The dangerous and dread imagery of set design in M German Expressionist film is a filmic genre which was influenced by German Expressionist paintings in 1920s. In its style, “Expressionist depends heavily on mise-en-scen. Shapes are distorted and exaggerated unrealistically for expressive proposes.” Mise-en-scene is expression that blends with visual elements such as costume and makeup, lighting, set design and figure movement and its behavior. The characteristics of mise-en-scene include stylized elements, exaggerated distortion, juxtaposition of similar shapes within composition. More importantly, “All of the elements of the mise-en-scene interact graphically to create an overall composition.” Which means, the diverse visual elements not …show more content…
Caligari was waiting outside the police station, an arrow-shaped geometric figure pointed at him. It appears to the audiences that this questionable man could be dangerous. It might also refer to Dr. Caligari’s evil intension. In F.W Murnau’s Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horrors, the vampire Count Orlok is framed with the door enters Thomas Hutter’s room. This shot looks like a dead body laying a coffin. The coffin is replaced by the similar figure—the door. To some extent, it emphasizes and foreshadows an impending death and danger. Another example of this is there is sword-like imagery on the door of Hutter’s room. His heart is pointed directly by a long …show more content…
The “M” in the movie name is short for murder, which is an implication of danger. The “M “sign appeared frequently after Hans was found to be the suspect of killer. When he was seen taking a little girl to the store and bought her fruit and candy, he was marked with “M” chalk powder on the back of his coat. When little girl and him wondered around the toy store, there was a “M” between toy doll’s leg. A “M” sign could also be spotted on the wall which opposites the shop window. Those “M” signs are telling audience dual danger. For little girl, her life was threatened by this man standing next to her. For Hans, double “M” echo the mark on the back of Hans, implying his identity of a killer. He was found out to be the murder who killed girls before. As a serial killer of children, he was exposed and followed by the fellow