How does the use of sound and cinematography create suspense in the final fight sequence from the movie V For Vendetta?

A wide shot creates suspense because as I see the enemy behind V I see at least seven people surrounding him with guns and one gun out at the side of the screen but I cannot see the person. An over shoulder shot of Creedy is then used, who at this point in time wants V dead. The use of this shot from Creedy showing V creates suspense as it reveals behind V, what I could not see in the wide shot that,V is completely surrounded every which way and it appears to me that it is impossible for him to escape and this creates suspense because it makes me yet again, question if he will survive.The use of the mid shot and cinematography creates further suspense in this scene because it reveals V’s surroundings of two enemy soldiers closing in on him. This shows again that numbers are against this character as the mid shot reveals that there are two against one who are also superior as they are holding lethal weapons that could kill him.

The use of rule of thirds is then used which creates suspense in this scene for a very minimal amount of time as V is on the left hand side of the screen and the soldier (one of V's many enemies in this scene) is on the right side of the screen leaving the gun at the very centre of the screen pointing towards V's head. Then the use of rule of thirds shows that the two characters clearly are enemies as they have space in the middle for a gun to be pointed at V's head and the use of the gun being at the centre of rule of thirds is that makes it seem as if the gun is going to be in clinical in this shot. A wide shot is repeated again within the scene after V kills two of the enemies which is effective, because it shows even though after V has killed two of the enemies, he is still outnumbered and that the odds are still against him because there is only one of him and a numerous amount of enemies. This has effect as it again makes me question if the character V will make it out of this situation alive.

A point of view shot is then used from the point of V looking at Creedy to capture the emotion and expression on his face as two of the enemy characters have just been killed. This is effective because as well as the wide shot this also expresses that even Creedy thinks that V still has no chance of survival. Non-diegetic music then plays in the background at this point to create suspense because as V has expressed that he shall still defeat the rest of the enemy it makes me feel that there is going to be more action, which again makes me question if V will come out of the situation alive because he is still outnumbered. Then a wide shot is used after Creedy and V have a discussion about weaponry and Creedy argues that V's weaponry is useless as he only has "fancy knives and karate gimmicks". This builds suspense within the scene because it could point out that V does not stand a chance using knives and karate against more people (than him) with guns (being a much more powerful weapon). An over shoulder shot of the camera is then used in the scene from a view of V's shoulder pointing directly at Creedy's face after V quotes "You'll be dead before you've reloaded". This shows the reaction from Creedy whether he is scared, worried or not even bothered as he does not believe what V is saying. It is also effective because what I think the directors interpretation of this was to conceal the rest of the enemy with V in the way, only to show Creedy on his own to suggest that perhaps V will take out all of the enemies and perhaps even the character Creedy and him being the last alive. A mid close up is then used to show Creedy pointing his gun towards V. This could show that V is already dead because knives are not faster than bullets and that the bullets will kill V, this shows they do not even have to reload because they already have a mass amount of bullets against V's very few knives.

Then a wide shot is used again with this time the diegetic sounds of multiple bullet shots in this scene as it shows the character V getting shot multiple times by a numerous amount of the enemies, all of the bullets hitting him directly. This creates further suspense because to me, I think it is the end for the character, V as it is not likely for him to survive that many bullets to the body, which shows that he is likely to be dead. Then a close up is used on V's face/mask, which could then show as he lifts his head up that he is alive, coming for revenge and that he is not going to die. The mask is used effectively for this close up because although I cannot see his actual expression it makes the character a mystery as the whole plot of this sequence as to why he is doing what he is doing. Then diegetic sounds of V throwing the knives in slow motion making a really loud swooshing noise like the wind creates suspense here because it makes me feel like they are actually there, that the knives are going right past me straight towards the enemy. This makes me feel that throughout this whole movie that I am actually on V's team, as the knives are not hitting me, which portrays the character V as a good guy and the protagonist/hero of the movie. Then non-diegetic music is used again but more upbeat this time after V kills two more enemies. This perhaps could show that maybe V could win the fight against the enemy as it then goes onto a point of view reaction shot on Creedy's face and he looks shocked. This creates suspense because it could show that maybe there is hope for V as to that he might actually survive and kill the enemy in this sequence. Then a really loud diegetic sound of one of the enemies empty magazines that hits the floor to reflect back as V said earlier he could kill them before they have even reloaded. This suggests to me that he was right, that it is possible for him to kill all of the enemies so quickly and perhaps that now the enemy have no hope in this sequence.

