Reflective Analysis

The aim of my step-outline was to create a short horror sequence that would appeal to ages 16+. In this sequence I used a variety of micro-features to introduce the characters and to show the setting to give the audience an eerie feeling from the setting.

The first micro-feature i used within the scene was cinematography and in the second scene i focused on mise en scene, these micro elements would allow to add conventions of a horror film easier and show them more effectively within the scenes.
I created this horror sequence because i wanted to use cliche conventions of a horror film and what people would expect to see in a horror film.

Within the first scene i used a convention of a horror film as i used an isolated cabin with a forest surrounding it to set the party in. I then used a tracking backwards shot as the four friends Arielle, Layton, Ashton and Lydia, walked down the narrow path leading to the cabin, i used a tracking shot because i wanted to give the audience a unsettling feeling as the characters grew closer to the party.
I also described the door as worn out as i wanted to make the viewer feel nervous, as we know the cabin is quite old with the old worn out door, making it easy for anyone to enter.

I then used diegetic sound of people shouting and dancing as people are having a party inside the cabin and the main characters are standing outside, waiting to go into the party. I used a extreme long shot to show the whole body of the characters and all of the background to set the eerie feeling within the audience. I used upbeat pop music at the start of the scene, to give the audience an idea the party was a teenage party, which relates to the target audience of young adults.
I used low key lighting throughout the start of the sequence to create mystery and shadows, also the scene was shot at night which is another cliche convention of a Horror film.

Within the sequence i used an extreme long shot to zoom in on the red cups Arielle was holding as she entered the party. I did this because red can symbolise danger/death, therefore telling the audience Arielle could be in some sort of danger throughout the scene. However red can also symbolise love and passion, which could be used to show the romance between Arielle and Layton, but also Arielle and Ashton as they are having a affair.The red cups are a convention of a typical teenage film, as they are mostly always used in other films, such as Nerve. As well as the red cups link to mise en scene as props.

I wanted to make the audience know about Arielle and Ashton's affair without using dialogue, so i used a range of shots, such as an extreme close up on Ashton's face as he sees Arielle and Layton dancing in the middle of the party, this makes the audience know how Ashton is feeling.

The location played a big part of making the audience feel nervous and tense as the cabin is completely isolated in the middle of the forest, with a party going on in the middle. This is a stereotypical convention of a horror film as most teenage horror films are set within a party.

Another stereotypical horror convention was when diegetic sound was used as Arielle and Layton walked out of the party towards a lake. Diegetic sound was used as the sound of leaves and sticks crunching in the forest filled the air as Arielle and Layton were arguing near the lake. I then used a long shot to focus in the direction of where the sound was coming from. I used low key lighting to create a silhouette of a person standing between the trees with a mask on. I used the mask as it is a typical convention of a horror film for the antagonist to wear a mask, creating a scared and vulnerable feeling from the audience.
I used non-diegetic sound of tension to music, to build up suspense as Arielle and Layton walk towards the shadow in the trees.


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