'Paranormal Activity' Trailer Deconstruction

Point 1: Bedroom every night

Camera Angles: 

High angle of the bed every night showing it's vulnerability (even though they are in their own house) Very loose framing around the bed highlighting the space around the bed and the fact that they are alone making them vulnerable.

Editing:

'Night vision' on at night, the audience can see more than the characters in the movie, therefore giving the audience more knowledge. Building tension when the couple fall asleep and the audience are 'still awake' creates a sense of fear.
The time at the bottom of the screen goes fast, showing that the footage has been sped up. When the time is slowed down again the audience know something noteworthy has happened and this increases their fear. Also, the time being recorded at the bottom of the screen makes the events seem more real and heightens the fear.

Sound: 

Usual conversation, relating to the audience showing that it could happen to anyone, these people are also ordinary. The sound throughout the night scenes also consists of a lot of silence and this is effective as

Mise En Scene: 

Bed sheets are white, suggesting the innocence the couple have to spirits and demons and the fact that they are ignorant about it. Same shot of the bed every night, creates a pattern for the audience as the movie goes on, night time will signify fear and they will recognise it is when the demon attacks.
The lighting is a clinical blue and this gives the idea that the demon does not cause terror for a passionate and personal reason and this makes the audience more scared. Also, the audience will recognise the blue lighting everytime it is night and associate it with the unusual goings on.

Point 2: Hand prints on the floor

Camera Angles: 

Birds eye view of the hand prints, this linked with the  frequent canted shots we see of them emphasises that the events are being home-videoed and makes it seem more real and threatening. The canted shots also imply anxiety.

Editing:

During the slip the camera is being moved around from above and is not stationary or steady- this emphasises how the characters are holding the camera and makes the events seem even more real. It also shows how they are completely alone as there is no camera crew and this makes them seem even more at threat. 

Sound:

We hear the female protagonists' diegetic voice sounding distressed and repeating "Oh God" and this increases the unease of the audience as they are made to feel the same as the characters. It also makes them aware that the occurrence is unusual and to be feared. 

Mise En Scene: 

Brown floor suggests protection, the white hand prints are breaking it up and taking the only protection the couple have away from them. Gives the demon a form, confirms it's presence in their house and increases the terror. The fact that it looks more like hand prints than foot prints makes the demon resemble animal traits  and seem like something we are not used to- this increases the fear of the force as we tend to be more afraid of the unknown. Also, by having the hand prints obviously go in a trail towards their bed it shows the direct threat that the characters are in.

Point 3: Body thrown against the camera 

Camera Angles:  

The body comes directly towards the camera and this makes the audience feel threatened as it is though it is being thrown at them.

Editing:

Jump cuts of various scenes throughout the media, such as the ouija board, gathering speed to build the tension before the body is thrown. The scene is quick and the audience are not sure whether they have seen it properly or not. Straight after the event there is a jump cut of a static TV screen which gives the impression that the camera has broken and the audience will never know the end of the story. We also see cutaways of the audience and their terror which heightens the audience's fear as they feel like they haven't been shown all that the audience can see and that they should be afraid.

Sound:

There are regular crashing symbol sounds getting faster alongside the montage of clips which also helps build tension as the audience expects something bad to happen. The sound is also dischordant and loud making it uncomfortable to hear and this emphasises the audience's unease watching the unravelling events.

Mise En Scene: 

The camera footage is the only thing the people can use to view the events of the movie so by being destroyed it could potentially cut off the audience and leave them without knowing the ending creating an uneasy ending. The familar blue lighting is used to indicate to the audience that something bad will happen. We can't see the male protagonist's face and this creates a sense of curiosity as we can't see what has happened to him. We are also made frustrated as the angle of the camera means we can't see what or who has thrown him towards us.

Point 4: Hand held camera

Camera Angles: 

Low angle of the man holding the camera, this strange angle when the man is holding the camera emphasises that we are watching the camera which is filming. We see the camera face-on through the mirror showing the audience what is actually filming and making it seem more real.

Editing: 

This shot comes as a collective montage of clips which show the audience the characters, their personalities and the setting briefly so they know what to expect. This is effective as by familiarising the audience with the protagonists and the setting which happens to be their home, they become much more attached and feel more upset and scared when the demon starts to attack.  

Sound:  

Diegetic sound of the camera rolling as well as conversation- this adds to the realism of the movie which links in with the fact that we can see the camera which is filming what we are seeing. The continuous clicking of the camera rolling also creates tension as it builds up.

Mise En Scene: 

Either side of the shot we can see the frame of the mirror and this not only symbolises how the characters are trapped within their fate but also along with the coats on the hangers makes the shot seem incredibly everyday- this makes the audience empathise with the characters more and increases the tension in the more scary scenes. This is an effective method used at the beginning of the movie or trailer when the audience are being introduced to the characters.

