Media Evaluation: Part 4

Evaluation Screening

Media Evaluation: Part 3

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.

Media Evaluation: Part 2

Media Evaluation: Part 1

Analysis of Magazine Cover

Delirium Practice Poster

Final Magazine Cover

Original Photos (Magazine Cover)

Original Photos (Poster)

Here is the original photo I used for my main image.

Practice 1st Year Trailer

Rough Cut Of 2nd Year Trailer

Flickr Analysis of Poster

Horror Poster Final, a photo by Cara Watling on Flickr.

To read the analysis please click on the image which will redirect you to Flickr.

Feedback On Rough Cut

After finishing our rough cut of the Delirium trailer we showed it to the class to gain feedback on how we could improve it and what worked well. The trailer was, overall, successful with these results when marked out of ten: 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10.

The majority agreed that they enjoyed the throat cut as it was realistic and thought the music was a good choice. They also liked the trailers storyline stating that it was clear and unique/interesting. Many liked the costumes/straight jacket and the amount of close ups used as well as the psychiatric shots which seemed to be popular.

To improve the trailer: everyone agreed that the trailer was too long and needed to be shortened with emphasis on the beginning (slipping drugs into the drink) and that the music was slightly out of sync (especially leading up to the end jump scare). Other interesting comments included that the frames could be smoother and music could speed up with the action throughout the trailer. Their seemed to be a bit of controversy over dialogue, with some people liking that there was no speech whereas others wanted some to be added although they did agree that the storyline was strong and did not suffer without it.

Final Poster

Film Review - The Silence Of The Lambs

 
Film Review -  The Silence of The Lambs

Director: Jonathan Demme


Year of Production: 1991


Genre: Psychological Horror


Brief Plot Outline: A training FBI student (Clarice) is helping with finding the newest serial killer "Buffalo Bill" by talking to serial Killer "Hannibal Lecter". Hannibal provides Clarice with a deeper insight into the killers mind in exchange for personal details into Clarice's life and a transfer to a different prison.


Which two scenes impressed you the most? Why?
1) When Clarice first meets Hannibal Lecter because it automatically puts the viewer on edge with sinister, parallel music as she walks down the corridor towards him and an extreme close up of his eyes creating a sense of claustrophobia.
2) The elevator scene where Hannibal has escaped and we don't know where he is hiding as no one is able to predict the twist in the plot line of how he is disguised (using someone else's face as a mask). Plus it is a creepy location as they are enclosed with a serial killer supporting the fear of being trapped. The scene is full of suspense due to Hitchcock style editing with an extremely slow montage.

How has watching this film helped you understand this genre of film making? Which features on the genre checklist did you spot in the film? When? How?
 This film has helped me understand how you can incorporate body horror/gore into a film with a psychological horror genre. To see evidence of this, please scroll down to "Body Horror" listed below.

- Contrapuntal Music = when the music box is playing

- Lots of Close Ups = especially during all the cell scenes with extreme close ups of Hannibal's eyes to create tension.

- Point of View Shots = during the ending when Clarice and Hannibal are on the phone. POV shots are used as they each survey the area they are in.

- Low Key Lighting = Generally when one of the serial killers is on screen and whenever Buffalo Bills' hideout is shown.

- Parallel Music = when building suspense e.g when Clarice walks through the prison cells.

- Slow Montage = When the FBI think Hannibal is on top of the elevator. This builds tension for the audience and warns them that something scary is about to happen.

- Creepy Locations = For example: the prison cells, the elevator, Buffalo Bill's hideout.

- Restricted Narration = Creates mystery for the audience as they don't know what is exactly happening and also emphasizes gore if sound effects are involved. This is used when Hannibal attacks his cell guards while he is being relocated.

- Body Horror = The best example of this is when Hannibal steals a guards face to use as a mask and another good example is when an inmate at the prison throws semen at Clarice (this also shows the theme of sex and taboo).

- Feeling Outside The CDI = Buffalo Bill dresses as a woman at several points during the movie which may unsettle some of the audience and he also wears a vest made out of women which emphasizes the disturbing image created.

- Historical Context = The serial killer "Buffalo Bill" is based on the real life serial killer Ed Gein from the 1950's who dressed up and impersonated his mother and who's murders shook America. This would give "Buffalo Bill" a more significant, scarier/more serious impact on the audience.

Which aspects of the film I would like to include in my own trailer:
Hannibal Lecter is a flipped stereotype of a serial killer as even though he is a bad character in general he is portrayed as a protagonist who helps Clarice. This makes him likeable for the audience by the end of the film. This is interesting as when he is first introduced the director used several horror conventions representing him as a antagonist yet by the end the audience wants Hannibal to stay free even though he is still killing. This might be due to his dialogue being slightly humorous in a twisted way.

Which aspects of the film I would like to avoid in my own trailer:
I would like to use less body horror as it can be really realistic (like in this film) or it can look fake and ineffective in making the audience squeamish. Bad gore can wreck a horror film, in my opinion, and as my group would have limited funds for our own trailer I would rather restrict the amount of gore effects we include.

What was the best aspect/more enjoyable moment in the film? Why? Can you recreate this in your own film? How?
Hannibal's escape scene as it was full of suspense and shocks the viewer with a twist they do not expect. This effect I will be able to recreate by using a slow montage to build tension and then collision cutting to a quick montage which will make the audience jump and then become panicked.

Delirium Moodboard

Moodboard, a photo by Cara Watling on Flickr.
Please click for analysis.

Shooting Schedule

Delirium Shot List