Week 1: The Lodger

Let us consider the scene in which the Lodger has a conversation with Daisy from the opposite side of a door. Prior to the Lodger going over to the bathroom Daisy was in, we see him pawing at his marked up map; this may cause one to wonder, why go talk to Daisy right after looking at the map? Looking from retrospect, we may make an inference that the Avenger’s strikes reminded him of his sister and, as a result, the also golden-haired Daisy. This scene at a cursory reading implies that the Lodger is just receiving clarification from Daisy about the events surrounding the dress; however, with further inspection, this scene could arguably be placed to represent a bonding moment between the two while misleading the watcher to further suspect the Lodger as the Avenger.

Firstly, we should note the Lodger’s costume change from his map pawing attire (42:40) to his door conversation attire (43:19). He moves from a slightly disheveled look with robe and tie out crooked to cleanly suited. Additionally, looking at mise-en-scene, rain pours outside his window prior to him speaking with Daisy (43:31). The first may imply a “sobering up” of sorts, that is, the lodger summoning the courage to speak to Daisy when he believes she may possibly be angry about the dress he purchased for her. This works as a milestone in showing him to be benign in their relationship in showing how he would react to what was potentially her denial of his gift and, as a result, him. On the other hand, the rain sets an ominous mood attempting to cause the viewer to consider he may be up to something insidious – since insidious things happen when it’s raining. However, this angle and the Lodger’s opening of the curtain emphasizing its presence should be seen as far too direct and obvious of an approach to alert the viewer to the true intention of the scene.

Secondly, on Daisy’s end, up until they have their conversation, she bathes. As the Lodger works his way to making his presence known, the camera makes close-ups on Daisy’s moving feet (43:58). Along with her nakedness, this parallels to a possibility that Daisy is helpless and vulnerable, since she is naked, and is attempting to run away from danger, as symbolized by her moving feet. However, any close-ups of her feet are drowned out by continual close-ups of Daisy’s face, which we see are shot from an angle that has Daisy at eye-level with the camera. This contrast to the angles used on filmed victims of the Avenger (0:55, 27:46) shows that Daisy is not in any actual danger but, on the contrary, is very much having sensible and amiable moment with the Lodger.