 

To conclude, the setting of home is incredibly effective as the threat being inside the home of the characters gives the audience the unsettling feeling that there is nowhere for the characters to hide. It is also effective having the familar and intimate feel of the home deteriorate over the period of the movie through various methods.

'Shrooms' Setting Deconstruction

I decided to deconstruct some scenes in the film 'Shrooms' to look at how location is presented and used in the story. 

Point 1: Opening
Camera Angles:

The camera angles used in the opening are full shots of a girl running through a misty wooded area. There is also an extreme close up showing somebody's eye. Establishing shots are used to show a mysterious building, telling us that the film is going to link to that location and the woods.  Editing:

The editing used in this opening are a series of jump cuts to disorientate the viewer and quickly switch between the girl running and the people in the building. There is juxtaposition linking the two together and montage editing which piece all the different shots of different people in different rooms together. Credits have also been edited in to the opening. 

Sound:

The diegetic sound used in the opening consists of the heavy breathing at the beginning, matching the girl running through the woods. Also, you can hear her footsteps as she runs. Throughout the opening screaming can also be heard suggesting that the people shown have had bad experiences and could be / are in pain. The non-diegetic sound in this clip is made up of long minor notes, which are very foreboding and make the scene effective.

Mise en scene:

Throughout this opening, it links to location very well, which is good for research. A girl is running quickly through the woods. This adds mystery and suspense as we do not know why she is running, and if there is something chasing her. Also, the blood stains seen inside the large building indicate that something bad has happened, and people have been hurt and suffered injuries. 

Point 2: Journey to camp site

Camera Angles:

There are many establishing shots used showing the van driving through the countryside. This shows that they are in a fairly isolated location surrounded by trees and there are no villages nearby. The camera also pans from right to left showing the van progressing along the road. This is from behind some trees as if somebody is watching them. There is also an over the shoulder shot used behind the person driving the van to show them travelling in a wooded area. 

Editing:

The editing used in this scene is mostly continuity editing showing the van progressing in its journey. There are also eye-line matches used to show the girl looking down at the map of where they are headed. This highlights the location and how secluded it is. 

Sound:

The diegetic sound used in this scene is mostly of birds calling, showing that there is lots of wildlife in the area. Also, you can hear the van driving around the conversations inside it. The non-diegetic sound is made up of long low notes which make it quite mysterious, especially as the people are from abroad - they don't know exactly what they've let themselves into. 

Mise en scene:

The area around the van is always filled with trees and a forest area, showing they are very isolated from everybody. The van is often the only vehicle on the road suggesting that people do not visit the area often. The bad weather could point to something bad happening, or adding to the danger that they could be in, since it makes it easier to get lost. The close up of the map is a huge reference to the area and makes sure the viewer knows how isolated the characters are and how the forest is going to become a part of the story. 

Point 3: Road Kill

Camera Angles:

There are close ups used in this part of 'Shrooms' showing the animal and the face of the guy looking down to him. There is an point-of-view shot used showing exactly what he is looking at (the animal). Reaction shots are used to show the surprise and shock the group witness when the animal moves suddenly, when they least expect it. There is also a two shot used when the indigenous people are shown.

Editing:
Jump cuts are used to show the sudden collision between the van and the animal and also when the animal moves from its laying down position. This disorientates the viewer and creates a bigger shock value. Continutity editing is also used to show the progression in the story.

Sound:

The diegetic sound in this point is made up of the animal hitting the van in the collision. We hear the screams of panic from the people in the van and their conversations about what has happened and what to do next. The non diegetic sound in this clip consists of the music getting higher and higher in pitched, telling the viewer that something is not quite right here. The notes sound minor which also suggests fear and that something bad is happening.

Mise en scene:

In this scene, the woods are used to provide a hidden threat to the characters. This is seen when the animal jumps out of the woods unexpectedly and causes them to pause on their journey. Also, the indeginous people also appear out of the woods unexpectedly. This shows how well you can surprise both characters and the viewer by using a forest area as you don't know what's lurking behind the trees. The woods also make the area quite dark a lot of the time, even though it is the middle of the day, it means that simple things like an animal being by the roadside becomes much scarier as they are so isloated and unfamilar with the area.

 

Point 4: Arrival at camp site

Camera Angles:

Medium shots are used when the campers are putting up their tents, there is also an over the shoulder shot used when they are in conversation. From this you can see just how close they are to the woods, and how they are in a secluded area. A medium shot is also used (see right) where the woods and a lake can be seen, this shows how their only escape is through the woods. Establishing shots of the lake show that they are completely surrounded.

Editing:

The editing used in this scene is continuity editing, nothing dramatic happens in this clip, it is just setting the scene and showing how they are settling into the campsite.

Sound:

The diegetic sound in this clip is make up of the characters talking to one another and putting the tents up. In the background you can hear the sounds of the wildlife around, however the non diegetic sound covers this slighty. The non diegetic sound is calm music which sounds quite happy and doesn't suggest anything bad is going to happen. It luls us into a false sense of security.

