In planning the of my opening 2 minutes of a feature film, location is an important part to get right.
With a horror, it is commonly set in one location which is isolated, creating a sense of claustrophobia and emphasising the lack of safety.
With my inital ideas, I needed a location near a wooded area and with somewhere for a car to be parked up.
Here are the best locations I found.
Location 1
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Codes and Conventions: Opening Sequence of Zombie Horrors
The history of zombie horrors goes back decades, but it wasn't until 1968, when George
Romero created Night of the Living Dead, a revolutionary zombie horror to those that preceded, and influenced those that followed. Common codes and conventions which fit the zombie horror genre consist of confined spaces, whether in a house, graveyard or generally somewhere in which the victims struggle to escape. Night time tends to be when the zombies come out, and they usually move in a similar manner, of rigid movements, groaning with wide eyes and slightly gormless expressions. Clothing is commonly ripped, but will be of noticeable human clothing, which links the thought of them previously being alive, but now changed into the living dead.
Night of the Living Dead [George A Romero] 1968
Romeros film is a low budget zombie horror, which goes against the traditional zombie that had already been created in various films that came before. Filmed in black and white, this is a classic film in the creation of zombie horrors today.
Opening with an establishing shot, of a long and winding road, with a car driving along. An Image Ten Production over the top of the shot in white, sans serif font. This goes against common horror films which typically use serif fonts to signify the genre of horror.
The shot changes as the car leaves the shot to a continuity shot of the car driving on another part of the road. Titles are then shown over the top of the footage of the car driving. The choice of font for the title is quite unusual, with night being in a serif font, but the with an outline effect rather than standard text. of the living dead is then typed in bold capitals, normal font. This emphasises the night, which is commonly scary and used as a main time period for horror films.
For the rest of the 2 minutes, credits show on screen as the car drives along, ending up at a graveyard. A common location in zombie horrors, as they commonly come out of their graves at night.
A sense of narrative enigma is created as it takes so long to find out who is in the car. But at 2.20 finally there is a shot of the two people in the car. However this seems to be the start of the main part of the film as opposed to the opening sequence. Throughout the opening sequence the non diegetic sound has been slow and sinister, which sets the atmosphere of the location being creepy.
This would not be an effective opening sequence for my film if I was to do something similar, as there is no variation of shots and angles. So I carried on watching the film, and here is a basic outline of the next few minutes of the film.
The brother and sister pull up at a graveyard, to put a new wreath on their fathers gravestone. There is a particular emphasis on the males annoyance of having to drive so far to do such a pointless thing.
As they get out the car, the radio turns on, stating that there has been a technical fault, which suggests foreshadowing that something is wrong.
Whilst planting the wreath, thunder and lightening can be heard, a use of pathetic fallacy. The brother then reminisces of when they were younger and he used to scare her, then realising she is still scared of being at the graveyard. He jokes about someone going to get them, and then a 'man' that can be seen in the background in various shots, attacks the girl as they walk through the graveyard. Trying to save her, the male jumps him, wrestling with the zombie. He is taken to the ground and hits his head on a gravestone. The zombie then turns to the female and she runs away. In the chase seen, there is an emphasis on non-diegetic sound, which builds up tension but takes out diegetic sound which loses some of the verisimilitude to the situation.
The Evil Dead. [Sam Raimi] 1982
Budget: $350,000 Gross: $2,400,000 (USA) $29,400,000 (Worldwide)
In 1982, The Evil Dead won the Clavell de Plata Award for best special effects. In 1983, the film won the Saturn Award for best low budget film.
Trivia: The opening shot across the pond was filmed by Sam Raimi in a dingy whilst actor Bruce Campbell pushed him.
Most of the demon POVs were filmed by putting a camera on a 2X4 with Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell ran along holding either side
Opening with titles on screen in red serif font, Renaissance Pictures Production and the film title.
Cross fade to a continuous tracking shot, traveling along a swamp - creates a creepy atmosphere for the opening. The non-digetic sound is slow and tense. Jump cut to a car driving along, shot through the trees. Audio bridge of a girl singing - creating narrative enigma.
Cut to a close up two shot of a girl singing and the driver of the car. Cut to shot of the people in the back and close up of the other male. Cut to high angle shot of the car driving, again through trees, signifying being watched. Jump cut back to the movement along the ground, now traveling across leaves.
Jump cut back to the female singing, driver joins in. Back to the movement in the woods.
