initial research
'SINISTER' (2012)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/6/3/13639830/6530841.jpg?0)
Directed by Scott Derrickson.
A true- crime writer moves into a new house with his family and finds a box of 8mm 'snuff' films in his attic, that suggest the murder he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose 'career' dates back to the 1960's.
Within this film, I particularly liked the psychological aspect, as the film had moments when scary or jumpy scenes where expected but didn't happen - they happened when the audience least expected them which brought a new element of fear and anticipation to the film. I also liked the twist within the film, as it was unexpected and made the film more interesting and made me want to watch it again.
I disliked the beginning of the film, as it was slow and it took me a while to understand what the storyline was.
A true- crime writer moves into a new house with his family and finds a box of 8mm 'snuff' films in his attic, that suggest the murder he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose 'career' dates back to the 1960's.
Within this film, I particularly liked the psychological aspect, as the film had moments when scary or jumpy scenes where expected but didn't happen - they happened when the audience least expected them which brought a new element of fear and anticipation to the film. I also liked the twist within the film, as it was unexpected and made the film more interesting and made me want to watch it again.
I disliked the beginning of the film, as it was slow and it took me a while to understand what the storyline was.
'the blair witch project' (1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/6/3/13639830/9509680.jpg?0)
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez.
Three student filmmakers disappear while hiking in the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland in 1994 to film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch. Their footage was discovered a year later, while no one heard from the three students again.
Within this film, I liked the psychological aspect and the way the events unfolded – there were jumpy moments as well as moments of tense, sinister silence. There are no professional effects in this film and the handheld, amateur effect just adds to the suspense and typical ‘horror move’ atmosphere.
I disliked the way the ‘leading lady’ was so predictable with what she suggested and the way she reacted towards the unfolding events. I also didn’t like the lighting as it was too bright at times and the dark was too ‘natural’ – I couldn’t see much at all, even though that might have been the whole point.
The hand-held effect may aid or hinder my production and I will have to think this through more thoroughly while experimenting. A psychological horror may be an idea I could use for my production and I could come up with some ideas with this in mind.
Three student filmmakers disappear while hiking in the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland in 1994 to film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch. Their footage was discovered a year later, while no one heard from the three students again.
Within this film, I liked the psychological aspect and the way the events unfolded – there were jumpy moments as well as moments of tense, sinister silence. There are no professional effects in this film and the handheld, amateur effect just adds to the suspense and typical ‘horror move’ atmosphere.
I disliked the way the ‘leading lady’ was so predictable with what she suggested and the way she reacted towards the unfolding events. I also didn’t like the lighting as it was too bright at times and the dark was too ‘natural’ – I couldn’t see much at all, even though that might have been the whole point.
The hand-held effect may aid or hinder my production and I will have to think this through more thoroughly while experimenting. A psychological horror may be an idea I could use for my production and I could come up with some ideas with this in mind.
'SCREAM' (1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/6/3/13639830/9472039.jpg?0)
Directed by Wes Craven.
A mysterious killer named Ghostface targets Sidney Prescott, a high school student in Woodsboro. Sideney’s friends and boyfriend try to help her find out who it is and there is a twist at the end.
Within this film, I liked how the typical ‘slasher motive’ was used, and how –at several points in the film- I found myself shouting at the TV because the victims made all the typical wrong moves. This film showed the audience how vulnerable the younger generations are and this brings a certain reality to the film. I also liked how it was set in a typical American suburban town, as it follows the reality idea of the film. At the beginning of the film, we see a film class openly discussing real horror films and the cliché that ‘Scream’ attempted to subvert and I liked this because it makes the audience relate more to the characters within the film.
I disliked how the ending was slightly predictable because throughout the film we see how the real man who is Ghostface acts towards Sidney and we start to piece it all together. I would have preferred it to have a surprise killer as it would have made the film more interesting for me.
This may influence my work because a slasher horror could be an idea for the theme of my production, as most people I know appreciate a slasher storyline.
A mysterious killer named Ghostface targets Sidney Prescott, a high school student in Woodsboro. Sideney’s friends and boyfriend try to help her find out who it is and there is a twist at the end.
Within this film, I liked how the typical ‘slasher motive’ was used, and how –at several points in the film- I found myself shouting at the TV because the victims made all the typical wrong moves. This film showed the audience how vulnerable the younger generations are and this brings a certain reality to the film. I also liked how it was set in a typical American suburban town, as it follows the reality idea of the film. At the beginning of the film, we see a film class openly discussing real horror films and the cliché that ‘Scream’ attempted to subvert and I liked this because it makes the audience relate more to the characters within the film.
I disliked how the ending was slightly predictable because throughout the film we see how the real man who is Ghostface acts towards Sidney and we start to piece it all together. I would have preferred it to have a surprise killer as it would have made the film more interesting for me.