Mise en scene:
All the campers are seen putting up tents in a secluded area, with the forest seperating them from the outside world and any help they may need. We see that all their food supplies are carried around in their van, and it does not look like they have access to any more food. They are having to rely on themselves, this could be dangerous because they may run out and there is no where else to get food if something goes wrong, because they are separated by the forest. Also, the lake shows the only escape if something does go wrong, is through the woods.

This film is good for researching a forest location for filming because it shows how much scarier it can make a scene, and how a forest can easily isolate characters from services, making them much more vulnerable. This could be useful when thinking of a film opening because you can quickly make a character appear vulnerable, simply by using location.

Setting of Home: Pros and Cons

Setting of Home: Pros and Cons

Pros

• It is an easy meeting place as members of the group's houses can be used and they are usually easy to get to and recognise which may not be the case for a city underpass or alleyway. 
• There would be no passerbys to interrupt filming- can be more efficient and look more professional.
• There would be not much of a time limit as it would not get dark inside and there is no danger of staying there too late meaning filming can be completed more efficiently and there is a higher liklihood that scenes can be refilmed if we are not happy with them. 
• There would be no risk of being kicked out as we would be familiar with the family of the house and they would understand the reasons for the filming and not be annoyed. This also means we can get filming done more quickly and without annoying anyone. 
• There would be no risk of breaking copy right laws from signs and advertisements on the roads or in city centres. If there is a branding label lying around we can remove it.
• There are no interruptions from weather if filming inside meaning a scene doesn't have to depend on the forecast and filming can be completed at any time. 
• The use of a home setting is effective as it is where a character is supposed to feel the most comfortable and the subversion of that gives a chilling effect to the audience as there is no where else for the character to run making them feel trapped. It is also effective starting off with an intimate homely feel which is decreased over time.
• It emphasises the idea that it could happen to anyone and makes it more frightening.
• It is easy to give the opening a home-video style, similar to paranormal activity, making it feel more realistic and therefore thrilling.

Cons

• There may be problems with mise-en-scene which could take some time to correct or be impossible to change for instance the wrong colour walls/books/photos which might not match up with the character and decrease the effect of the opening.
• There could be disruptive family members present who could be watching television or working at home, as a child minder for instance or perhaps playing music out loud or even be in the rooms that are needed for filming which would disrupt the process and make it more drawn out. There could also be the risk that we disrupt a family member from work or something which would annoy them.
• It could require a lot of redecorating or clearing out in order to achieve the desired effect which may be impossible or could irritate family members. 
• It may be harder to get effective angles such as high angle/birds eye view which could decrease the effect of the opening and make it not as interesting.
• The setting is not a very interesting location therefore a strong plot would be needed in order to make the opening more exciting. 

Areas available: 

• Homes of the group members or of their family members or friends. 
• Derelict homes, unused.

Pros and Cons of location: City/Underpasses

 

Pros and Cons of Location: City

When conforming to the conventions of location when filming a psychological horror many things come to mind such as the location having to be desolate, big, dark and rather intimidating. In this circumstance, if we were to be filming in the city of London the use of landmarks can be used so it allows the audience to know where our location is without any of the characters stating it. However, when using landmarks there will be other members of the public in the same area as us and this would bring down the horror element of out film opening.
 I focused on the underpasses throughout London such as the one below just near Waterloo East Station as they are usually extremely quiet and desolate. They also offer a lot of mise en scene as the colours create a sense of corruption due to the significant amount of different colours as well as the art and dim street lighting. It also offers the set a sense of rebellion as graffiti is usually associated with those aged between 14-19 as a way of rebelling. However with a location such as this there are always pros&cons.

Pros

• Cheap alternative to creating a set, especially when on a budget.
• The public will not make the shot look empty if there are a lack in characters.
• Could use famous landmarks (e.g. Big Ben) as a give away to location, instead of a character stating our where abouts.

• Easy to find an empty place such as an underpass as the photos show 
• There's a variety of places to film so it allows flexibility of the storyline. 

Cons

• Public can easily cause a disturbance.
• May be hard to film in areas that are busy (e.g. too noisy, too crowded). 
• May not be allowed to film at all in some places (could be classified as a disturbance). 

• The lighting of the location may be too poor, even with own lighting equipment (could be too dark or too light). 
• Could easily film a copy righted sign/symbol/logo.
• Travel costs could be too expensive.

Location Deconstruction: 28 Days Later

Location Deconstruction: 28 Days Later

http://megashare.info/watch-28-days-later-online-TlRReE5BPT0

Point 1: London

Camera Angles

• An establishing shot is used allowing the audience to see the location in which the film is set. In this case the shot exhibits the famous landmarks of London, such as the London Eye allowing the audience to obtain the setting.
• This is also a point of view shot as this is what the character is able to see.
• The shot is also in our direct sight so it is neither a low or high shot. 

