Documentary Analysis

The Devil Made Me Do It

Type of Documentary

• The documentary uses more than one doc style within it so it would be classed as a mixed

documentary. It has elements of self reflexive documentary when Marilyn Manson is talking

direct to the camera acknowledging the presence of the camera.

• The Documentary uses a narrator through out so it also has elements of a fully narrated documentary.

Themes

• The documentary has a number of themes running through it such as;

• Religion• Crime & Punishment• Music & Influence • Possession & Control• Responsibility

• (Impressionable) Youth

Narrative Structure• The Documentary has a linear structure

running through it as the events where told from beginning to end. The documentary

had two parallel narratives running through it at the same time with one side being the

investigation of the murder with the 2nd narrative concentrating on Marilyn Manson

touring during the time of the investigation/ his influence on youth.

• One of the parallel narratives was concluded with the investigation being over (Equilibrium restored) whilst the other left

a kind of cliffhanger as Manson is still performing.

Camerawork• There were a variety of camera angles used within the documentary "The Devil Made Me Do It" The

footage available for the documentary was limited so they had to adopt a artistic approach by using an array of footage documenting the scenery of the town and the satanic markings left on the church. Long shots were used to try and depict the the environment to the audience. Whilst using pan shots above the village at night to try and create an eerie, dark and sinister atmosphere during the murder reconstruction.

• Archive material was used in making the documentary notable the investigation narrative where it was mainly archive footage. The editor does not get control of shots or angles as the footage wasn't filmed by his camera's. This meant the editor could only show what was available regardless of the angle or shot.

• A range of interviews where used in the documentary, the interviews were shot in either a medium close up, a mid shot using the rule of thirds.

• All of the interviews were shot in a natural light with no additional lighting used.

• However when Marilyn Manson was interviewed he was at times filmed at a low angle this may or may not have been a conscious decision but it created the impression that Manson was in power.

Mise-En-Scene• The documentary depicts the youth featured as bad and unpredictable,

there was an interview scene in particular with 3 teenagers who were friends of one of the murderers discussing that there was nothing to do in the village, this is obviously a classic teen "I'm bored" cliché. In the frame one of the teenagers was slouched laying across the bed not seeming too

interested in the interview whilst another one of the teenagers was smoking. Another example of teens being shown in a negative light was

teenagers in what seemed to be a bar drinking and gambling, which as the documentary had a religious theme running through it these are deemed

to be wrong. Teenagers also throwing the pool balls around and using equipment incorrectly shows the unpredictable and reckless nature of the

teens.

• There are a lot of shots of the village in Italy used, this has been down to try and provide an insight into the interview subject.

Clip of Documentary

Sound• In the documentary when footage from the village was being shown it

often played a transient or synthesized drones over the top to create an eerie atmosphere, this is not the only instance of music being overplayed on top of footage. When the documentary looked at

Marilyn Manson it often used his songs either in the background or just the music.

• Heartbeat was used during a reconstruction scene where the nun was being killed, this was to try and create a tense, nervous atmosphere

for the audience.

• A translator was used over the confessions so the audience could make sense of what was being said.

Editing

• There was often a change of pace in the editing based on where the documentary was at between the investigation and

Marilyn Manson. The editing during the investigation was more slow paced and quickened when Manson was on screen

creating a contrast between the rock and roll music and the tranquil village life.

• The use of long takes highlighted the binary opposition between the nun who was killed and Marilyn Manson.

• Cutaways were used during interviews to provide variety in footage.

Archive Material/ Graphics

• Archive material was used heavily during the documentary, especially when documenting the Marilyn Manson Gigs and the footage shown regarding the court case/ media waiting outside the court room. The heavy

use of archive material may have been used as the editor may have not been able to acquire their own footage

therefore having to use archive footage.

• There were very little graphic effects used during the documentary, the documentary opted to go with the font

style "Ariel" and used very basic graphic allocation.