“THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT”

Documentary Analysis

Documentary Type

The Devil Made Me Do It is a mixed documentary it is a mixed documentary as it uses a combination of interviews, observation, narration and achieve material.

Themes

The main themes of the documentary are:MurderCrimeReligionThe power of the mediaThe influence of Marilyn Manson (through his

music and actions)Youth cultureGood Vs Evil

Narrative Structure

The narrative structure is a single stranded documentary. It is also an open ended and non linear documentary.

Camera Work

The handheld camera that is used while following Marilyn Manson allows the audience to feel closer to the action that is unfolding. The use of a handheld camera is also used for actuality footage and shows the chaos that is occurring around the journalist.

Interviews are framed in a medium close up or close up fashion. Interviewees are positioned on the left or right of the screen to also show what is happening in the back of the shot. The shots of interviews with Marilyn Manson were filmed with a slight low angle this gives the illusion that he has more power. Also the fact that these interviews Marilyn Manson is partially in the shadow this can give connotations of evil.

Face partially in shadow

Interview is right aligned

Slight low angle tilt

Camera Work

Establishing shot of the street where the murder occurred it used to show the audience where the murder took place.

Pan of the darkened city could be included to represent the danger of the streets.

Tracking shot during funeral procession makes the audience feel as if they are part of the action. The audience become a voyeur to the action.

Mise-en-scene

The documentary uses a lot of camera work involving establishing shots of North Italy from 2001.

The interviews are filmed conventionally and the background of each interview provides the audience with insight into the role the interviewee plays. It anchors the meaning of the interview.

Interview shots

Mise-en-scene

Marilyn Manson wears dark clothes and make up that reflects the evil that he is supposed to be.

There are also a lot of shots of religious symbols and icons such as Christ and things like upside down crosses scratched into walls.

Sound

Special effects are used to reinforce the impact of the action they also emphasise the emotion of the event this is especially done through the non diegetic sound track of the nun’s heart beat. This slows during the murder scene.

The sound track of religious and spiritual music that is played on occasion provides peace and shows the contrast to Marilyn Manson’s chaotic music.

The documentary narrator is a young male who talks using standard English and has no distinguishable accent. The narrative holds the argument together.

The Italian to English translation voiceovers each reflect the age and gender of the speaker.

Editing

There is slow motion during the funeral procession while the coffin is being carried shows the sadness and loss of the town.

Cross cuts between the quiet Italian streets and Marilyn Manson’s maniac concerts shows the contrast of the two settings and could also reinforce the idea of good vs evil.

There is also zooms into devil symbols this links with the narrative of the documentary.

Achieve Footage

The main forms of achieve footage are:Marilyn Manson music videosNewspaper cuttingsDifferent news showsItalian TV talk showsThe girls confessionsConcert footageFuneral footage.

Graphics

Graphics are used to give more information here are the main ways they have been used:

The name of the person and their relevance to the topic during interviews, this tells us who is speaking and what their relationship to the topic is. A white standard font is used to stand out.

Important dates and locations.Graphics at the end which close the narrative.Lyrics to Marilyn Manson’s songsSubtitles of translationsTitle of documentary.

Examples of graphics used

Used to close the narrative at the end of the documentary.

Part of the opening sequence.