Delirium: Final Cut (with annotations)

Delirium Annotations

Below are the annotations you can see in the video for Delirium.

We used these to analyse and evaluate our final product.

0.05

It zooms into the text with a handheld camera effect to create a sense of confusion and panic.

Blood droplets are superimposed onto the text to add an element of body horror.

0.09

Each of the slow montage shots fade to black to build suspense.

0.11-0.14

A match-on-action shot of the pill being passed to Cara and rolling it between her fingers creates a sinister atmosphere, along with the pill being slipped into the drink to ensure clarity of the storyline.

It also links to the current context of faulty drugs and legal highs being sold to teens.

The nail varnish is dark red which connoted danger and bloodshed, hinting at the narrative to come.

0.16

Close-up of Sophie’s face shows intent and helps the audience sympathise with Anna as a victim and protagonist.

0.27

An extreme close-up helps the audience relate to Anna and creates a claustrophobic effect.

This, coupled with Anna’s wandering eyes, creates unease for the audience.

0.31

We used low key lighting to make the shot more dramatic. We put a source of light in the corner which Anna reaches towards. This can connote to the audience that Anna wants to be good but is forced to turn evil. A handheld camera creates disorientation and panic.

0.33

We played on the feat of being trapped in this close-up shot which adds an element of danger. We also created a flashing effect to startle the audience.

0.41

We filmed a pan outside the hospital to establish a setting and diegesis for Anna to be dragged into. This clearly shows she is being taken to a psychiatric facility.

0.46

Anna dragged her hand along the wall to suggest resistance. We then added the nails sound effect on top of the extra-diegetic soundtrack.

1.05

We created a quick montage of all three main characters going insane in an enclosed location, proving that they are trapped. This also uses a collision cut from the slow montage at the beginning to this quick montage towards the end of the trailer. This transition is very conventional of trailers in general.

1.20

We included as many close-ups as possible to build suspense along with the parallel music. This also helps the audience feel sympathy for the female victims.

1.27

Due the trailer being primarily a psychological horror, we limited the amount of body horror which was shown. However, the throat slit by Sophie adds appeal to both men and women and clearly suggests the 18 certificate of the actual film.

Psychological horrors traditionally appeal to a slightly more female demographic, so we felt this would widen our appeal.

1.38

We superimposed the mask onto Anna’s head to create the antagonist “Delirium” and create the first of the two “jump scares” at the end of the trailer. A jump scare is conventional of all horror trailer finales.

1.44

We used a low angle shot of “Delirium” stabbing the camera which connotes that “Delirium” has power over the audience. This also makes the trailer more memorable and unique as it’s rare for a trailer to have two jump scares – especially so close together. This makes the second jump scare more effective as the audience will not expect it.