HELL OR HIGH WATER- WESTERN

 

A modern western; Hell and High water directed by David Mackenzie and written from Taylor Sheridon; this opening scene depicts the genres notorious vocal point between lawlessness and civilization through the unnerving witness of a bank robbery.  

Firstly, the audience is instantly met with an unnerving tone through the use of the non-diegetic soundtrack, producing an eerie and anticipating temp; this alongside the elongated camera track of our first vocal point of the blue car immediately introduces the prediction of the cars inhabitants as of importance to the beginning scene. The beginning establishing shot of the location depicts the epitome of southern American through the use of the flags hung up, instantly establishing the patriarchal importance of American culture; this is further explored as the camera pans round, revealing graffiti on the walls which read, “3 tours in Irak but no baitloot for people like us”. 

The focus on this writing suggests to the audience the racial issues that are extremely prominent in American culture, especially throughout the south and thus indicating a political tone within the very first 10 seconds of the scene already; reaching a politically engaged target audience. As the camera shot tracks round, we are introduced to the first character of a women stepping out of her car with her attention focused on the insides of her bag, depicting a casual and mundane action that is suggested to be ‘part of her routine’; this routine is further established as she walks towards a building stating, “Texas Bank” and thus establishing her place of work as she unlocks the doors.  

All in the meanwhile, the music's eerie and suspecting tone is heightened as two men, presumably the inhabitants of the car, approach and attack her. The costume choices of the two ‘attackers’ feature a full black outfit with balaclavas, hiding their identities with a prop of a gun, creating a dangerous and unsettling tone for the well-being of the lady's safety. This shift from a ‘normal’ routine into a violent robbery sparks the audience's engagement and predictability for the outcome of this event as perhaps deadly which again touches on the genre's notorious crime and Anti law narrative which again meets the target audiences' expectations over the main themes.  

 

As the scene progresses, tensions rise as dialogue begins between the attackers and the women shouting to open the cash register which again complies with the idea of lawlessness and their desperation to obtain the money; this desperation is further explored through the change into a fast-paced soundtrack, working simultaneously with the increased speed of camera shots from one character to another to build the growing tension of the event. The audience's prediction of the location is further established through the use of thick southern accents which define the cultural references from the beginning shot of the racially motivated graffiti on the wall as this type of racial comments are well established especially in southern areas of America. As the scene progresses, the narrative becomes more predictable and therefore more engaging in the danger of this unknown character who is set to arrive at 8:30 and therefore establishes an unnerving and anticipating tone as to what the two men will do, emphasizing the dangerous element this opening scene involves.

  

This opening sequence skillfully builds into the audiences anticipation for the rest of the plot, with our focus on the identity and context surrounding the two attackers in their quest to rob this bank and what brought them to situate themselves in this dangerous position; this therefore sets up multiple predictions as to what the rest of the plot will entail. I personally think this opening sequence us successful in reaching an audiences understanding of the tone and genre of the film, involving the criminal aspect of westerns whilst incorporating the hostility of political motives within the lawlessness and civilization through the narrative of this scene and its themes.