Sucker Punch (2011)

"A young girl is institutionalized by her abusive stepfather. Retreating to an alternative reality as a coping strategy, she envisions a plan which will help her escape from the mental facility." (IMDB)

Sucker Punch works with similar ideologies of mental distress as the movie 'Sybil (1976)' does. Based around the storyline of a young girl (Baby Doll) whose past results in her being violent and developing a depersonalisation disorder where she envisages herself in alternate realities in order to cope with life inside a mental hospital.

The movie has a chronological structure to the narrative, we are experiencing it as it all happens to Baby Doll, there are few jump shots in order for us to understand that time is passing. However in contrast to the linear structure the narrative is quite meta-fictive as the 2 alternate realities that Baby Doll retreats to have a story of their own.

I think this type of narrative is successful as it tells the story but also makes references to the chaotic mess that could be up in her head. The music is important and the cuts that go alongside this help us keep up with the pace of the movie.

The lighting throughout the movie during the asylum scenes is always very dark and dreary referencing to the dark emotions that the characters have there. A lot of the shot types relate to the idea or hierarchy and importance, for instance the low angled shot below references the idea of power and control. The halo effect created by the light is contradictory considering the characters mannerisms in the shot. In addition, the point of views shot makes the consumer feel like they are in the firing line of the subject onscreen bringing the closer to the action.

Also in the movie, there are shots that look down on the patients in an attempt to belittle them and show them their place, because they are ill they are looked down on. Moreover the movie tends to have various shots that include the consumer, like I said before with the POV. There are shots such as over the shoulder on a dolly which make the audience feel like they are being lead into the room and so on. 

I would like to include these sorts of idea's in my digital piece. In particular the jump cuts referencing chaos but also the chronological order that takes place. I will also play particular consideration to the use of shot type and what sort of meaning they can portray.