Editing

• An eye-line match is used as this is exactly what the character can see from his point of view. 
• Montage editing is used to combine all transitions of the shots of London together.

Sound

• There is hardly any diegetic sound as there is no dialogue used at all apart from the character shouting "Hello?" alongside his footsteps. 
• This scene opens with no non diegetic sound but as it comes to an end a fast paced song begins to play. The notes are played detached and the drum and bass line plays a large role as in combination they both provide a sense of anticipation for the audience suggesting that the character is on a mission. 
• As the sound is placed at the end of the montage editing of all the shots of the London landmarks, it works as a sound barrier between the last shot and the first shot of the new scene. 

Mise En Scene

• Although London is usually illustrated as an iconic place, in these shots they subvert this idea entirely.
• The colours are all washed out and appear very unappealing to the audience giving off a lonely and possibly abandoned area.
• The colour values are played with especially within the sky as the only colours that we can see are yellow/orange, grey/blue.  Additionally the second shot shows the sky as having dispatched blotches of the yellowness highlighting the possible corruption.

Point 2: Big Ben

Camera Angles

• An over the shoulder shot is used of Big Ben, as it blurs into focus. Once in focus the camera zooms out of it and we are able to see the character fully at a medium shot as we only see his waist up.
• Additionally, it is a long shot as there is more than just Big Ben in focus, however it is not a full shot as we are unable to see the whole of Big Ben and the rest of this surroundings. 
• Also, by choosing not to use a full shot it gives off the impression that Big Ben was not intended to be in the shot and that it just happened to be there as the character wanders along. It could also symbolise how the streets of London had been abandoned so no one was seeing as London how it wanted to be seen. 
• A low angle shot is used, as only the characters feet are in shot as they are filmed trampling over the broken souvenirs of Big Ben and Union Jack flags. 

Editing

• Continuity editing is used as the character continues to wander around London giving off the effect of time moving forward and him getting closer to where he is trying to be. 

Sound

• There is hardly any sound used within these shots. There's only a minor amount of diegetic sound od the characters footsteps and the rattling of the souvenirs as they are knocked across the pavement in result of being kicked around.

Mise En Scene

• The character is the dominant of the shot due to him being staged in the middle of the shot.
• However Big Ben really should be as the lighting illustrates it as being golden and this is emphasised through the grey sky and this is reiterated through the shot of the souvenirs on the ground. Again this highlights on the idea that the perception of how we are supposed to see London is subverted.
• The character is dressed in blue, blue usually promotes a calmness however it can also connote a clinical feel as the character is dressed in hospital gowns.

Point 3: Outer London

Camera Angles

• Unlike the two points above, the shots opposite are filmed on the outskirts of London or not in London at all. We are able to see Canary Wharf however we can tell that it is not in walking distance from the location in which the shot is being taken from.
• The fist shot uses an aerial shot in which the dominant is the top of the building due to the array of different colours. 
• Additionally the camera is at an angle as it's neither straight and films the buildings to be on a tilt, showing the use of canted framing. 
• The shot below is a low angle shot of the two females on a sofa. In terms of location, their surroundings do not connote any sign of danger. 

Editing

• Hardly any editing is used as this is a continuos shot.

Sound

• Additionally, no sound is used for the first half of the first shot as it is just establishing. However, there is soon dialogue heard between the two characters as they engage in conversation, this is diegetic sound. No non-diegetic sound is used.
• The second shot also uses diegetic sound of footsteps and gun shots, soon the two females engage in conversation about a sleeping pill in which results to the younger girl conforming to minor actions in which the antagonists carry out. There is also no non-diegetic sound used as the silence is used to emphasise on the horror element and increase on the scare factor. 

Mise En Scene

• The first shot uses canted framing therefore this gives off a sense of corruption within the story line. 
• Blacks, browns and greys are still used in the first shot and these colours appear as a trend throughout the film. The use of dark colours within a set connote death and the possible darkness of the storyline. 
• The colours of the first shot highlight the confusion and corruption that the majority of the population faced within the film. 
• The second shot shows two females in a dark room, the darkness too connotes death. They are also seated on a mould green chair, within horrors the mouldy green colour connotes an sense of eeriness. 
• Unusually, for a horror the protagonist is female and here she is dressed in red to emphasise that she at times can mean danger. The girl beside her is very young and is perhaps aged around 14/15 although within this scene her character shows traits in which seem to be dangerous. 
• In terms of this film, the setting of this scene is extremely odd as the characters are in a dangerous environment however the setting does not suggest so due to the gold outline of the sofa and the big portrait hanging behind them.   

 

Point 4: Safety

Camera Angles

• An aerial shot is used as the characters are overhead to the camera so we have a birds eye view of them. 
• This is also a high angle shot as at this point this is a point of view shot from those in the aeroplane looking down in them. 

