Conforming and Subverting to Theories

COSTUME, CHARACTERS, TARGET AUDIENCE, PROTAGONIST

Review of a short film

Shortcut:

The escalating footsteps at the beginning increases alongside with the man’s breathing building a trail of suspense. Each turn is followed by footsteps surrounding the man wherever he goes. In his journey he is exposed to a mystery person who he wants, to uncover its identity. As the journey comes to an end as he meets the mystery person eye to eye discovering a shocking twist that shows that the person he is running after is really him. The unanticipated ending halts to an end.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Establishing shot: Dark setting, hint of light on the ground and a shadow figure. Establishing shots are commonly used in a horror/thriller film to show the ‘monster/mystery’ person figure, posture and the background setting to set the mood. This shot is used to show the setting of where the character is and gives a profile of that character. For example in a horror film if the character is in an alleyway alone at night walking it gives the impression that the character may be dangerous and a threat.

 

This shot is trying to set a wary atmosphere. In a horror film the settings that is commonly used is an area where there is an alleyway. In an alleyway the director is able to create and build suspense as the use of light is dimmed and gives a scary effect to the scene. The black shadowed figure gives a chilling feeling as it gets the audience thinking who the mystery person is, what he wants. 



Close Up shot: Low key lighting; the characters face is half dark half light, this could suggest that the man has a sinister side to his character that is yet to be unrevealed.
 

The medium close up shot shows a close up of the characters facial expression, his eyes are wide open showing that whatever it is his saw it has surprised him. This part of the film is interesting because the character meets eye to eye with the mystery person

 

 

 

The use of panning shot shows that the character is running, this gives the impression that the man is maybe running from someone and is scared because he is out of breath. In a thriller/horror film there is always some sort of chase scene to build up suspense in the film. This short film does this by making the character run at a fast pace building anticipation.

The footstep of the character is louder each time, this shows that the character is alone in the area and there is no one else sighted on the streets. This is to give an eerie atmosphere. Also non-diegetic music is used, when the man is running eerie music is inserted to illustrate that there is something bad about to happen.

  

PLOT of short film

PLOT

EXPOSITION: Opening character introduced

·        Tilly (Babysitter) knocks on door

·        Mrs Rani (Mother) opens door

·        Introduce each other- go inside the house

·        Mrs Rani goes over emergency details

RISING ACTION:

·        Babysitter goes to check on Ivy (daughter of Mrs Rani) she can’t see her face because Ivy's back is towards her

·        Babysitter sees the dolly in the corner gets a little spooked out because dolly is not like a typical dolly

·        Babysitter goes back down into the living room doing her homework goes to the kitchen for a bottle of water

CLIMAX:

·        Babysitter hears noises in the kitchen whilst drinking water she turns around and sees the dolly and runs out

·        She then goes to the bathroom to wash face, through the mirror reflection she sees the dolly reappear and runs out hysterical

·        She goes to Ivy’s bedroom, can’t find her and runs back down to the kitchen

·        She calls the mothers phone but its no longer in service

·        She calls neighbours phone and she picks up and says that the mother and the daughter have been dead over 10 years

·        Ivy appears behind babysitter and Tilly’s phone falls

·        Ivy’s face revealed all deformed like

·        Blank screen- ended

·        Lullaby plays at the end

 

No resolution as we end with a cliff hanger- we are conforming to a typical ending of a horror film. This leaves the audience at a waiting game.