The slow motion fighting in this scene could link to the movie "The Matrix" (1999) at the point also near the end of the movie as is this scene in "V for Vendetta" where in "The Matrix" there is the lobby fighting action scene in which also everything is in slow motion. Both of these scenes use magazines falling to the floor and they both create suspense effectively and in their own way because in "The Matrix" non diegetic sounds are used that are much lower than of that in "V for Vendetta" and create suspense in their own way because in "The Matrix" Neo and Trinity have guns whereas V does not so he is inferior in that perspective so perhaps there is more suspension in the scene in that case however in "The Matrix" there is a much greater amount of enemies than there is in "V for Vendetta" which creates more suspense in "The Matrix" in that case. Diegetic sounds of guns clicking in "The Matrix" create suspense because there are a lot of clicks which shows that there are a lot of enemies and this could show that like in perspective in the movie "V for Vendetta" that they are outnumbered. A mid-close up shot is used in this scene of "The Matrix" as it shows the character Neo's expression on his face and also the weapons that he is using to kill the enemies. The slow emotion effect in likelihood to that of "V for Vendetta" is then used to show bullet shells dropping to the floor which resembles as it shows that both scenes are happening quicker than they actually are which could show that the movie "V for Vendetta" get many of its ideas from "The Matrix".

An overshot is used which is common within movie sequences to show combat/action happening. This shows a perspective of the fight which could suggest that the enemies are very low down and are smaller in comparison to that of the character V, which could suggest that V is moving really fast (much faster than the enemy) and that he is bigger and stronger. Then diegetic sounds of the enemy that has been flipped around by V and his neck cracking/clicking as he lands head first on the floor is effective in this sequence because it is really gory and looks really painful. This could emphasise the pain and expression V is willing to do to people (in specific the enemy) that get in his way, that are trying to stop him from doing what he needs to do. The camera then focuses on Creedy reloading his gun, in the background (which is out of focus) there are two more enemies dying. This could create suspense because it could reflect back to what V said "you'll be dead before you reload". This could suggest that V is going to achieve his goal, as it then goes on to a reaction shot of Creedy looking worried to show him thinking that what V is doing should not be possible and he still thinks it is not possible. A close up of one of the knives that V has been using as a weapon to kill all of these enemies is then shown covering the enemy which could suggest to me that the (still alive) enemy is about to stabbed where the knife is actually covering and that he is about to be killed next. A panning shot then shows V in slow motion killing all of the enemies one by one with his knives and karate moves which earlier, the character Creedy mocked and could show that perhaps the enemies against V were hardly enough for him. To show that it is too easy for him to kill them all which is shown in one simple panning shot. Diegetic sounds of the knives continuously 'slashing' through the enemy bodies are then used. This shows the blood pouring out of the bodies, which looks really realistic and again links to the pain V is willing to bring to the enemy to achieve his goal. However this time the camera is behind the enemies, which could suggest that the director is using the cameras point of view as an extra enemy for them to represent the sympathy he feels for them as they are dying so quickly. A high angle of V repeatedly stabbing one enemy at least three times creates further suspense in this sequence because it looks like I am watching over them dying as a spectator of all this blood, violence and gore happening. This could show again even more sympathy for the enemies that they are being watched over because it is like slaughter. There is then diegetic sounds of Creedy's gun clicking to show that the gun has ran out of ammo which also has a reaction shot of Creedy. This builds suspense to me within the scene because they notice that V is still alive and he is likely to succeed in killing all of the enemies and coming out victorious. Mise en scene is then used of a reaction shot of V behind the gate as V looks trapped which builds suspense to me as it could suggest that after doing all this. Is V doomed and does this portray that he is going to die which makes me upset and have sorrow towards the character and want to know if he succeeds further on in the movie.