Wednesday, 17 September 2014

RESEARCH 23 - 2 SHORT FILM REVIEWS

SCRAMBLED

NARRATIVE: 
The film had a cyclical structure, where little episodes of the same thing would keep repeating. This is an effective structure as it makes the storyline a lot more mysterious yet confusing as it keeps the audience wanting to know what it is and why it’s happening. The main character had a very flat personality as there was no dimension and it was very stereotypical. Also at the end of the story there was a cliff hanger which keeps the audience wanting to know what happened and whether it was the 'blood fairy' that got him. 

REPRESENTATION:
The representation of the man in the short film was very stereotypical. For instance the man was represented in the film as sexist when he tried to change the subject with the girl on the phone suggesting that he is a perverted man. Also he was represented as strong because of how he was watching a scary film to make him sleep which suggests that he isn't scared easily and normally for someone to fall asleep they would think happy thoughts whereas he did the opposite. The women character on the phone was a lot different because although they represented her as being an average women they decided to make her voice as the killer which suggests that they went against the convention of having a male killer as they are always viewed as stronger. 

AUDIENCE: 
This was aimed at those who enjoy figuring things out, this is because of the idea of the fridge letters and having to work out what the message was and what it meant. 

INSTITUTION: 
The film was produced by Hashmic House films.

LANGUAGE: 
Throughout the film there were many effects used to enhance the horror in the films. For instance the use of shots such as the ECU, establishing shot, over the shoulder shot was used, The ECU was very effective because it allowed us to constantly see his reaction to what was happening, therefore we were able to really connect with how he is feeling in this tense moment. The camera was also good as it was handheld which made the shots and editing more jerky and disorientated which added to the delusion in the film. Also the use of the low lighting heightened the tense moment of when the character was in the dark and couldn't see where he was going or what was coming for him. Another thing that was effective was the use of focusing on the character and blurring the background. this is because it allowed to focus on his expression and what was there rather than what was happening in the background. The mise en scene in the short film was very simple. The character was dressed in normal, yet dark clothing which could imply that perhaps he has dark thoughts which is why he was watching a scary movie before bed. Also the as the bed sheets were white it could represent his innocence until the blood was splattered on it, which could of been used to clearly show the marks and stains in order for the audience to really see. I think the most effective factor was the use of music, this is because in scenes where you think it would be scary the music would suddenly fall into silence this made me feel as though something was going to happen and every time it did the tense music would suddenly start again, thus scaring the audience. 

GENRE: 
The genre of the film was a slasher, this was because of the use of the blood and the idea of the fridge letters coming out of his mouth, The film did consist of some typical horror conventions for instance using blood, a scary phone call, the darkness and being alone. Although these were typical they did have an effect on the film adding to the horror of the film. However, I did think that the idea of the 'blood fairy' was different, this is because of how they took something which is normally seen as a happy thing and twisted it around. I also like the idea of them using classical music in some of the scenes as it was different from the hard, thumping tense music and gave a more sinister feel to the film.


VICTIM:

NARRATIVE: 
This film has a clear beginning and end. It also uses flashbacks throughout the link to the story within the film and also to help us get a better image of the killer. There is only one character throughout the entire film, along with the villain, we as the audience don't learn much about the personality of the character, just the things he would do on an ordinary day. However, by basing it on a story about 'slender man' it gives the film a hint of realism, because they used real research on the story and images. 

REPRESENTATION: 
The representation of the boy is also very stereotypical as we see him at the start not really caring about his surroundings, it is also very stereotypical because he is a boy who likes to keep fit and as a teenage boy keep his distance from other people, which could perhaps imply why it is in a very deserted setting. The representation of the villain is also very ordinary as he is shown not showing his face, going after younger kids, staying in the forest etc. these characteristics are all very typical for a villain, although I think the idea of him wearing a suit is very different and makes me as part of the audience want to find out why he is dressed like that and not like the other villains. 

AUDIENCE: 
I think that this film was aimed at those who are of course into 'slender man', and also those who like to find out about mysterious things, which is why the included the character researching the things about slender man. 

INSTITUTION: 
The film was produced by JEO FILMS

LANGUAGE:
Throughout the film the camera has a grainy/blotchy effect which added a more grey and dark tone to the film, adding to the cold and misty weather. some of the shots used were ECU, close up's and establishing shots. I think that the establishing shots were really effective because it captured a lot of the setting such as the forest and the big open spaces which added to the idea of being alone and by showing how much space is around him makes us as the audience think that he had nowhere to run and that it would be hard for him to escape, especially because he is next to the forest. The sound effects that were used in this short film were a lot louder and had a more dreary tone which really dragged the sound on making it seem as though it lasted forever. It also used elements of silence, this was also very effective because it focused on how silent it was in the area and that perhaps made the character realise that there is no one else apart from him and the 'slender man'. The mise en scene in the film was also very simplistic, everything seemed very still as there was never any other movement in the house and anywhere, which made us focus on the movement and sounds of the character. 

GENRE:
This short film doesn't challenge many conventions this is because most of the conventions are very typical. For instance some of the typical conventions are being watched, this was constructed with the camera also twigs snapping, the darkness, an empty and big house, being alone, taking a short cut through the woods, the forest itself and falling or getting hurt when ghost was getting closer. Although these conventions are typical they were all successful in making the film more scarier, especially during the end of the film when the film was shot at night in the forest and the camera was tracking the character, this was effective because it captured how the character was feeling and his emotions when he was running away from the slender man.


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