Week 1 Blog Post: The Lodger

     One of the most intriguing and perplexing scenes of “The Lodger” was the scene in which the fiancé (Joe) jokingly handcuffs Daisy, upsetting both her and the lodger (who is watching from the staircase). Why would a man who supposedly loves and cares for Daisy put her in handcuffs and refuse to take them off when he can see that she is obviously distressed by his actions? I believe that this is a very important scene because it symbolizes the restricted, imprisoned life that Daisy would lead if she were to marry the “wrong man”. In addition, the scene casts even more suspicion on the lodger by portraying him as extremely menacing and threatening.
     The cinematography and the acting of this scene support the idea that Joe is the wrong man for Daisy, and Joe’s unusual actions make the audience silently root for the couple’s break-up. The camera takes a close-up shot of Daisy’s handcuffed wrists (time stamp: 23:09), creating a rather menacing and foreboding shot due to the pure-black background that accentuates Daisy’s imprisoned wrists. In this shot, Joe’s hand is also tightly clamped around Daisy’s arm, adding to Daisy’s symbolic captivity. Soon after, the camera takes an “over the shoulder” shot of Daisy pleading with Joe to release her (time stamp: 23:15). The slightly high angle of the camera and Daisy’s pleading expression creates an image that is remarkably similar to the Avenger’s screaming victim in the beginning of the film. By creating this connection, Daisy is likened to the helpless murder victim, therefore exaggerating her imprisoned state with Joe.
     This scene also casts even more suspicion on the lodger because he becomes very upset by Joe's actions, and the lodger seems to barely be containing his rage. The medium close-up shot of Jonathan’s face is extremely threatening, mainly because of the low-angle of the camera which makes the lodger appear to be even larger than he actually is (time stamp: 23:23). The lodger then does some deep breathing, as though he is barely containing his anger. In addition, the shadows that fall over only one side of his face and his bulging eyes add to his threatening appearance. The cinematography of this scene definitely seems to incriminate the lodger and to suggest that he is capable of great anger and violence, just like the Avenger.