The use of diegetic and non diegetic sound contrasts against each other, girls voice being light hearted and the sound of movement and non diegetic sound over the top feels quite sinister. Overall creates a build up of tension.
Cut back to inside of the car and quick cut to the car breaking around a corner. Which creates a bit of a false scare as you expect something bad to happen with the screech of the breaks.
Cut to the movement in the trees, now picking up its pace.
Jump cut to a red truck driving along the same kind of road as the car.
Cut to inside the car - first bit of speech - asking where they are. Gives exposition into the location of the film.
Jump cut to the thing in the forest, which is moving faster each time it cuts to it.
Cut back to the red truck, back to the map reader, cut to the driver looking back, cut to the woods, dutch angle of the truck. - a fast sequence of editing, building up the tension. Over which diegetic sound of the map reader is trying to work out where they are. Cut to the woods, close up dutch angle of the truck - a common signifier that somethings not right, in this situation can signify danger.
Cut to the map reader, cut to high angle shot of the car though the trees, cut to close up of the map and the guy saying here as he points. Quick cut to steering wheel, diegetic sound of swerving and honk of truck. Low angle shot through the gap of the steering wheel with the driver and 2 characters in shot.
Colin [Marc Price] 2008
Production Company: Nowhere Fast Productions
Distribution Companies: Kaleidoscope (UK) Walking Shadows (USA)
Box Office Figures: $798 (UK) (1 Screen)
Storyline - "Our hero Colin is bitten by a Zombie; he dies and returns from the dead. We follow him as he wanders through suburbia during the throes of a cadaverous apocalypse."
£45 budget, 97 minutes.
The opening production logo was animated white text on black background, a mixture of diegetic and non diegetic sound over the top, linking it in with the film. Following is yellow text on screen, in capital serif font 'a nowhere fast films production' Diegetic sound of car alarms and fireworks over the production titles, which then cut out as the first shot comes on screen of the front door. There is slight camera shake. The shot lasts for just under 60 seconds, of a person coming through the door and leaning against it, out of breath and shouting 'Damien'. It then pans and tracks the male into the kitchen where he stands staring out of the window, listening to the diegetic sound of what is outside. First cut is just after 3 minutes, to a close up of his face showing his emotion, disgust. The opening sequence consists of 6 cuts in the first 4 1/2 minutes, which creates a very slow paced opening, but allows the viewer to take in all that is on screen, emotions, mise en scene, etc.
Carriers [Alex&David Pastor] 2009
Production Companies: Paramount Vantage, This is That Productions, Likely Story, Ivy Boy Productions
Distributors: Paramount Vantage (USA)
Box Office Figures: $90,820 (USA) £69,224 (UK)
Storyline - "In a world devastated by an outbreak, Brian, his girlfriend Bobby, his brother Danny and their friend, Kate, are heading to a beach where the brothers spent their childhood vacations expecting it to be a sanctuary. When their car breaks down on the road in the desert, they negotiate with a man called Frank, who is also stranded but without gas. He is trying to get his daughter Jodie to the hospital (she is infected with a disease of some kind), they all decide to travel together." [IMDB]
The opening sequence, after the production logos and text, begins with an old home video of the two protagonists when they were younger on a beach. We later find out that this is where they are heading to in the film, and gives an insight to their childhood. Along with the non diegetic music, this opening creates a dream like memory of which has changed dramatically. Lasting 90 seconds.
The way in which it changes from this scene into the current time is through a pan up to the sky, and then changes to the next scene as it continues panning through the sky, ending upside down shot as a car comes closer, then carrying on and turning right way round again as the car drives on. This is an unusual way of changing setting, but is visually interesting. The non diegetic sound blends over the music of the last shot as the panning of the sky came down to the road, and there is a binary opposition of music tastes, from piano to heavy guitar. A series of shots of the outside of the car and inside gives exposition into characters and what they are doing - 4 young adults going surfing. Mise en scene of cigarettes and beer are stereotypical of this age range. By 2 minutes, the opening has shown some background information on possibly 2 characters. Also given a little bit of an insight into the main characters, - the guy playing 20 questions is probably cleaver as the girl takes a guess that who he is thinking of is a politician. The driver is drink driving therefore a bit of a rebel. However there is no clear anchorage in the opening that this is a horror film.
