The media product uses and develops conventions of real horror films. It aims to raise fear in the opening sequence through clashing sounds, as is typical of horror films. It leaves the ghost's face partly obscured, creating fear of the unknown. The narrative follows a psychological horror plot involving one spirit obsessed with another character, similar to other films. Camera shots and sound effects also develop conventions by building tension, though the technical codes are kept simple like in The Babadook to seem realistic. Props are used effectively, like a rocking barrel signifying insanity. Overall the film challenges conventions little while developing many forms found in typical horror films.

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

2. Creating Fear and Narrative
• Our film used and developed the forms and conventions of real media
products. When doing our research we found that horror films usually
raise some sort of fear in the opening in the opening sequence. Such as
Insidious where you see an old woman. We wanted to make people
jump in the opening sequence too, so we used clashing sounds which
did so. This used the typical conventions of horror films as one of the
main conventions of a horror film is to cause the contentions of horror
films is the fact that we briefly showed Eva audience fear and to make
them jump. Another way that we developed but deliberately covered
her face so the audience could not see underneath. And this causes fear
of the unknown which was our aim.
• The narrative followed a typical psychological horror. The plot was
that the ghost Eva had an obsession over Bella. Which occurs similarly
in many horrors such as Oculus.

3. Raising Enigmas
• I think that our opening successfully raised
enigmas, By Using the conventional forms of
horror films. I think we did this by not showing the
face of the ghost of Eva. This would raise enigmas
for the audience as they would wonder what was
underneath her hair. It is the fear of the unknown
as not seeing what she looks like. Other films such
as the Woman in Black did this by making the
audience wonder why the 3 young girls were doing
everything in sync.

4. Sub genre, Mise en Scene
• Our sub genre of horror that we chose was psychological horror.
• It follows typical characters and conventions because there is one spirit
who seems to have one obsession with a particular character similar in
other films such as the conjuring and oculus.
• The mise en scene of our film opening develops the typical conventions
of a horror film as it takes place in a dark location. It also is set in an
abandoned car park which is fairly stereotypical of a horror film
(isolated places). Evas costume also follows the conventions of horror
films as her costume is a white robe indicating that when she was alive
she was very ill. We followed this convention of typical horror films
because in films such as the ring, the young girl is wearing a long
hospital gown. And in films such as the grudge, the spirit has long
black hair and so does our ghost (Eva). This shows that our character
profiles do not challenge this type of horror.

5. Sound & camera
• Our camera shots slightly develop the original conventions of horror
films. We used a variety of shots such as close ups to capture the main
characters fear and shock. This is used a lot in horror films. We also
used Over the shoulder shots which create a lot of fear to the audience
as it is over the ghosts shoulder and it creates and builds tension of
what will happen next. For instance, in the woman in black, there is an
over the shoulder shot of the girls over the woman's shoulder. Our shot
of 360 degree spin develops the conventions of horror films as they are
not commonly used but we experimented and found it worked very
well in our piece. It briefly showed flashes of Eva without revealing too
much screen time of her, whilst it still maintained showing how scared
Bella was.
• The sound used was mainly added on eg.clashing of a broken chair on
a floor. This used the normal conventions of a horror film as the
audience would expect to be made to jump with sudden sound effects.
This built tension and kept the audience on the edge of their seat.

6. Use of props & Technical Codes
• Using props in a effective way is a normal convention of
horror films. For instance, we used a wooden barrel in
which Eva the ghost was rocking back and fourth on. This
is slightly disturbing as rocking can be a sign of insanity and
Eva was watching Bella whilst rocking on this. This was a
good use of a prop as it slightly disturbs the audience.
• Our technical codes such as editing were very simple but I
think this what made our opening so disturbing. The fact it
seemed so close to real life with no extravagant effects, just
simple jump cuts to each scene. Many horrors such as ‘The
Babadook’ use simple cuts to make the horror film seem
more like day to day life.

7. Use of props & Technical Codes
• Using props in a effective way is a normal convention of
horror films. For instance, we used a wooden barrel in
which Eva the ghost was rocking back and fourth on. This
is slightly disturbing as rocking can be a sign of insanity and
Eva was watching Bella whilst rocking on this. This was a
good use of a prop as it slightly disturbs the audience.
• Our technical codes such as editing were very simple but I
think this what made our opening so disturbing. The fact it
seemed so close to real life with no extravagant effects, just
simple jump cuts to each scene. Many horrors such as ‘The
Babadook’ use simple cuts to make the horror film seem
more like day to day life.