Editing

• Tracking is used as the camera follows the plane as it moves closer to the characters. 

Sound

• The sound used us diegetic as we can hear the whirring/roaring of the aeroplane as it approches the house. 
• We can also hear the shrieks of excitement of the characters and their pants as they jump up and down in reaction to seeing the plane approaching them. 
• There is not any non-diegetic sound used at this point however once the plane has flown past we see the three characters come together as one family. In most films we would expect non-diegetic sound to be playing however in this case this is subverted as the unity of all three shows the finality of the film.

Mise En Scene

• Unlike the reset of the shots there is a clear colour being depicted. The green colour connotes nature and balance. As this is the end of the film everything has been restored and this is a better point in the characters life so by using green it connotes the balance and nature being restored.
• In terms of location, within a psychological horror we are use to seeing many dark colours within a desolate area however now that we have colour in an area that we know the characters are safe our minds are at rest. Therefore this suggests that the use of a natural/meadow green within a psychological horror connotes the restoration within the characters life. 

From this deconstruction of 28 days later, it's easier to see the impact the choice of location has on  a film. Although the director chose to use London city as his location he had to make many decisions to fit the story. With a limited budget I would not be able to close off a road in central London in order to film so if i wanted to film in the city i would definitely have to think about whether the appearance of the public would impact. If so, i would have to consider filming somewhere else with a similar view of the city or think about how i could edit it to make it seem appealing. 

Setting of Abandoned Building - Pros & Cons

Setting of Abandoned Building - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Abandoned buildings give a sense of being detached from the world which could be effective within a horror movie. 
• There is no one out there to help, the building is forgotten 
• No risk of being interrupted while filming by passer bys 
• Effective landscape and aura, depending on the building. [warehouse: industrial sense, hospital: medical feel, prison: confined and trapped feel etc]
• Possible to get good camera angles. 

Cons:

• Could be dangerous
• Might not get permission to go inside 
• Problems with copy right laws if we are filming in an abandoned branded building and the logo gets in our film by accident 
• Difficult to find a suitable one to match with our plot 
• Problems with meeting, could be close to one member and far from another. 

Examples of abandoned buildings we could film in:

• The Battersea Powerstation 
• Ferrier Estate 
• Warehouse http://www.locationworks.com/library.php?reference=48403, http://www.locationworks.com/library.php?reference=46279
• Hospitals http://www.locationworks.com/library.php?reference=5635
• Churches http://www.locationworks.com/library.php?reference=4375, http://www.derelictlondon.com/cemetery--churches.html

Pros and Cons of Location: Forest/Woods

When looking at possible locations we could use for films in our film opening, a forest or wooded area seemed like a good place to research and see if it would be useful. As part of researching the pros and cons of filming in a forest I went out to a nearby area and filmed some different shots to get an idea of how it would work if used for our film opening. This has enabled me to see some pros and cons I would not have thought of before hand. 

Pros

• You can use the same area for multiple shots and make it look like many different places. This is because woods are not going to look the same in every angle, and if shots are short they will not be able to tell if it the same place over and over again. 
• Often woods are quite quiet meaning there won't be people around to disturb or interrupt your filming. 
• Woods are usually quite dark even in the day time which can add a scary atmosphere to the filming. 
• They can allow for the element of surprise or shock because actors can hide and jump out on camera which will surprise the viewer, creating a good scene. 
• You can use trees and bushes to your advantage as it allows you to film from behind them or beside them to get interesting shots and angles for the opening. This also means that it is as if the person featured in the opening is not aware they are being watched. 
• Weather, such as rain or a cloudy day can give a scary feel to the filming, useful for a horror opening. 

Cons

• The darkness of the woods can sometimes be a problem because the camera may produce grainy footage due to low lighting. It is difficult to light the area.
• You cannot alter the location in anyway, for example, if a tree is in your way, you can't simply cut it down to suit you, you have to find somewhere which fits your story and doesn't need to change. 
• The location can have implications on the audio of filming, for example in the shots I filmed, in the background you can hear the traffic noises of a nearby motorway. This didn't matter so much for the research, however if you wanted diegetic sound in the opening, such as someone speaking, this could be an issue due to nearby sounds. 
• Weather can impact on filming in the woods. When filming my clips it was a very raining day, this meant that the ground was wet and very muddy. This isn't great while filming in the woods because it makes access to the area harder and also you need to think about safety for the actors. When running, the actor had to be careful not to slip while still running at the same speed. 

Overall, I think a forest area would be very good for a least some of our film opening because it presents lots of ways to allow the same area to be used many different times. I also think it lends itself well to the horror genre because you can add a sense of unknown and mystery, which could if used well and edited in a certain way, be used to scare the viewer. 