28 Days Later [Danny Boyle]
Romero created Night of the Living Dead, a revolutionary zombie horror to those that preceded, and influenced those that followed. Common codes and conventions which fit the zombie horror genre consist of confined spaces, whether in a house, graveyard or generally somewhere in which the victims struggle to escape. Night time tends to be when the zombies come out, and they usually move in a similar manner, of rigid movements, groaning with wide eyes and slightly gormless expressions. Clothing is commonly ripped, but will be of noticeable human clothing, which links the thought of them previously being alive, but now changed into the living dead.
Night of the Living Dead [George A Romero] 1968Romeros film is a low budget zombie horror, which goes against the traditional zombie that had already been created in various films that came before. Filmed in black and white, this is a classic film in the creation of zombie horrors today.
Opening with an establishing shot, of a long and winding road, with a car driving along. An Image Ten Production over the top of the shot in white, sans serif font. This goes against common horror films which typically use serif fonts to signify the genre of horror.
The shot changes as the car leaves the shot to a continuity shot of the car driving on another part of the road. Titles are then shown over the top of the footage of the car driving. The choice of font for the title is quite unusual, with night being in a serif font, but the with an outline effect rather than standard text. of the living dead is then typed in bold capitals, normal font. This emphasises the night, which is commonly scary and used as a main time period for horror films.
For the rest of the 2 minutes, credits show on screen as the car drives along, ending up at a graveyard. A common location in zombie horrors, as they commonly come out of their graves at night.
A sense of narrative enigma is created as it takes so long to find out who is in the car. But at 2.20 finally there is a shot of the two people in the car. However this seems to be the start of the main part of the film as opposed to the opening sequence. Throughout the opening sequence the non diegetic sound has been slow and sinister, which sets the atmosphere of the location being creepy.
This would not be an effective opening sequence for my film if I was to do something similar, as there is no variation of shots and angles. So I carried on watching the film, and here is a basic outline of the next few minutes of the film.
The brother and sister pull up at a graveyard, to put a new wreath on their fathers gravestone. There is a particular emphasis on the males annoyance of having to drive so far to do such a pointless thing.
As they get out the car, the radio turns on, stating that there has been a technical fault, which suggests foreshadowing that something is wrong.
Whilst planting the wreath, thunder and lightening can be heard, a use of pathetic fallacy. The brother then reminisces of when they were younger and he used to scare her, then realising she is still scared of being at the graveyard. He jokes about someone going to get them, and then a 'man' that can be seen in the background in various shots, attacks the girl as they walk through the graveyard. Trying to save her, the male jumps him, wrestling with the zombie. He is taken to the ground and hits his head on a gravestone. The zombie then turns to the female and she runs away. In the chase seen, there is an emphasis on non-diegetic sound, which builds up tension but takes out diegetic sound which loses some of the verisimilitude to the situation.
The Evil Dead. [Sam Raimi] 1982Budget: $350,000 Gross: $2,400,000 (USA) $29,400,000 (Worldwide)
In 1982, The Evil Dead won the Clavell de Plata Award for best special effects. In 1983, the film won the Saturn Award for best low budget film.
Trivia: The opening shot across the pond was filmed by Sam Raimi in a dingy whilst actor Bruce Campbell pushed him.
Most of the demon POVs were filmed by putting a camera on a 2X4 with Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell ran along holding either side
Opening with titles on screen in red serif font, Renaissance Pictures Production and the film title.
Cross fade to a continuous tracking shot, traveling along a swamp - creates a creepy atmosphere for the opening. The non-digetic sound is slow and tense. Jump cut to a car driving along, shot through the trees. Audio bridge of a girl singing - creating narrative enigma.
Cut to a close up two shot of a girl singing and the driver of the car. Cut to shot of the people in the back and close up of the other male. Cut to high angle shot of the car driving, again through trees, signifying being watched. Jump cut back to the movement along the ground, now traveling across leaves.
Jump cut back to the female singing, driver joins in. Back to the movement in the woods.
The use of diegetic and non diegetic sound contrasts against each other, girls voice being light hearted and the sound of movement and non diegetic sound over the top feels quite sinister. Overall creates a build up of tension.
Cut back to inside of the car and quick cut to the car breaking around a corner. Which creates a bit of a false scare as you expect something bad to happen with the screech of the breaks.
Cut to the movement in the trees, now picking up its pace.
Jump cut to a red truck driving along the same kind of road as the car.
Cut to inside the car - first bit of speech - asking where they are. Gives exposition into the location of the film.
Jump cut to the thing in the forest, which is moving faster each time it cuts to it.
