This document provides details for a supernatural/psychological horror film called "Detritus" targeted at teenagers and young adults. It outlines the film's inspirations, which include films like The Vatican Tapes and Paranormal Activity that feature teen possession. The main plot involves a group of girls exploring an abandoned house where occult symbols appear and friends start disappearing. The protagonist is the "Final Girl" who remains pure while her possessed friends terrorize her. Key scenes show the group arriving at and exploring the ominous house until possessions and attacks begin. The document discusses iconography, costumes, makeup and cinematography to establish tension and fright.

1. Detritus
“You can’t escape what’s within”
Amiee, Carmel, Karo & Rhiannon

2. Sub-Genre
• Psychological/ Supernatural
• No white in eyes
• Body terror
• Screen shakes; threat is evident
• Corridors
• Levitation
• Non Diegetic Sound

3. Sub-Genre
• I will be using this sub-genre as it is interesting and
also popular with the target audience which has been
chose.
• Intertextual references from popular horror films of
the genre chosen will also be used. The Vatican Tapes,
Paranormal Activity, Scream and The Exorcist are all
films which are popular within this sub-genre,
therefore allowing the audience to easily detect and
recognise.

4. Target Audience
• 15 – 25 year olds
• Males
• Teenagers
• People who are in college and university
• The target audience of this will expect to see features
such as screen shakes and demonic possession. They would
be able to infer that a threat is arising. This along with
the camera footage will also be able to explain the bodily
terror that becomes evident in this film.

5. INSPIRATIONS

6. Inspirations
The Vatican Tapes
• Includes teenagers experiencing
demonic possession.
• Teenagers will also be used to appeal to
target audience.
• Includes scenes of corridors and
levitation
Done through Editing & Camera Shots

7. Inspirations
Paranormal Activity 4
• Centred around the idea of investigation of
paranormal activity.
• Occult Markings around the house they
break into and this will use this in my film.
• Idea of teenagers interfering with the
'unknown' is a convention for this genre
hence why it will be used to ensure that
my film is successful.

8. Inspirations
The Exorcist
• Includes Levitation and Demonic
Possession.
• This will be linked to the idea of occult
markings and possession of the teens.
• This gave me an idea into the anti
climatic ending which I am trying to
replicate in Detritus.

9. Inspirations
Scream
• Includes ideas of Youth & Virginity
• Society punishing the teenagers for
drinking, etc.
• Masked Antagonist will not be used as the
punishment will be portrayed through the
demonic possessions and paranormal
activities which become evident.

10. Main Plot
• Equilibrium: The girls will be laughing and walking towards
the house. They would also be drinking alcohol while having
fun.

11. Main Plot
• Disequilibrium: Candles are found at this stage and they begin
seeing occult symbols wherever they go. People start
disappearing and bodies are then discovered. They notice
possession and see bodily harm such as scratches on the body.
Soon after bruises begin to appear on the bodies.

12. • Resolution: The Final Girl leaves the house and then runs
away into the fields and forest area to try and prevent herself
from being possessed.
Main Plot

13. Protagonist
• Alex – Final Girl
• Pure & Innocent
• Established in a scene where other
girls are playing drinking games.
• Mocked by her friend due to her
virgin tendencies
• Excluded from group as she
doesn’t partake in drinking habits

14. Antagonist
• The 4 remaining friends (2 boys, 2 girls) who
become possessed.

15. Location
• Wretched Building
• Corridors

16. Costume & Makeup
• White washing makeup
• Grey bashed makeup to create dark circles around eyes
(creates sunken look and deathly appearance)
• White contact lenses to get rid of white in eyes (possessed
look)
• Make up wax which can be applied to skin and then
scratched (representing the characters skin being ripped
open)
• Simplistic clothing for their age group
• Final Girl will be wearing more lighter & brighter clothing
which portrays her innocence and purity

17. Iconography
• Low-key lighting
• Dark colours placed against the light colours worn by the
final girl.
• Mentally Tormented
• Revenge (Socially punished)
• Shadows and darkness
• Use of occult symbols
• Constant Fear
• Non –Diegetic Sounds (BOOMS when jump scares, etc.)
• Screams, Scratching, Tense Music
• Confined Space, NO ESCAPE, Locked In

18. 5 Key Scenes

19. 5 Key Scenes
1. Establishing shot of murder house, which is in a
secluded area away from suburbia

20. 5 Key Scenes
2. Teenagers walking through fields to get to
secluded house whilst drinking and laughing
(joking around together)
There will be scenes of a male leading a female
away from the group of friends which insinuates
sex – later become possessed

21. 5 Key Scenes
3. Final Girl shown declining alcohol and
cigarettes. She will also be hesitant to enter the
house and this would also be shown.

22. 5 Key Scenes
4. Teenagers finding candles and lighting the
candles whilst the walk around the house. Shots
of occult symbols will be shown on the walls.
Each scene will become faster and faster with
quick cuts and less transitional shots, creating
suspense and tension, leading up to the intensity
of trailer.

23. 5 Key Scenes
5. These are when the fastest shots appear,
showing the teenagers being dragged, levitating
along with close ups to show their reactions of
fear. Close up of their hands grabbing door
handles and locks in an attempt to exit the
locked house will also be used.
The Final girl will be shown backing into the
corner with shadows slowly closing in and them a
BOOM with the title appearing on screen.