critica reflection 1

3. In films, there are specific conventions that
must be followed in order for the audience
to know that the genre of film being
watched meets the audience's
expectations.
´ My movie opening is a example of a Psychological horror, this subgenre
relies on characters fears, guilts eerie sound effects, beliefs, emotional
instability and sometimes, the supernatural. This is also used to build tension
within the film and to further the plot. Furthermore examples of this include.
´ Psychological horror films are usually done using a non linear structure, as a
result of flashbacks to events in the characters life, showing the audience
important past events that support the films plot.

4. These include, and many more.

5. Conventions followed by Psychological
horrors
´ Psychological horror films are usually done using a non linear structure, as a
result of flashbacks to events in the characters life, showing the audience
important past events that support the films plot.

6. Character types and Representation
´ Psychological horror films contain 3 main characters, the main antagonist,
the protagonist and the antagonists victim.
´ In my opening movie the main antagonist and the victim of the antagonist
are shown.
´ Woman are stereotypically described as the weaker gender therefore in
horror movie are represented as the victim except for the occational
exception . As women are traditionally seen as vulnerable ,naïve and
powerless Whereas men are traditionally seen as st
´ are always the victims in the horror movie

7. Settings
´ Some of the main settings you will see time and time again when watching
a Psychological horror film are big houses, forest/ woodland areas, ware
houses, schools, and hospitals and so on. These types of settings create
realism for the target audience as they are able to relate to the film on
some level, having seen/ been or currently live in these settings. This
increases the fear for the audiences are they begin to picture themselves in
these positions.

8. Lighting
´ Low key lighting is often used in horror films to create darkness and an eerie
atmosphere. Darkness allows the audience to feel more tense and
vulnerable as darkness makes our vision clear and allows anything to creep
In the shadows. As artificial lighting is used to create shadows and
silhouettes to create enigma for the audience.

9. Music
´ Non diegetic sounds is always used in the background of scenes and it is
one of the most important conventions of the horror genre as it is what
makes the film tense for the audience. Slow paced sound, usually a piano
or violin sound is used to create creepy and eerie atmosphere, build
suspense and change the mood for the audience.

10. How does my product use or
challenge conventions
´ The purpose of a film opening is to entice the
audience onto carrying on watching the film.
´ A film opening should either establish
narrative/character or setting
´ I have gone for a narrative focus opening, that
introduces my audience to the protagonist and
antagonist establishing conflict.
´ I have used my genres conventions by establishing a
antagonist who is dark and twisted. Following the
genes conventions I have made him a male. As I
have gone for the stereotypical approach that men
are stronger than women.
´ I have further used my genre conventions by making
the protagonist weak and helpless

11. titles
´ I have done a conventional use of
intertitles, I have animated them as well.
´ The animated titles have a sound effect
that will starle and make the audience
feel unease.
´ The animation style of the titles in which
they are made can be sudden, scary
and add to the horror element.
´ There quick movement can be
overwhelming and leave the audience
flustered.

12. Lighting
´ My lighting follows the conventions of a
horror as it is very dark lighting where points I
have colour graded to increase the contrast
in shots so its more dark.
´ Lighting is very key as I wanted to create the
effect my character is trapped in a
basement, the more darkness is represented
the more the symbolism of fear will be
created

13. setting
´ My setting is very key in order to create a realistic horror movie opening, The
place I have picked is dark, dirty and derelict.
´ I have deliberately chosen a place beneath the ground as that evokes
more fear in the audience. It is very unrealistic that the victim will have any
chance to escape or be heard.

14. Music
´ I have used a collective of sound effects and music to create my sound
track,
´ Overall my soundtrack can be described as eerie and disturbing, this is
successful because I have achieved my target audience response.
´ This has been achieved by using a dark horn base track and adding on
top of this various sound effects ie elecrtrical glitch sounds, violin plucking.
´ This is a link to my soundtrack to my film https://soundcloud.com/fine-
arts/harriettes-sound

15. How does my film represent social
groups?
´ In horror films woman are seen as the damsel in distress, woman were
traditionally seen as the weaker gender, therefore are the victims in most
horror movies. As are unable to defend themselves. I have represented in
my movie the stereotypical way woman are seen within the media.
´ As my character that gets abducted is a girl and through my short movie
until the end is unconscious this can resemble her being weak.

16. ´ Overall, women are often represented in a sexualized manner in order to
appeal to the male dominant audience. Their roles within society are either
marital, sexual, domestic or consumer and are often seen as the inferior
gender, to the male. However females can challenge this negative
representation by displaying masculine traits, and thus being he final girl.
Particularly in horror films, females are the most important character in
displaying representation, power imbalance and sexuality.
Starry eyes
“Shots to make these ‘Male Gaze’ include long body shots, panning/looking up at the
woman. It has always been conventional to horror films that the women are supposed to
be portrayed as a figure of beauty and desire whilst the villain is portrayed as a gruesome
heartless killer.” House of Wax

17. I reinforce these stereotypes
´ Unfortunately my film does reinforce the stereotypes mentioned above.
Most of my shots are of the victim and her body, although I show no flesh it
does seem to treat the body as object.

18. IS THE KILLER MALE?
´ Most people watching my film will probably assume the psychopaths is
male
´ They would be right
´ I have reinforced the idea of men as aggressors
´ I have followed the conventions of real media in having a male
psychopath
American Psycho The Perceiving