'Grave Encounters' - Trailer Deconstruction

Point 1: Introduction
Camera Angles/Shots/Movements: Canted framing in image two, the ground looks uneven. This gives the idea that something isn't quite right. Camera is shaky in image 2 as they get ready telling us that it is a hand held camera and they don't have a really big crew with them therefore there aren't going to be that many people within the hospital. Also telling us that this footage which hasn't been edited and therefore we are getting everything that actually happened without any hidden bits.
Editing: Many jump cuts and 'problems' within the film for example the screen having sections of it not matching up to the rest of the screen which could link in with demonic/spiritual effects on technology.
Sound: Sound of film whirring, discordant and high, uncomfortable to listen to and sets the audience on edge, non diegetic (the crew would not have heard that) telling us that they are oblivious to what is going to happen to them and that they are oblivious to the spiritual connection they are already experiencing (or the audience is already experiencing) the demons/spirits have already got them.
Mise En Scene: Green background linking in with supernatural and illness (connection to the hospital) both the man and the woman is wearing black foreshadowing their sufferings in the future. Black and white diagonal stripes: foils for each other, makes the white stand out among all the black in the first image which could emphasize the innocence the crew have before entering the hospital and the fact that they have no clue about whats going to happen to them.


Point 2: Abandoned Hospital 'intro'

Camera Angles/Shots/Movements: Establishing shot, makes the building look imposing and very large, easy to get lost in. Eye level shot on image 3 making the audience experience what it must be like in the hospital and creating a sense of fear. Camera pans along the room slowly in the second image which builds the tension as you cannot see around the room properly so it builds tension.
Editing: Jump cuts of different clips of the hospital giving the audience a feel of how big the hospital is and how easy it is to get lost in it. This method also shows no proper link between the rooms, they could be anywhere scattered around the hospital so the audience doesn't get to know the area.  
Sound: Different eye witnesses or janitors of the hospital narrating over the top or telling their stories giving the clip a more documentary type feel which are made on true stories therefore making it out as if this story is real.
Mise En Scene: Vertical lines are shown symbolising the building's strength and the fact that it cannot be beaten. A green hue to the images/clips of the hospital linking it to the supernatural. Lots of darkness symbolising evil and suffering (gives a foreboding sense)

Point 3: Old Clips (mental patients) 

Camera Angles/Shots/Movements: Zooming in on the patients we are meant to focus on, high angles of the patients showing their vulnerability and giving the idea that the mental asylum wasn't there to help them just to lock them away (which emphasises what is said in the narration)
Editing: Black and white, foils for each other which could show evil and purity/innocence. Could also emphasise it was a while back, making it more realistic for the audience. Simple font links more to the factual than the made up and extravagant so the fact that it is very simple makes it seem more realistic as well.
Sound: Different accounts of what happened in the hospital, what the patients were like, how they were treated. Once again linking to the documentary side, telling the audience that this was real.
Mise En Scene: Watching a static television suggests being cut off from the world, he isn't being connected with the outside, they were just locked away and forgotten about. Darkness gives the impression that there was no light in that place and the camera lights are the only lights there so once again they were shut off and left un-cared for.



Point 4: Ending


Camera Angles/Shots/Movements: Hand held camera, they are alone. Long shot of the woman giving the audience distance and making them feel safe until it zooms in a lot on the woman's head as she turns creating a sense of unease.
Editing: Face morphs, eyes and mouth are very dark. Eyes are meant to be the innocent and child like part of a human so the fact that they have been infected by the darkness suggests that this person is truly evil. Mouth is dark which could tell us that first of all the whole of the inside of the person is evil, but maybe also that she will infect other people.
Sound: It goes silent when the woman is found in the corner of the room creating suspense and building tension. Then when she screams everyone screams along and the music becomes dramatic and loud, probably having the jump factor and making the trailer scary. Sound building up to this sounds like a camera flash sound which is uncomfortable to hear and very high (could link to frequency, what is real and what is not? Are spirits and the supernatural there, but we cannot hear them because they are too high a frequency for example?)
Mise En Scene: Greeny hue, once again linking to the supernatural. Darkness/black = evil and suffering. Checkered tiles tell us that there is something not right with this, a dirtied (once white) hospital gown suggests infection and links with innocence being tainted by the hospital. Perhaps the fact that this dirty gown is on her could suggest that it's the hospital that made her like this, not herself.