Cut back to the red truck, back to the map reader, cut to the driver looking back, cut to the woods, dutch angle of the truck. - a fast sequence of editing, building up the tension. Over which diegetic sound of the map reader is trying to work out where they are. Cut to the woods, close up dutch angle of the truck - a common signifier that somethings not right, in this situation can signify danger.
Cut to the map reader, cut to high angle shot of the car though the trees, cut to close up of the map and the guy saying here as he points. Quick cut to steering wheel, diegetic sound of swerving and honk of truck. Low angle shot through the gap of the steering wheel with the driver and 2 characters in shot.
Colin [Marc Price] 2008
Production Company: Nowhere Fast Productions
Distribution Companies: Kaleidoscope (UK) Walking Shadows (USA)
Box Office Figures: $798 (UK) (1 Screen)
Storyline - "Our hero Colin is bitten by a Zombie; he dies and returns from the dead. We follow him as he wanders through suburbia during the throes of a cadaverous apocalypse."
£45 budget, 97 minutes.
The opening production logo was animated white text on black background, a mixture of diegetic and non diegetic sound over the top, linking it in with the film. Following is yellow text on screen, in capital serif font 'a nowhere fast films production' Diegetic sound of car alarms and fireworks over the production titles, which then cut out as the first shot comes on screen of the front door. There is slight camera shake. The shot lasts for just under 60 seconds, of a person coming through the door and leaning against it, out of breath and shouting 'Damien'. It then pans and tracks the male into the kitchen where he stands staring out of the window, listening to the diegetic sound of what is outside. First cut is just after 3 minutes, to a close up of his face showing his emotion, disgust. The opening sequence consists of 6 cuts in the first 4 1/2 minutes, which creates a very slow paced opening, but allows the viewer to take in all that is on screen, emotions, mise en scene, etc.
Carriers [Alex&David Pastor] 2009
Distributors: Paramount Vantage (USA)
Box Office Figures: $90,820 (USA) £69,224 (UK)
Storyline - "In a world devastated by an outbreak, Brian, his girlfriend Bobby, his brother Danny and their friend, Kate, are heading to a beach where the brothers spent their childhood vacations expecting it to be a sanctuary. When their car breaks down on the road in the desert, they negotiate with a man called Frank, who is also stranded but without gas. He is trying to get his daughter Jodie to the hospital (she is infected with a disease of some kind), they all decide to travel together." [IMDB]
The opening sequence, after the production logos and text, begins with an old home video of the two protagonists when they were younger on a beach. We later find out that this is where they are heading to in the film, and gives an insight to their childhood. Along with the non diegetic music, this opening creates a dream like memory of which has changed dramatically. Lasting 90 seconds.
The way in which it changes from this scene into the current time is through a pan up to the sky, and then changes to the next scene as it continues panning through the sky, ending upside down shot as a car comes closer, then carrying on and turning right way round again as the car drives on. This is an unusual way of changing setting, but is visually interesting. The non diegetic sound blends over the music of the last shot as the panning of the sky came down to the road, and there is a binary opposition of music tastes, from piano to heavy guitar. A series of shots of the outside of the car and inside gives exposition into characters and what they are doing - 4 young adults going surfing. Mise en scene of cigarettes and beer are stereotypical of this age range. By 2 minutes, the opening has shown some background information on possibly 2 characters. Also given a little bit of an insight into the main characters, - the guy playing 20 questions is probably cleaver as the girl takes a guess that who he is thinking of is a politician. The driver is drink driving therefore a bit of a rebel. However there is no clear anchorage in the opening that this is a horror film.
28 Days Later [Danny Boyle]
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Initial Ideas
Idea 1
The opening scene of this slasher would be of a news reporter warning viewers of an escaped murderer, fearing that he has come back to his hometown. Panning out of the TV, is a man sat watching the news, but not really taking any of it in. When he daughter comes into the room she tells him she is going to walk the dog. Unfazed by what she is doing, he lets her go. Establishing shot of the woodland, and the dog comes charging through with her walking behind. Series of shots through trees, close ups of her walking, and then the dog runs off. False scare as she searches for the dog, of branch breaking. The dog then comes out from where the sound came from. She then speaks to the dog, saying that they'll go back. Sound of another branch snapping, shot of girl through trees, and then she starts to run. Fast paced editing of cuts of the girl running, different angles and shot distances, 30 degree rule. A black silhouette is stood ahead of her blocking her path. As she sees him she runs up the hill into the trees, coming to a road where she runs out. A car pulls up, offers her a lift. Without thinking she jumps in, staring out of the window looking for the man, she can't see anything. As she is looking out behind her in shot you can see the driver staring at her, and a knife by the hand brake. Zoom into the blade and fade out.
