The opening sequence of the media product uses conventions of horror thrillers such as a red filter to establish danger, non-diegetic music to build tension, and strategic character traits of the antagonist. However, it also challenges conventions by revealing information earlier than expected and using transitions and camera shots to hide the antagonist's identity rather than a mask. A key plot twist surprises the audience by subverting their expectations of what is behind a door, engaging them further in the story.

1. In what ways does your media
product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions
of real media products?

2. One of the first live-action shots in the opening sequence is an shot of the male character opening the book, overlayed with the shot of him walking to the
wardrobe (a shot which will take place later). This has been done to foreshadow the future actions of the male character and let the audience know that
something is going to be happening which will cause movement from this character. This is a device commonly used in horror films as, by making the
audience think like they know more than the main character, they get comfortable – thus making it even easier to shock and scare them.
This perhaps challenges conventions slightly, as it is rare for such effects to happen so early on in the thriller. However, due to the 2 minute limit on the film
we had very little time to play mind games on our audience – this was important for us to ensure that we stay true to the psychological nature of the thriller.
In this way, it indirectly enables us to fulfil our aims and intentions of establishing the genre of the production quickly.

3. The first part of our opening sequence, with the use of a red filter, immediately enables the horror elements of our thriller to be noticed – thus supporting our
aims and intentions of establishing the genre as quickly as possible at the beginning of the opening sequence. This technique follows the regular convention
of some horror thrillers – using the colour red (representing ‘danger’ or ‘blood’) to establish the genre and moments of fear, such as the fear the victims of
our male character are feeling in the photographs.
The book, heavily used in the beginning of the opening sequence, contains disturbing images of dead, tortured females within the main characters
collection. The black, leather gloves also act to add to the terror of the situation – as if he is taking great care and pride of this disturbing collection. The non-
diegetic music signifies the intensity of the situation, another common convention used in other horror thrillers.

4. The opening sequence features two unique transitions, which emphasise three different phases in the male characters persona. This first one (from red to
white lighting) represents the first transition from a, perhaps, lucid state of fantasy (where he has divulged into his second, secret life) into a position of
action. The phase shown in this shot is more of a neutral stage, whereby his actions don’t suggest any emotions (unlike in the second transition). This
editing technique has been carefully selected and crafted by ourselves in order to reinforce the premise of the thriller, this man living a ‘double life’.
The placement of the scream is to misguide and mislead the audience expectations. The transition effect also supports this, as it was an effect they
probably were not expecting and it subverts the normal effects used in common practise for horror thrillers.

5. It is of standard practise in horror thrillers for the main character/antagonist to be wearing a mask to cover his identity. The effect of mysteriousness usually
only adds to the tension and internal questions asked by the audience as it makes it more difficult to discover a motive behind the characters actions and
work out his emotions – the lack of emotive description provided by blocking out the face is a useful and commonly used convention in this genre. When
planning our thriller, we decided not to use the mask but to use camera shots to hide the male characters face.
We thought that this would be the more effective as it would create the effect that the audience are ‘so close, but so far’ to finding out the identity of this
character. This should further grip them to the film and keep them engaged, to try to discover his identity. The use of this effect has been extremely
successful in supporting our genre and enabling our target audience to be recognised.

6. In this stage of the opening sequence, we enable the audience to discover another character trait existent within the male character – he is strategic and
intelligent. Although both of these were suggested by the choice of smart costume and the way he carefully handled his ‘scrap book’, this sequence sees
the male character hiding his gloves and book in the cupboard in order to ‘cover his tracks’ and hide as many details about his secret, ‘other’ life as
possible.
This type of strategic nature portrayed by our male character is of convention within some horror thrillers – although they tend to be more investigative ones.
However, films such as ‘Human Centipede’ also contain this nature, although they are much more modern releases. By revealing this characteristic to our
audience we are ‘pulling on the latch’ a little bit more and luring them into the story, intriguing the target audience and making them feel more invested in the
character the more they find out about him.

7. As can be seen in the frame, this is the second transition (entry into the third phase) of the opening sequence whereby the male character is showing
dominance and definite action in his movement – he is out of the state of ‘neutrality’ and now in a position to take action and enter his safer, more
comfortable life (although the audience do not know about this life yet). His stride is strong and unforgiving, putting emphasis on his controlling nature and
decisiveness at this moment. As well as that, this is one of the first time when a full body show of his costume can be seen.
His costume was selected to be comfortable and homely – already establishing his second life from an early start. This creates a sense of normality within
the character, perhaps something our target audience can relate to. In the wider world of horror thriller films, this follows the convention of characters having
the potential to cause destruction, but also having the capability to put that under control when they want to.
This is also
supported later
on in the
sequence.

8. The panning shot is a continuation of the male characters affirmative action to track down the origin of the scream. The use of a POV shot for the panning
action is meant to engage the audience through using his personal perspective. The fact that he looks left-to-right multiple times before settling on the
middle door builds up suspense and the tension around the situation. This unpredictability and slow build of suspense to further lure the target audience in
to the story is very standard convention in horror thrillers.
The sense of perspective is used later on in the sequence as well when the shot is slowed down as he walks into
the door. This is to signify a sense of fear within the audience simply through the characters actions. The use of
slowing down footage to create and support tension and suspense is of common practise in horror thrillers
internationally.

9. The focus on the door and the door handle is also used to create further tension and suspense – but it also has a much greater, deeper purpose which
subverts the standard conventions of real horror thrillers. During the slow seconds of the door handle being pushed down, the door opening and then being
slammed shut, the audience is forced to imagine what could possibly be waiting for them on the other side. This forces the audience to ask themselves
many questions which should all, internally, build up. All through a simple action.
This shot links to the genre as it brings to the table unexpected elements - further supported by the non-diegetic, tense background music fading out and
the synchronous echo of the door shutting. The collision of both of these sounds may also represent a lack of hope for whoever or whatever may lay on the
other side of the door.

10. The plot twist is an essential and historical element of a horror thriller – where all of the tension relaxes for a moment, just to cause further confusion for the
audience. The surprising, young girl surpasses the expectations of the audience which should confirm their connection and engagement to the plot. The use
of the non-diegetic, lullaby music audibly demonstrates the unique nature of this plot twist. As this scene progresses, audiences should further internally
question how moral this decision was which, in turn, further acts to identify our target audience (as those with young children will be disturbed by this).
Plot twists are of very common practise within horror thrillers and is often seen as an essential tool in order to somewhat play into the hands of your
audience (so that they know some of what to expect from the thriller) whilst also being able to shock and surprise them.