The document analyzes techniques used in several student films. It discusses the use of red herrings, concealed images of characters, jump cuts, point of view shots, lighting, sound effects, mysteries around the identity of killers, and other techniques to build suspense, tension, and keep audiences confused about what is happening. Multiple films employ techniques like never revealing the killer's identity, limited dialogue, timers adding a sense of urgency, and flashbacks to enhance the thriller and mysterious elements of the stories.

1. Student Example
Analysis

2. Analyzing the Films

3. Behind the Net Curtains
Use of Red Herring - thinking that the elderly woman would be the killer when actually she
was the victim.
The audience never find out who the killer is, a low angle shot is used of his legs for a second
or so, and that is the only glimpse we see of the killer.
Close up shots were used of the woman's face, particularly when she is cleaning her teeth to
show detail and gruesomeness.
Enhancing the sound of the meat, when the elderly woman is squishing it between her hands.
Over the shoulder shot used when the woman is sitting in her arm chair and drinking
something, puts the audience in the camera’s position.
Concealed Image of the woman’s face until the end - we do not see much of the elderly
woman's face until the very end of the film.
Jump Cuts were used between the woman chopping up one type of food, to chopping another
type.
The basis of the film seems very normal (the elderly woman is acting normally) but there are
hints that suggest that she is up to something (eating an animal organ is unusual).

4. Deadline
The timer in the corner makes the audience feel like they are on a time limit
aswell and have to meet the deadline, they will be hurrying the character who has
to meet this deadline.
We never find out what happens to the kids and why they have been captured,
why they are going to be killed, which adds mystery.
Tracking shot is used when following the dad of the kids, it makes the audience
feel as if they are in a chase and following the characters every move.
We don’t see the killers face which gives a mysterious atmosphere as it allows the
audience to ask themselves who the killer is and why will they not find out.
There is limited dialogue so this confuses the audience and keeps them on edge
and not knowing what is going on.
Low key lighting is used to create an eery atmosphere and keep a dark and
strange mood.
Only one character is really used, we do see the children and the killer but only
the man is used during the course of the ‘deadline’, which creates sympathy for
the man as it makes him seem more alone.

5. The Witness
Video tape style camera is used, makes it feel quite isolated (there is no film crew
around and the character is by themselves).
Shot/reverse shots are used when the two people are talking, fast moving and
confusing.
Low key lighting has been used and a lot of colour has been drained from the camera
to make the setting seem dark and eery and suspicious.
Point of view shot is used when the person looks at the criminals, puts the audience
in the characters shoes.
High angle shot is used on the victim to make them feel small and powerless and put
the criminal in authority. The high angle shot shows the power of the criminal and
shows this to the audience.
The criminals costumes is mainly a mask, this is what the audience will notice first
about them and create a mysterious and unusual atmosphere.
The ending is confusing and uses the sound effect of a heartbeat to build suspense
and make the auidence as nervous as the character.

6. Outspoken
Reversing the film and starting from the beginning makes the audience feel as if they
have missed something and leaves them confused.
Over the shoulder shot is used to show the ‘victim’ over the criminals shoulder.
The credits are displayed on crumbled bits of paper, this is effective as it has the set
of the film in the background but the audience do not yet know that the background
pictures are related to the film.
There are indicators of drug use during the first seen which makes the characters
seem dodgy and suspicious and already gives them a mysterious judgement made by
the audience.
The main character gets a call and mentions ‘Warehouse 12’, which is somewhere
he has to go, this adds confusion as the audience have no idea what ‘Warehouse 12’
is and will never find out.
A femme fatal is used, she shoots the main character at the start of the film and we
see her laying asleep next to the main character later on which suggests that she has
led the main character to his downfall, femme fatals are a key thriller convention.

7. The Therapist
The use of the slow motion walking at the start shows the audience that the character
is going somewhere, although we don’t know where, it is implied that they are being
led to their death or somewhere else that is unpleasant. The fact that we only see their
feet confuses the audience as we do not know who he/she is (e.g. killer or victim?).
Finally when we see their face we can see that they look quite innocent and as the
camera cuts we see a figure in the background which suggests to the auidence that the
innocent man is about to die.
Flashbacks are used as these are a key thriller convention, however the people in the
flashback are different to who is in the present, which is never fully explained, but it
suggests that the figure in the background has hurt or killed this mans family which
has led him to be the next target of the killer.
We never see the killers face which keeps a concealed image and allows the audience to
make their own judgement as to what they look like but it adds mystery and tension.
Binary opposites are used (the man/the figure in the background), it is obvious to see
that the figure is up to no good and the man is running away which suggests he is the
victim.
Another binary opposite is used between the flashbacks and the present day (low key
lighting and bright lighting), which conveys the atmosphere of each time they are in.

8. Too Good
•
The use of children's playground and toys suggests that nothing is going to happen
and acts as a red herring as the audience won’t expect anything.
•
There is a lot of low key lighting used and the colour is very dark, to make it seem
very mysterious.
•
Close up’s are used of objects such as door handles and keys, and photos, to show
detail and precision and keep the audiences attention completely focused on that one
thing.
•
We never see the killers/criminals face so it adds mystery and suspense and the
audience will want to find out who he/she is.
•
The voiceover gives the opening of the film from the perspective of that one person,
the audience will assume it is the killer, but they do not know. And this is the only
insight they will get into the killers life, as the don’t see what he looks like.
•
Non - diegetic sound is used over the top of the voiceover as well as diegetic to show
natural things such as washing hands, or running etc.
•
Some of the settings and locations are completely normal, such as a row of houses,
but others are weird and suspicious such as the old worn down house.