Sleepy Hollow Suspense Analysis

Sleepy Hollow, directed by Tim Burton, is a film inspired by the Headless Horseman ledged. A well known detective named Ichabod Crane is sent away from New York to Sleepy Hollow, an isolated town to solve the murders of three people in Sleepy Hollow. Along the way, Crane falls in love, faces his biggest fears and faces a supernatural. Burton’s use of cinematography, mise-se-scene and sound build an atmosphere of suspense. The three major scenes that display suspense in this film are The Cave Witch, Magistrate Philipse and A Head for a Head. Burton uses tension to create suspense and keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Burton’s use of techniques build and atmosphere of suspense in Sleepy Hollow.
In the scene The Cave Witch Burton explores a variety of techniques such as mise-en–scene and sound. The background music is significant as it build tension which creates suspense and fear. The music builds up in the background as the camera moves closer to the witches face, creating an extreme close up
Burton’s does this by using techniques such as mise-en-scene and cinematography. The Horseman is chasing Mazbeth, Ichabod and Katrina through the Western Woods. A close up is shown on Katrina’s face, to show expression, by using a close up the viewer cannot see what is actually going on. This creates an atmosphere of suspense to the audience. As the Horseman grabs onto Ichabod, this further builds the feel of suspense because the audience is left wondering what will happen next. Burton’s use of mise-en-scene and cinematography build an atmosphere of suspense.
Burton’s film, Sleepy Hollow builds suspense throughout the film, but in particular the scenes The Cave Witch, Magistrates Philipse and A head for a head. Burton displays a variety of techniques which further build the suspense. Sleepy Hollow is a gothic horror film inspired by the ledged of the Headless