Survey Analysis: Psychological Horror

Survey Analysis: Psychological Horror

Question 1
For question 1, 77% of people voted for our opening to be filmed during the night. This may be because most psychological horrors are filmed during the night time therefore conforming to the conventions. Additionally, it has a bigger impact on the audience as it increases the shock factor for a particular scene. However, filming during the night time may prove to be a danger for us especially if our filming location is quite derelict. However, we can overcome this by creating out location as dark as possible.
 On the other hand, 24% of people chose the day time, maybe due to the idea of subverting the conventions.



Question 2
In question 2 we asked people what location they would prefer out of a houes, forest, city or an abandoned building. The top answer was an abandoned building in which nearly half of the votes amounted to. An abandoned building would be effective for filming as it would not be furnished allowing our mise-en-scene preparation a lot easier than if we were filming in a house. Furthermore, by using an abandoned building the likelihood would be that it is quite secure. Unlike filming in public (e.g. in the city) as we would be easily interrupted.




Question 3
We then asked whether the preferred protagonist was to be a male or female. 66% voted for a female. By using a female protagonist it subverts the usual male protagonist it also adds emotion to the storyline as a female is usually perceived as being weak and vulnerable whereas a male protagonist would be perceived as being strong.

 Question 4
In question 4 we asked for the preferred antagonist giving the choices of a family member, stranger, colleague, friend and child. A stranger and child were the two highest votes with a small gap between them, stranger had 33% and a child had 31% of the votes. However, they both bring different means to our plot. By having a stranger as our antagonist it allows a lot of flexibility within our plot, although by using a child the plot would have to follow a specific plot in order for the child to be illustrated in the right way.

Question 5
Question 5 asked whether our antagonist was to be shown or not. 60% voted yes meaning that our antagonist would have to be visible on screen, therefore they would have a sense of plot and characters although the shock factor may not have a huge impact. For us, this may mean looking for an extra actor/actress.

 Question 6
75% voted for a gradual build up of the plot within the opening, this would keep them drawn into watching it whereas an immediate build up would allow them to get bored quicker and possibly make it even more challenging to create a plot with such a sudden build up. 

Question 7
The results of question 7 differed in one vote, as 49% voted for gore whereas the 50% voted for no gore. In this case we may consider the gore to be subjective that way only a minor amount will be shown whereas the majority of it can be heard. 

 Question 8
Question 3 goes hand in hand with this question as it realtes to the protagonist. In question 3 we established that most would prefer a female protagonist, as well as this question establishing she would be preferred to be at a young age. Therefore this can add even more emotion to the plot as well as innocence, vulnerability and weakness to her character.

Question 9

Question 9 also links with question 4 as it refers to the antagonist. In many psychological films there can be more than one antagonist therefore forming a cult however, from the results many prefer there to just be one main antagonist. In this sense, it would be easier for us as we would be less dependant on a group of people and would only have to worry about the plot using one main antagonist. 

Question 10

Question 10 refers to the location and setting of our film opening. In question 2 we established that our setting would be an abandoned building however, question 10 asks whether the audience would find filming outside as well as inside effective for a psychological horror. 31% voted for an outside setting whereas 72% voted to be inside. This allows us to use our location to our advantage this could mean using tight framing or corners of the room to make the character seem a lot smaller than they really are.