Essay on Se7en

2nd image

1st image

One effective point of this opening is the censuring of the face, here there is a close up of the image which is being censured which is at the top right of the screen, the rest of the screen is black which connotes suffering, therefore this could tell us that the person crossing the image out wants the person in the image to suffer. The whole background that was initially black turns to red which connotes death and blood therefore going from suffering to death indicating what the character has in store for this person, however it might also be saying that the person in the image is already dead and they had suffered for a long time before their death which might be why the character crossed out their face and erased their presence. When the image gets crossed out completely the music becomes much more powerful and a discordant noise that sounded similar to a scream but seemed to be created from an instrument, more likely an electric guitar sounded giving this action much more impact and creating a sense of fear among the audience. It also seems like throughout this short snippet there are words flashing over the top briefly in white font which seems handwritten which could imply that the character has stores of data/snippets of information he/she keeps with them and edits. An effect is used which looks like contradicting film tape which has been played together, there are also jump cuts leading into and out of this scene which creates a disorientating effect for the viewer. (cloe)

Throughout this opening there are many shots of hands sewing pages together. There are a series of close up shots of the hands, which show the plasters on the tips of his fingers. This seems to act as a make-do thimble while sewing. Also, there is an extreme shot of the person pulling a needle between their fingers - this shot is very slow so it draws the viewer’s attention to the needle, which is the dominant in the frame. In between shots of the hands sewing, there are credits and jump cuts to other shots, such as the words being crossed out in another book. The jump cuts disorientate the viewer and make it so they cannot work out what the person in the opening is doing. Cutaways also accompany this, for example there are shots of sewing followed by shots of the pages being turned round, ready to be sewed together. The sound during shots of the sewing is all non-diegetic sound, the sewing appears near the end of the opening and by this time the sound has increased in pace slightly building suspense for the viewer. Also, at random intervals there seems to be the sound of a choir singing one note for a few seconds. This makes the sewing shots provoke fear and could suggest some kind of suffering as the note sung sounds minor. The mise en scene for the sewing shots show that they’re always accompanied by pages in the background of the shot. This shows the viewer that there are a lot of pages being sewn together and it could suggest that some kind of documentation is being put together, from other parts of the opening we see pictures of people, this could suggest the pages being sewn together contains information about them. (rebecca)

Another effective part of the opening is the typography. Throughout the opening many different fonts are used, varying from block ariel font and handwritten, scrawling font mimicking that of a child. Both fonts are commonly used in the same shot, in white, against a black background. By having two different fonts in the same shot an imbalanced person is implied- perhaps one who has a childlike side to their personality due to the font’s similarities to a child’s handwriting. The writing is not stationary throughout the shot and moves around- commonly it is seen to be backwards which then changes to the right way round. This is effective as it gives the impression of an insane person, as the writing cannot be read for a short while. The writing also moves miniscule amounts as if buzzing and this happens as if alongside with the music. This is effective as it looks like it is alive and gives an unsettling feel to the audience. Jump cuts of large, handwritten letters, which don’t make any sense can also be seen and the fast speed of these are effective as the audience can’t be sure whether they have seen them or not. This combined with the constant moving around of the typography and the backwards writing gives the impression to the audience that they are also going insane. (natasha)

In this film opening we are shown a point of view shot from the character in which we are shown his hands searching through a box of files. As well as this being a point of view shot it is also an eye line match as it’s what the character can see. The sound used within this clip is very ambiguous as it creates a sense of curiosity within the audience. Although the sound is in a certain key and as a set tempo therefore is suggests that the character is looking for something in particular and is determined to find it. The bass within the sound develops and becomes very strong and the main heartbeat of it again suggesting the characters determination. Furthermore, the sound throughout this clip is entirely non-diegetic as it’s played over the clip.
The use of mise en scene plays a large role within this scene; the director has chosen to use dark colours such as black, brown and beige to create a dull and dirty atmosphere as brown is usually associated with earth. It also adds to the seriousness of the workroom in which the character is. The hand of the character too is also in the shot and in focus and is additionally covered in dirt; plasters are also placed on the end of his fingers to symbolise the pain, injury and will of the character to complete what he is working on. Again, the use of the dark colours and plasters are used to highlight the earthy and possibility of death as well as the isolation that the character seems to be facing. (danielle)

Conventions of Psychological Horror

When looking at what to include in our film opening, we decided to look at the conventions of psychological horror films so we know what to include and how it will be effective when used in an opening.

Psychological horror films have many conventions which make them effective and scare the viewer. Within a psychological horror, there will be large use of darkness around points of the story where perhaps someone is being watched, or killed. This is effective because the darkness can isolate the character on screen who is the victim, and put them in a vulnerable position, this creates tension and builds fear.

Example Films:

-The Resident

-Orphan

-The Shining

-Silent Hill

-The Thing

-The Uninvited Guest

Psychological films aim to use the viewer's emotions to make the story much more scary and therefore a better viewing. This involves using situations which could happen in real life, this is often much more scary than a supernatural horror because the viewer can relate to the story much more and sympathise.

Another convention of horror films is the use of a villain. Often in psychological horrors, there will be a villain to spy or attack in some way, physically or mentally, a vulnerable, weak victim. This means that there will always be certain ways to capture the villain's point of view and their intentions, or see the fear of the victim and their reaction to what they're faced with. For example, in The Resident, we see the villain watching the victim through plug holes and plug sockets, there are close ups and eye line matches to show exactly what he is looking at, and his perspective. This shows how in psychological horrors, often normal people are actually the threat, in this case, just an ordinary landlord is the cause of all problems. Psychological horrors also focus on how normal people are effected, again in this case there is no particular reason why the victim is targeted, she is just in the right place at the right time for the killer to get her.

