film response

Reflective Analysis

Through out my film I wanted to focus on the micro features usually used in the horror genre. I decided upon the horror genre for my film because I personally derive gratification from the thriller genre and I admire some of the complex intricut narrative plot lines in thriller films such as the film insidious. I decided at the beginning of my pre production my narrative would also be complex. My narrative wasn't multi stranded but it was thought provoking with the cliff hanger left at the end and the enigmatic photos. 

I wanted to create the theme of enigma with the protagonist. he opens the folders and doesn't understand what's going on- this is told by his facial emotions and body language. When the first file appears on his screen I had a mid shot to include enough emotion from Luke but i didn't want a close up because it would deliver to much tension to the sequence. I didn't want to do that because it is to early to intiate a flux of emotions  yet I wanted to include a small quatatity of character  emotion so that the metaphorical roller coaster of emotion starts. Luke frowns and his eyes squint. He mimes the word "what". The nuances exhibited by the facial expressions develop the character to allow the audience to build a concrete understanding of the character. His knee jerk reaction to the file appearing is to look out the window. But he doesn't just pear through the window he crawls off the bed, opens the window and sticks his head out the window. I believe that this specific reaction high lights his determined personality. This reaction with the scattered books on the floor and the fact that it is night time paints a portrait that he has a determination to finish what ever he starts. Luke is the one to open the folder, in consequence he is the one who initiates the narrative plot line. Luke, knowing that he started something he wants to finish it. This performance reaction with mes en scene builds a certified character development. 

My second sequence starts when Luke opens up the second file I wanted to conjure up more of a mysterious atmosphere. So I added a creepy score in the back ground of the sound. This sound track had a minimalistic approach of creating suspense. It has loud crescendo pasts or unexpected spikes in volume. It was constant and had the sound of deep low strings being played. The sound track initiated when Luke clicked on the second folder. 

My objective through out the film was to confuse the audience and give them little fathomable information. This then boggles the audience. BUT I didn't want to do it much because the audience loses interest because it is to hard to keep up with the film's narrative. Such as the film by Christopher Nolan Inception. - I allowed the audience the ability to "catch up" with the narrative when Luke calls his friend max for a kind of reality check and confirmation. max suggests that it might be another friend hacking into his laptop. The character Max was meant to be a escapism for the audience, from the narrative. Max takes us back to reality. He suggests reasonable and down to earth answers. The shot with max and Luke in the same frame is there create contrast.

Luke has clearly been working for a long time and is becoming slightly delusional. This could be all in his head from the beginning. The mes en scene tells the audience that he has been working for a very long time and he is tired. He is clearly tired, evident from the visible sleep bags under his eyes and he rubs his eyes through out the film. This demonic entity chasing him through the pictures could be a self illusion made by his own delusional state of mind.  I have made this a question to the audience so that it adds to the confusion of narrative. 

It is common to see progression in film when a character is moving from the left side of the screen to the right side of the screen. It is a common conception put into practice in films. I decided to use this concept in my film when Luke moves from his bed to the door with the cricket bat in his hand. luke is moving from the right side of the screen to the right side of the screen highlighting how he isn't progressing in his journey and by moving left he is further deepening him self into a enigmatic conclusion. He finds no evidence of anyone outside when looking out of his room. therefore suggesting that this trip has solved nothing.