The document compares and contrasts the opening sequences of the films "It Follows" and "Apparition" in several ways: 1) Both openings feature female protagonists running away from an unknown threat, creating intrigue for the audience. 2) Shots of the protagonists looking back and running alone to an isolated place emphasize their anxiety and vulnerability. 3) Long takes build suspense about what might happen, though they reveal the threats differently. 4) The films use camera movements differently - pans in "It Follows" distance the audience, while tracks in "Apparition" involve them. So while the openings share similarities, they also take different approaches to

1. ‘IT FOLLOWS’ AND ‘APPARITION’
OPENING SEQUENCE COMPARISON:

2. • In both opening sequences
the female protagonists are
running away from an
something, unknow to the
audience. The will appeal to
the audience as it provides
them with an enigma.
SIMILARITY…

3. • In both opening sequences the
female protagonists turn around
to look at something which is
unknown to the audience. Again
this provides the audience with
an enigma and incorporates an
intellectual audience pleasure.
Both of these shots connote the
protagonists strong emotions of
anxiety.
SIMILARITY…

4. SIMILARITY…
• In both of the opening
sequences the female
protagonist runs away, alone
to a place in which she feels
safe. Both of the shots
emphasises (Although in ‘It
follows’ a lot more) the
vastness of the locations in
which they choose. This
connotes that they are both
isolated and lost both
physically and mentally.

5. 1. Both of the opening sequences subvert the
stereotypical ideology that home/ school is
a safe place. This is shown as both the
protagonists are running away from these
locations.
2. Both females protagonists as represented
as being middle class due to the middle
class suburb in which the protagonist lives
in ‘It follows’ and the middle class school In
which the female protagonist attends in
‘Apparition.’ The fact that both of these
protagonists are middle class and
struggling from a supernatural threat
following them, subverts the stereotypically
representation that the middle class has an
‘easy life.’
SIMILARITY…

6. • In ‘It Follows’ there is a long take of the beach.
This is a stationary shot. In ‘Apparition’ there is
a long take of the protagonist is the wood
however this is not a stationary shot. This is a
360 degree track. The long takes in both
opening sequence connote to the audience
that something is about to happen. In
‘Apparition’ this is confirmed as when the
camera tracks around the protagonists face, her
dead friends appear, connoting that the threat
is already tormenting her. In ‘It follows’ the fact
that nothing is shown in the shot increases the
suspense and enigma which will appeal to the
audience. The threat is also revealed in ‘it
follows’ however not in the same shot like
‘Apparition.’ It is revealed in a separate one.
SIMILARITY…

7. • Both female protagonists are surrounded
by leaves and nature. This subverts the
connotations of naturalness as they are
both being followed by an unnatural
force. As well as this in both opening
sequences leaves appear to be on the
floor. Fallen leaves are symbolic of the
end of spring when new life is celebrated
in nature, therefore the leaves on the
ground have connotations that the
females are not alone.
SIMILARITY…

8. DIFFERENCE…
• Although in both opening sequences the
camera follows the protagonist. In ‘It follows’
the camera pans to follow the protagonist,
whereas in ‘Apparition’ the camera tracks to
follow the protagonist. The pan connotes that
the audience is stuck and can’t get close to the
protagonist- they can only observe. However
the track in ‘Apparition’ moves alongside the
protagonist connoting that the audience are
running along with her. This will appeal to our
audience as this incorporates the gratification
of personal identity as due to the camera
movement (alongside the protagonist) the
audience will feel as if they are a part of the
film and the bond with the protagonist will
grow.

9. • In ‘It follows’ there is an absence of
close ups and medium close up’s.
This reinforces the point on the
previous slide that the audience are
prevented from getting close to the
protagonist. The fact that in
‘Apparition’ there are many close
up’s and medium close up’s connote
that the audience can relate to the
protagonist and receive the
gratification of personal identity.
DIFFERENCE…

10. IS ‘APPARITION’ AS SUCCESSFUL AS ‘IT FOLLOWS’?
• I believe that our production is just as successful as ‘It follows.’ This is because not
only does it confirm vital conventions of psychological horrors, it also challenges
some, which incorporates Neale’s theory of repetition and difference. However as
stated, unlike ‘it Follows’ we believe in some ways we got too carried away with
our auteur signature of a mental illness. Therefore if we were to do this
production again we would focus more on the idea of a supernatural threat
following her instead of a mental illness.