The document analyzes various technical elements of a short horror film called "Monster". It discusses how the location of an old, dirty house makes the audience uneasy. Dark, dim lighting and black-and-white cinematography add suspense by hiding details and isolating characters. The mother wears white while the monster wears black, representing good and evil. A boiling pan prop builds anticipation. The frantic child movements contrast with the static mother, putting viewers on edge. Diegetic sounds draw the audience in while non-diegetic sounds emphasize reveals and scares. Static shots set the initial mood while later camera movement during conflicts creates tension. Slow editing builds to faster cuts and intensities as danger increases.

1. Monster
Micro Analysis

2. Location
• The location is an old,
small house. The house
is shown to be dirty and
unclean which makes the
audience feel uneasy.

3. Lighting
• Throughout the entire short film the
characters are engulfed by darkness.
The lighting is dark and dull and there is
little backlight.
• Also, the short film is shot entirely in
black and white. This helps to add
suspense as the entire background
blends together. This makes the
audience feel as if something is hidden
from them which builds tension as well
as anticipation.
• In addition to this, darkness is used to
frame the characters. This concentrates
the viewers gaze and also makes the
characters look isolated within their
surroundings.

4. Costume
• Throughout the whole short
film the mother is dressed in
white which contrasts the
monster who is dressed in
black. This presents the
mother as good whereas the
black of the monster
presents it as evil.
• This is a generic convention
within horror film where the
main protagonist is dressed
in white and the antagonist
is dressed in black.

5. Props
• Boiling pan – this is an important prop
as set the scene and build anticipation.
The audience is shown the boiling pan
and the then the mothers dazed look to
build anticipation. The audience knows
the pan is going to boil and burn
therefore they are left waiting for it
throughout the scene. This mixed with
the events helps build more tension and
a larger climax as the audience waits for
something expected while experiencing
something unexpected.

6. Character Movement
• The child movements start out
very violent and frantic. He
runs around throughout the
whole short which puts the
audience on slight edge.
• The mother however moves
very slowly and is often very
static. The contrast between
the mother and the child is
clearly shown which puts the
audience on edge as there are
two contrasting movements
within the frame. While one
character is very static the
other moves very quickly.
Static
mother
Frantic/
running
child

7. Sound
• Diegetic sound is mostly used within the short film. The sound effects
are very realistic which draws the audience into the scene as
everything sound very familiar.
• Non diegetic sound is only used for dramatic effects and also to try
and scare the audience. For example when the monster is introduced
the sound first builds anticipation and then grows with the reveal.
This makes the reveal more hard hitting as the sound helps to put
emphasis on the reveal.

8. Camera/cinematography
• At the beginning static shots are mainly used. Theses help to set the
mood for the audience as it presents the environment as safe an
stable.
• Towards the end of the film more movement is introduced through
pans and tilts. These help when introducing the monster and the
conflict as they contrast the earlier movement and make the
audience feel as though something has changed. The change in
camera movement helps to change the mood from an innocent boy
playing with a toy to a monster wanting to harm the boy.

9. Editing
• The editing starts as very slow paced. There are very little cuts and
many shots go on for a long time without any interrupting cuts.
• Towards the end there are more cuts and shots are drawn out for less
time. This helps to add intensity which puts the audience on edge as
the action appears to be moving at a faster pace.
• Many shots also linger on characters expressions which helps to
emphasise the performance of the actors and show the audience how
the characters are feeling and reacting.