Genre Analysis

The Devil Made Me Do It.

This documentary was mixed, as there was a combination of elements. Reconstructions were used to dramatize it, narratives were used to push the exposition and interviews were used to add drama and sensationalise.

In terms of themes within this documentary, there are many deep social themes including murder, religion, music, and youth. Another theme is the effect of the media on society; Marylin Manson’s depiction and representation is part of the exposition within the documentary, as murders are blamed on him. This plays on society’s values, as even in a small rural Italian town, media affects the youth there.

The narrative structure within the documentary is linear; the beginning of the documentary sets up the exposition and conflict. We, as the audience, also ask the question ‘Why has the nun died?’, as this is the problem which surrounds the documentary. In the middle, we question the influence of Marilyn Manson – is he the puppetmaster of the murder, or is he simply being used as the scapegoat? The end brings resolution through equilibrium. The town is now normal, the inverted crosses are gone and the girls are in jail.

Cinematography in The Devil Made Me Do It mainly showed the town of Chiavenna as vulnerable; crane shots over the town were used under the narrative and during sounds of the reconstruction to make the town seem innocent yet deserted. High angles were also used a lot; over the graveyard and over the audience in the Manson concert, making the problem seem more important than them, while expanding the severity of the problem.

Cantered shots were also used which make the audience uncomfortable and confused, which contrasted with the more average establishing shots of Chiavenna and the murder scene. Other important shots within the documentary include the interviews of the teenagers; they are all in two shots in groups. This means that they are protected by each other and are not vulnerable. The last interview in the documentary includes a close up of the expert blaming Manson for the death; this finalises the audience’s perspective on the murder and cements the blame on the music star.

In terms of mise-en scene, within the interviews everyone is interviewed in their own environment. This makes the interviewees more comfortable and they seem to talk more fluidly.

When the psychologist expert is seen getting on a train, although this is staged, it also shows her as a career woman. She is also powerdressing in terms of her costume; she is wearing a bright red suit which commands the attention of the viewer.

In other terms of costume and makeup, when we are introduced to Marilyn Manson concertgoers, we see lots of people with their faces painted like Manson, wearing black clothing and stereotypically acting like the social group ‘goth’. This references rebellion; there were others that attended the concert who were dressed normally, but we are introduced to them as they seem to be the ones who will reinforce the exposition of the documentary.

Sound within the documentary was largely diegetic within the large amount of interviews, but non diegetic sound was also used (e.g within the reconstruction) to dramatize the action and shock the audience. Sound effects were used to compliment this and create the feeling that the audience were eavesdropping on the action. For example, religious music, gothic music and effects of heartbeats were used to break up the action and create excitement. Natural ambient sound used within the documentary also helped to ‘spice up’ the action, including police sirens and church bells.

Editing within the documentary included lots of long takes for which the voiceover narrative is very important, in order to make sure the audience’s attention is maintained. Cutaways were used in every interview for the same reason; several linear interviews wouldn’t make sense and would confuse the viewer. There is also shot reverse shot between the audience and Manson in the concert footage and eyeline match on the cantered camera footage.

Archive material used within the documentary to make it more interesting and show the history of similar events included concert footage, music videos, interviews, nun’s funeral and the news.

There was a small clip of the columbine shooting, for which Manson’s lyrics had been blamed before, which shows that he has a history with violence, although he was never found guilty, it supports the exposition.

All of the archive material used within the documentary evokes a sense of wrongdoing on Manson’s part, and again, reinforces the exposition.

Graphics used in the documentary were largely quite simple. Subtitling was used during the concert footage, which even included swear words, which is largely frowned upon and now prohibited.

The opening title was white on black and featured ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ in religious style font; this connoted opposites and the contrast of good and evil. Also, when using captions underneath the interviewees to reference their names and occupations, the graphics were white and in a small, basic font, which didn’t detract the attention from the action.