This may influence my work because a slasher horror could be an idea for the theme of my production, as most people I know appreciate a slasher storyline.
'PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3' (2011)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/6/3/13639830/381938.jpg?0)
Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman.
The last in a trilogy but the storyline goes backwards – instead of this being the end, it tells the viewer the beginning. Cameras are set around the house and records moments when “evil begins to terrorise young sisters Katie and Kristie for the first time.”
Obviously, the lighting is all natural and verisimilitude is reflected throughout the film. The setting is a traditional American-style home which makes the film more realistic. The majority of camera shots have a hand-held effect and, again, this makes the “home movie” effect more realistic and believable. The costumes are reflective of a typical American family in 1988, and the colours and make up –the general mise en scene- capture this. The characters are, again, a typical American family in the late 1980’s and this is effective because it makes audiences believe the storyline and the verisimilitude.
Within this film, I disliked the long pauses in between scary/tense moments. There was a lack of non-diagetic sound, which can aid or hinder a horror, and I am unsure as to whether it would aid or hinder this particular film.
A hand-held effect could be used for my production to entice the audience into viewing the events through a first-person view.
The last in a trilogy but the storyline goes backwards – instead of this being the end, it tells the viewer the beginning. Cameras are set around the house and records moments when “evil begins to terrorise young sisters Katie and Kristie for the first time.”
Obviously, the lighting is all natural and verisimilitude is reflected throughout the film. The setting is a traditional American-style home which makes the film more realistic. The majority of camera shots have a hand-held effect and, again, this makes the “home movie” effect more realistic and believable. The costumes are reflective of a typical American family in 1988, and the colours and make up –the general mise en scene- capture this. The characters are, again, a typical American family in the late 1980’s and this is effective because it makes audiences believe the storyline and the verisimilitude.
Within this film, I disliked the long pauses in between scary/tense moments. There was a lack of non-diagetic sound, which can aid or hinder a horror, and I am unsure as to whether it would aid or hinder this particular film.
A hand-held effect could be used for my production to entice the audience into viewing the events through a first-person view.
'Halloween' Trailer (1978)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/6/3/13639830/8719402.jpg)
A psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood for the murder of his sister, escapes and stalks a bookish teenage girl and her friends while his doctor chases him through the streets.
FEATURES OF MULTIMODAL TEXT
WRITTEN TEXT ON SCREEN SPOKEN LANGUAGE MOVING IMAGES SOUND EFFECTS MUSIC |
DESCRIPTION OF FEATURE IN TRAILER
Appears as the overvoice is speaking. White, bold. Stands out against black background. The title appears in orange, again as the overvoice says it. The overvoice is very deep. American. What you’d expect an overvoice to sound like. Screams, shouts for help, crying. Fast paced but slow in parts. Dark, typical of a horror/slasher movie. Establishing shot of house at start. Hand held camera effect. A shrill, high pitched noise, low pitched noise when someone is killed. Piano keys being hit (low key) Classical music when monster creeps up on girls. |
ANALYSIS OF IMPACT ON AUDIENCE
To the audience, the words describe the very basic outline of the story, and the repeat of ‘Halloween’ tells them that it’s called that but also that it’s when the movie is set. This makes the audience know that it is a horror movie and it also evokes fear and suspense within the audience because they want to know the outcomes of what happens to the victims. The slow shots make the audience feel suspense and fear for what is about to happen. The darkness makes the audience feel fear as they can’t see what’s going on or where the monster is. Makes the audience feel suspense and fear, the low pitched noise and low key piano suggests something bad is about to happen and makes the audience feel scared. Tells the audience that they are going to get killed in the film. |
'Carrie' Trailer (1976)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/6/3/13639830/5265155.jpg)
A shy and abused girl with telekinetic powers gets pushed too far on prom night.
FEATURES OF MULTIMODAL TEXT
WRITTEN TEXT ON SCREEN SPOKEN LANGUAGE MOVING IMAGES SOUND EFFECTS MUSIC |
DESCRIPTION OF FEATURE IN TRAILER
“CARRIE” – title of film. White and bold. Deep American overvoice. American accents. Screams, reference to religious beliefs. Fast paced when something bad happens. Red hue when focused on Carrie. Fast paced violins, xylophone-style effect at the end – reference to children? Shrill classical music, reaches a climax when something bad happens. |
ANALYSIS OF IMPACT ON AUDIENCE
The white and bold of the title makes the audience remember it. The American accent allows for a wider range of audience to want to see the film. The screams make it clear that this is a horror movie. The red hue when on an image of Carrie makes the audience believe there is something different about her and also makes them feel suspense and tension. The violins and xylophone music sound like what you might hear in a child’s room and this makes the audience wonder if this has any relevance to the film. The shrill classical music makes the audience expect something bad to happen. |
'The Descent' Trailer (2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/6/3/13639830/3114689.jpg)
A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.