Psychological horrors tend not to be as gory as other horror sub-genres, like a slasher for example. Instead, they use editing and non-diegetic sound to build up suspense. For example, in The Shining, there is a famous scene when the little boy cycles up to one of the hotel rooms. Although nothing happens, the viewer is made to believe something terrible is about to happen, and becomes nervous for the boy, as the non-diegetic sound increases in volume and intensity as he nears the hotel room.

There is often lots of mystery in psychological horror films. The unknown becomes a feature which can be used to scare both characters and the viewer. In Orphan, evidence of this can be seen, because at first it is not clear what Esther, the young girl, intentions are. For much of the film, it focuses on Kate, her adoptive mother, trying to figure out what is wrong with her and why she is a threat. This causes controversy among the family, but in the end is revealed. The shocking twist in the storyline is effective as the viewer's do not expect it at all, making the film scarier.

Location is a major factor in psychological horrors. Often, psychological horrors are scary because they are realistic, the scenarios presented in the film could happen in real life. This is why the location is so important, by using places such as school, isolated areas, houses and hospitals it makes the story more believable. These increase the viewer's fear because hospitals for example, can be linked to death or pain, so the viewer is immediately set up for something to happen involving those things. Also, when the locations are combined with other factors, such as scenes being set a night, it creates another element of fear for the viewer because there are areas they cannot see, and do not know what might be waiting for the character in the unknown.

From this research it is clear that in our opening we do not need to show anything gory, instead by getting the location and lighting right, a scary opening can be achieved especially when combined with a good story line and characters.

Use of cults within horror

Use of cults within horrors

A cult is primarily a group of antagonists within a horror movie that is out to get the main protagonist or his/hers family, therefore creating a binary opposition between them. The following films present the use of cults: 

Paranormal Activity 3

• The cult within Paranormal Activity 3 consisted of the grandmother and her friends which subverts the idea of the antagonist being a strong, young male. 
• The use of a family member being part of the cult provides corruption within the family as well as the story line. It also provides the storyline with context and a historical background as having a grandmother in a cult is very strange. 
• The use of the cult within this film most definitely highlights on the use of binary opposition and a clear group of antagonists, although this may have appeared vague at the beginning of the film as the grandmother is not usually used as an antagonist due to age. Therefore the conventions of a protagonist is subverted.
• Within this particular film the Grandmother and her cult makes a pact to Toby (Djinn) so they were permitted to be financially stable but in return the Grandmother was to sacrifice her first born son, however she was unable to do so and so she was now dependant on her granddaughters to do so as her own daughter refused to do so.

The Master

• The cult within "The Master" is referred to as "The Cause" and is portrayed as being inviting towards the main protagonist after he finds himself lost and uncertain with his life after arriving home from war.
• In contrast to the cult within Paranormal Activity, "the cause" is illustrated as more of a spiritual cult that seems to offer the main protagonist support and guidance in his life as he is firstly shown as having no sense in life as an outcome of mental scarring from war.
• Although "The Master" is not a horror film, as it focuses mainly on scientology it illustrates a cult in a positive way, rather than a group of antagonists out to get the protagonist.

Scarface 

• Scarface is a hit crime film that incorporates the idea of a cult. It follows the main character, who is set up in a refugee camp but soon let free by on a "green card" in exchange for killing the former Cuban  government official at the request of a drug dealer. However, once free, the main character too, becomes caught up in the world of drug dealing.
• In Scarface, the use of a cult may not be prominent but as the film is developed it builds a cult status, possibly within the audience and characters in the film itself.
• As the film is based on the use of drugs and drug dealing, this may also be a way of building its cult status as only a minority of the audience may be able to relate direct to the plot.
• Unlike, the other examples i have chosen Scarface builds up a cult due to the storyline so the use of a cult within the film is very scarce. 

Overall, the use of cults within a horror film is primarily used to create a group of clear antagonists. However, the director may wish to subvert the idea of the cult being illustrated as the antagonists just like the cult in "The Master". The use of cults provide a binary opposition too between the protagonist and antagonist and allows the audience to feel even more sympathetic for the protagonist when he/she is in danger as there is more than one person out to get them. Through this, the director can achieve a bigger climax from a horror film than they would if they were to use just one antagonist.

 On the other hand, i did not only focus on the use of cults within horrors, i also focused on the use of cults within other genres as they are illustrated in a different light, such as "The Master"; the cult used highlights the goodness and stability it was able to offer to someones life after war. However, in "Scarface" the cult isn't prominent within the movie and in a sense this film can be classed an as Urban film as it's set in one location and uses crime as its main issue, and this would allow a cult status for it to develop as it focuses primarily on the use of drugs and drug dealing.