Max's Death Analysis

Analysis for a scene from 'Hollyoaks' where a character max dies just after his marriage.



The clip starts with a toy figure with a parachute flying across the screen with Tom (the boy) running after it. It cuts to Max looking at a car and Tom in the road. (Max knows that the driver (Nile)This makes the audience aware of the drama about to happen. The soundtrack over the top is similar to something from 'Casualty' or 'Holby City' which make sounds that simulate machines used in hospitals. This then suggests a hospital before the drama even happens.

Quick shots between Tom, Max and Niall links the 3 well and creates panic and makes the audience expect something big to happen. Max runs into the road to push Tom onto the curb before he gets run over. By pushing Tom out of the road you see Max stumble back into the road and get hit by the speeding car. This is the huge drama that the audience has been waiting for. Just after the crash you see the toy figure land on the ground hitting his head on the curb which relates to whats happened to Max.

The next few shots are in slow motion as if everything has slowed down. OB his friend runs over towards him and Niall slowly stumbles out of the car with the camera from a birds eye view slowly spinning round as if he is disorientated as you would be after a crash. This creates a more involved feeling for the audience. He then runs towards Max who is being clutched by the road side by his 'best mate' OB again this is in slow motion as if no one knows what to do, until OB shouts 'Phone an ambulance now' and everything is back to normal speed. This shows OB is taking control of the situation and is determined to save his best friend.

He holds him on the road side and the use of the 180 rule in the conversation between the two. OB is calm and optimistic as you have to be in these situation especially with a small child around but Max starts to his last words as if he knows he is going to die. Saying 'tell Steph it was the best day of his life' the irony is that he ended up dying on the best day of his life. He also says how he loves him (OB) to the response of 'What, listen don't be gay' as if he can't believe that this is happening and doesn't want to believe it. Trying to joke of the situation as if its not happening. The true male response to if a friend said that. Tom's crying adds to the sadness and makes the audience feel sorry for the boy who is confused and scared.

The music then changes to nice calming music when Steph enters. At first she isn't sure it is Max but then runs in shouting 'No he's not' and then the next few clips are in slow motion again but also muted. This is a good effect and increases the slowness and devastation that people are feeling. The music is playing but you can see Steph screaming and OB, Steph and Tom are all crying. Max's head is left resting on Steph's white dress and shows peace and innocence as it is perfectly aligned around him. In the background is Niall on the floor with his head in his hands wearing black which is a dark colour of crime

It then zooms out and pans up towards the sky, as if his soul is going up to heaven after he dies. There is also a little short recorded clip from the wedding in remembrance showing you the sweet and Innocent character he is. this then fades to black which creates the ending and the ending of his life.