FEATURES OF MULTIMODAL TEXT
WRITTEN TEXT ON SCREEN SPOKEN LANGUAGE MOVING IMAGES SOUND EFFECTS MUSIC |
DESCRIPTION OF FEATURE IN TRAILER
‘disorientation’, ‘hallucination’, ‘fear’, reviews about the movie “best since Alien”. Mixture of American, English and Irish accents. Shouts, screams, water, metal on rocks, fire. Fast paced, dark, can tell it’s in a cave – flashlights, cave walls- slow panning then turns to fast paced cuts. A strange noise which sounds like wind going across you and it’s gone in a second. Classical music in the background, slow and reaches a climax. |
ANALYSIS OF IMPACT ON AUDIENCE
The words make the audience remember times when they felt those feelings themselves, reviews make the audience want to see the movie – no negatives. The mixture of languages of the characters makes this film attract a wider audience. The shouts, screams and metal on rocks makes the audience feel fear, tension and suspense. The lack of light makes the audience feel suspense as they don’t know what could be hiding in the dark of the cave, and the slow panning which turns to fast paced cut makes the audience feel fear and as if something sinister is going to happen. This noise makes the audience wonder what the cause of it is because of how fast it comes and goes. This music makes the audience feel suspense because of how quiet it is and how sudden it gets louder. |
'The Shining' Trailer (1980)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/6/3/13639830/6012682.jpg)
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.
FEATURES OF MULTIMODAL TEXT
WRITTEN TEXT ON SCREEN SPOKEN LANGUAGE MOVING IMAGES SOUND EFFECTS MUSIC |
DESCRIPTION OF FEATURE IN TRAILER
The title is first to appear, then the director and then the main stars. Stephen King is also mentioned and the title is repeated at the end. There is no speech in this trailer. After the writing on the screen, watery blood seeps out from an elevator door and washed towards and onto the camera, carrying furniture. A shrill noise that seems to get louder as the trailer plays out. There is only the shrill noise. |
ANALYSIS OF IMPACT ON AUDIENCE
This type of way that the title and details have been presented to the audience makes us feel like it’s a very different kind of film, which makes us intrigued and curious as to what the film may be about – if you haven’t read the book before. The fact that there is no speech at all in this trailer means that it has challenged the conventions of normal movie trailers. While watching this trailer, I felt uneasy and as if I was alone – the only one to witness what was unfolding throughout the trailer. Nothing happens while the text is on screen, but not long after it finishes, the blood starts to come out of the elevator door and this makes the audience feel suspense and it’s a mystery as to why it’s there and what it’s from. The noise is very potent and makes the audience cringe when it gets louder. There seems to be no real direction of music, just that one sound. This makes the audience feel fear, suspense and uneasy. (As above.) |
'28 Days Later' Trailer (2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/6/3/13639830/1199086.jpg)
The society of London is broken down by the release of a highly contagious “rage” virus that is passed from person to person via saliva or blood transfusion. The story focuses upon a group of four survivors who struggle to cope with surviving and coping with the destruction of their old lives.
FEATURES OF MULTIMODAL TEXT
WRITTEN TEXT ON SCREEN SPOKEN LANGUAGE MOVING IMAGES SOUND EFFECTS MUSIC |
DESCRIPTION OF FEATURE IN TRAILER
Yellow words saying what day, flashing with the sound of sirens, white words rough edged and descriptive of what happens in the days. There is very little spoken language apart from screams and the main character repeating ‘hello’. The hello’s get more echoed each time. Very fast paced, unclear at first what is being shown. Most are dark but show humans in a frenzied state. Explosions are dramatic and make the screen light up. Scenes are a montage. Evacuation sirens, screams, people running, insects/rats, monkeys, police sirens, shouts, explosions, cages being hit or knocked over. There isn’t alot of music, except some slow classical music at the end with the title. |
ANALYSIS OF IMPACT ON AUDIENCE
Makes the audience feel danger and fear, and while counting the days, they feel tension and as if something sinister is going to happen within those days. The screams immediately make the audience know that this is a horror movie, and the repeated echoed hello’s make them understand that it’s about the emptiness of London. Makes the audience feel tension, as the movie is clearly about the state of the human race. Fast pace of shots evokes fear and a sense of mystery as the viewer finds it hard to concentrate on one shot at a time. The audience feels fear and tension as they don’t know the reasoning behind most of the sounds, but it is clear that it is a disaster movie as well as a horror. This makes the audience feel sorry for the man as it gives the impression that he is on his own. |