Transcript for:
Analyzing Tone Shifts in 'Parasite'

[Music] oh and yes here's somebody what happens when the movie you're watching turns into something completely different [Music] [Music] just when you had a grasp of the characters the plot and themes the floor falls out from underneath you a fantastic example of this can be found in bong Joon Ho's immaculately constructed parasite this is more than just a plot twist the entire look and feel of the film is upended watch how the tone shifts between comedy and menacing thriller [Music] yeah it's not just hums I'm doing on air [Music] before we crawl in subscribe and bring the bell to get a steady digest of filmmaking technique videos like this parasite is all about power those who have it like four part family and those who don't like the Kim's the Kim family has conned their way into becoming servants for the parks signorine infamously in this first half of the film the tone is generally light and charming but then bong joon-ho manages to pull off a hundred and eighty degree change in tone and genre spoiler alert we're about to reveal one of parasites biggest secrets our first hint that something is wrong comes with the arrival of the ousted housekeeper moon one young body was caught my body once clean and proper moon's presence is immediately unnerving she's soaked in rain her face swollen the grainy monitor the unflattering angle all of these imbue her with a creepy unsettling appearance and it's our first clue that there is more to this character than previously assumed educate don't wanna be [Music] the script describes her current appearance as grotesque with one eye heavily swollen Peter Borik was loyal immediately the director shifts the tone we punch in tighter to emphasize a manic expression as the script describes his moment moon Wang flashes a creepy grin as she points to the stairs descending into the dark storage basement that's data coverage against the yeah it now feels like a suspense thriller where is this going pushing us further into thriller territory is that very next shot somebody doesn't want anyone to see what's about to happen we were confused before but now this situation feels dangerous as Chung sook follows moon into the basement we see this it's an absurd visual as humorous as it is unnerving the genre has shifted back it's a comedy again but the biggest reveal is yet to come panicked we follow Chun soo into the unknown depths the character camera and audience are all caught off guard and a left needing to catch up and what does choong-soo find in the basement is it as horrifying as the last few moments through not quite we're back to surrealist comedy the creepy husband the milk bottle the pliers the banana these elements point directly to absurdist comedy but the look and feel of this basement with its sickly green lighting point to something else entirely creating a unique viewing experience that of uncertainty and curiosity the gags and comedic tone of the first half are eventually replaced with I states power shifts to delve under hook to hoot and holler if ik violence these are the unsettling dualities of parasite [Applause] a delicate and metaphorical tightrope that the director walks throughout the entirety of the film how did you feel about parasites midpoint shift did we miss anything tell us in the comments feel free to take a page from bong Joon hos playbook when planning your sequences just be sure to return it before he notices remember to subscribe and click the bell to stay in the loop with more filmmaking techniques we'll see you in the next one [Music] [Applause] [Music]