Theory of Equilibrium

Theory of Equilibrium

The theory of Equilibrium was introduced by Tzvetan Todorov in which he simplified the idea of narrative theory while also allowing a more complex interpretation of film texts. The state of equilibrium is when everything is as it should be in a state of equal balance between powers of any kind, where equality of importance or effect exists among the various parts of any complex unity. Disequilibrium refers to a disruption of that order by an event. 

The Orphan

The Orphans narrative is similar to our own as it also incorporates the idea of a "child" antagonist. Throughout the narrative there are many red herrings as well as shock factors, the graph below indicates some of the peaks throughout the clip above.  As you can see from the graph the disequilibrium remains high throughout, and it also ends on a cliff hanger, leaving the audience in suspense, this is rather similar to ours in the sense that the opening will hopefully leave the audience in wonder. 

Funny Games

Funny Games is also very similar to our opening as well as The Orphan as it also incorporates a child antagonist however there are two antagonists. Throughout this scene, the younger child is manipulated to believe that murder is the only way out of this situation although he's unaware of the idea that the gun is unloaded, putting his morals through questioning achieving a rather cruel torture. In terms of the theory of equilibrium this is rather gradual and does not carry as much shock factor as The Orphan does. Therefore there's an extremely gradual build up.

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As mentioned above, our opening uses a child antagonist therefore playing with the psychological features within a horror and subverting the conformities of an antagonist. In a sense, out of the two films above our narrative is similar to Funny Games as it gradually builds yet we have still incorporated peaks through the use of the non diegetic sound.