder, which your enemies are not able to cross and when the main protagonist puts it on the floor, the woman who has been portrayed also as protagonist and as her friend can not get to her. The reason this is used is because this creates an enoigma for the audience before they watch the film and this makes a dilemma and argument in their heads whether that old woman is actually the protagonist or the antagonist.