A-level media horror film analysis

1. It Follows
BY EMILY HUMPHREYS

2. Mise-en-scene
setting
 The scene is set in an abandoned swimming
pool where the group of friends try to
capture and kill 'it' {the unknown creature
after them}. The swimming pool is isolated
with only one exit, entrapping the friends so
there is no escape unless they defeat this
'thing'.
 This setting choice is so the audience knows
that the characters are trapped and no one
will be coming to help, making the
characters and themselves feel isolated like
the pool and the viewers distressful as they
know that they `re now trapped.

3. Mise-en-scene
lighting
 The lighting in the abandoned swimming pool is very dark and low lit
with cold blue undertones coming from the pool. This gives the
impression that the 'thing' they are trying to capture is hiding in the dark
shadows around the pool, emphasized by the fact that only Jay (the main
character) can see 'it', meaning that it could in fact be anywhere.
 This makes the audience feel tense as there is a build up to where the
'thing' reveals its self, and the blue lighting casting onto it makes you
know that the group of kids are in danger as connotations of blue are
cold and lifeless, which is also a factor of iconography as only horror films
change moon light to blue instead of a white/silver.
 Also the fact that jay is centered in the blue pool alone indicates that she
is the most endangered, as the lights around he pool are directed to her
as if she if the bait or the target.

4. Mise-en-scene
costume
 The costumes of the group of friends are set In the 80's, with casual clothes
such as hoodies, t-shirts, jackets and trainers, but unless you had seen the
rest of the film, this wouldn’t be as noteworthy or noticeable. This is so the
film doesn't give a specific time frame, and so that the 'thing' that is
following the group of friends could be in the modern era, making the
audience think that 'it' could be anywhere and at any time, conveying a
sense of paranoia to the viewers.
 The costume of 'it' is a set of plain white shorts and a vest. This dehumanizes
'it' as well as making it seem impersonal as it is seen as a human when it
actually isn't, and the audience can identify the evil element easily. It could
also show the viewers that the human who 'it' is, is innocent as the white
costume portrays purity to the audience.
 Jays costume {a swimming costume} also conveys to the audience that she is
venerable as she is more exposed and not as covered up compared to her
other friends. This shows the audience that jay is practically helpless as she
has no protection from the thing coming for her and can be shown by her
choice of costume. This gives the audience the feeling that something major
is going to happen, effecting jay as she is the most exposed and open
character in the scene. Not only this but her arm is also in a cast meaning
she is once again defenseless without her friends as she is injured.

5. Mise-en-scene
props
 In the swimming pool scene the group of friends have
collected numerous electric items,such as a TV, an iron, desk
light and speakers.This is because the group will be using
them to capture the thing by electrocuting it in the
swimming pool.The props, also like the costumes, set the
time frame of the film with the old TV's and lamps. The use
of these props is a way for the audience to see clearly how
the group plan to kill the thing as the scene builds up.
 Another prop in the scene is the gun used to try and kill the
thing as a back up plan. This shows the audience that the
group of friends feel like they are in real danger causing the
audience to feel almost shocked by the fact that they have a
gun when they firstly wanted to try to electrocute it, and is
also to show the power the thing has over the whole group
even when only one person can see 'it'. This emphasizes
how threatening the unknown evil is to the viewers

6. Mis-en-scene
character movements In the clip I have picked there is a lot of action happening as the group
of friends confront the 'thing' following Jay.
 When looking at the movements of jay, she changes her pace during
the five minuets as she becomes panicked and frightened of the 'thing'
they are trying to capture. This makes the audience feel anxious because
she becomes frantic and scared making us as a viewer feel the sudden
danger she is in.
 If you then look at the thing that is following them, its movements are
very precise and calculated making the thing seem less and less human
even when looking like one. This makes the audience feel scared when it
appears as even though it doesn't look like a threat the movements it
shows tells us we should be scared as they seem more skillfully placed
than a human giving off a dangerous feeling to the viewer.
 The friends movements, excluding jays, are jumpy and static. This is
because they cant see the 'thing' in the room like jay can unless its from
her point of view. The fear of the unknown causes these movements
from the characters and makes the audience feel nervous and
apprehensive as we are in the same shoes as the other friends

7. Non diegetic and diegetic sound
{the main sounds in the scene}
 Almost all the way through the scene you can hear the non-diegetic sounds of humming and
trickling in the background. This asynchronous sound causes tension to be built as the
humming increasingly continues. This causes the audience to feel tense through out the scene
as the music is an indicator that something is going to happen as the music is building up by
getting louder.
 Not only this but the humming sounds in the scene also have small spikes of louder noise
when something happens, like when an object is thrown at Jay in the pool, causing the
audience to feel worried as the music indicates that something sudden and usually dangerous
has happened.
 For diegetic sound, you can hear the movement of the water and how it goes from splashing
to a clashing sound so that it indicates to the reader that the danger level has risen as there
are more frantic sounds being made in the pool. It also tells the characters that she is in
trouble as they cant see the thing following jay but she can see it and where or what it is
about to do.
 Also regarding diegetic sound, you can hear the synchronous sounds of the voices of the
characters echoing off the walls in the swimming pool. This causes the audience to feel tense
as it adds to the fact of how isolated and alone the group are in the scene.

8. Camera
 In the start of the scene you can see a dolly shot
of the camera in the 'things' POV as is it walks
alone along an empty corridor to the swimming
pool. This show the audience that in the next few
minuets the 'thing' that has been following jay is
about to catch up to her. Now that the audience
know what could happen to her in the film, it
causes the viewers to feel nervous as the scene
continues because we know how dangerous the
thing is and that there is now no escape.
 Following from this there is a pan shot across the
pool when Jay finally sees the creature. this shot is
used to make the viewer feel helpless as they
watch the scene unwind without being able to see
the actual 'thing', Creating an atmosphere of
isolation and helplessness as the pan is used to
show 'it' could be anywhere the camera has been
directed.

9. Camera
 When the creature finally starts to move it begins to
pick up objects and throw them at jay. Shots such
as wide shots, whip pan and tilt shots are used to
show what's happening in the water to jay and how
she is trying to save herself, while they also show
what's being thrown into the water or where the
next floating object is coming from. This makes the
audience feel anxious as they can see what's about
to happen next but jay cant.
 There are also a few over the shoulder shots so you
can see what's happening from a characters POV
but also seeing how they will react by being placed
just behind them. These shots where used so it
placed the audience in the film with jay, or the
other friends, as if this thing was actually after you.
This causes the audience to feel on edge as they
don’t know how the character will act or if they will
be injured.

10. editing
 In terms of editing the way the clips are all put together was a
way for the scene to pick up pace at different times. For example
key points in the clip are when the creature finally enters the
room and everything soon picks up pace, creating a tense
atmosphere for the audience. Or when the scene ends and the
pace slows down so the audience is left in suspense to see what
has happened to the creature when its in the pool.
 Additionally CGI Is also used, for example to make the objects
float in mid air , so the viewers are feeling uneasy to where the
creature will go next,or to show us what the other friends see
when one of them places a blanket over it and we see a body
under it. When this scene happens it makes everything seem
more real as not only can one person see, but multiple people
can see it.
 Finally at the end there is a cliffhanger as the pool is submerged
in red, presumably blood, or the actual creature. This use of CGI
causes the viewers to feel a sense of dread as we don’t know
wither the thing has been defeated or not. Also the use of red
suggests that it is dangerous, also giving us a sense that maybe
the creature isn't dead after all.