Idea 2
A group road trip to the North takes a detour as they break down and walk to the nearest town to find somewhere to stay in the middle of the night. The only place open is a small bar in the deserted town car park. As the group walks in to a dark and gloomy pub, they just assume its a Yorkshire thing; however as one goes to the bar to order some drinks and ask to use the phone to call a breakdown service, realisation hits that the towns people are zombies.
The opening will start with the group of 3 guys and 2 girls, driving along the moor roads. Various shots of the car driving, through the trees and inside the car.
Idea 3
A Zombie slasher, in which the opening sequence starts with a couple driving, close up shots of them laughing, parts of the dashboard, the scenery - included a shot of an emergency phone box. They then pull up, start making out and then shots of outside the car, with the windows steaming up. Diegetic sound of the CD player, along with the sound of the wind & trees. A groaning sound can be heard. Back inside the car, the girl hears the sound, asking what it is and the male replies with it being the wind. The female doesn't believe him and asks if they can drive on, he starts the car but the engine won't start. With no signal on their phone, he remembers an emergency phone down the road. He tells her to wait there as he goes to the phone. When found, the telephone wire is cut. Cursing he throws down the phone. Fast paced editing of broken up shots of something getting closer to the guy - jumpy and rough to signify the movement of a zombie. The man hears a groaning, turns around expecting it to be the girl, and a zombie launches himself on him. - Depending on time limit, the girl in the car would hear a muffled scream from the guy, confused she wipes away some of the steamed up windscreen. Not being able to see anything she is about to open the door when a zombie slams onto the windscreen where the patch has been wiped. Fast cut to credits.
The opening scene of this slasher would be of a news reporter warning viewers of an escaped murderer, fearing that he has come back to his hometown. Panning out of the TV, is a man sat watching the news, but not really taking any of it in. When he daughter comes into the room she tells him she is going to walk the dog. Unfazed by what she is doing, he lets her go. Establishing shot of the woodland, and the dog comes charging through with her walking behind. Series of shots through trees, close ups of her walking, and then the dog runs off. False scare as she searches for the dog, of branch breaking. The dog then comes out from where the sound came from. She then speaks to the dog, saying that they'll go back. Sound of another branch snapping, shot of girl through trees, and then she starts to run. Fast paced editing of cuts of the girl running, different angles and shot distances, 30 degree rule. A black silhouette is stood ahead of her blocking her path. As she sees him she runs up the hill into the trees, coming to a road where she runs out. A car pulls up, offers her a lift. Without thinking she jumps in, staring out of the window looking for the man, she can't see anything. As she is looking out behind her in shot you can see the driver staring at her, and a knife by the hand brake. Zoom into the blade and fade out.
Idea 2
A group road trip to the North takes a detour as they break down and walk to the nearest town to find somewhere to stay in the middle of the night. The only place open is a small bar in the deserted town car park. As the group walks in to a dark and gloomy pub, they just assume its a Yorkshire thing; however as one goes to the bar to order some drinks and ask to use the phone to call a breakdown service, realisation hits that the towns people are zombies.
The opening will start with the group of 3 guys and 2 girls, driving along the moor roads. Various shots of the car driving, through the trees and inside the car.
Idea 3
A Zombie slasher, in which the opening sequence starts with a couple driving, close up shots of them laughing, parts of the dashboard, the scenery - included a shot of an emergency phone box. They then pull up, start making out and then shots of outside the car, with the windows steaming up. Diegetic sound of the CD player, along with the sound of the wind & trees. A groaning sound can be heard. Back inside the car, the girl hears the sound, asking what it is and the male replies with it being the wind. The female doesn't believe him and asks if they can drive on, he starts the car but the engine won't start. With no signal on their phone, he remembers an emergency phone down the road. He tells her to wait there as he goes to the phone. When found, the telephone wire is cut. Cursing he throws down the phone. Fast paced editing of broken up shots of something getting closer to the guy - jumpy and rough to signify the movement of a zombie. The man hears a groaning, turns around expecting it to be the girl, and a zombie launches himself on him. - Depending on time limit, the girl in the car would hear a muffled scream from the guy, confused she wipes away some of the steamed up windscreen. Not being able to see anything she is about to open the door when a zombie slams onto the windscreen where the patch has been wiped. Fast cut to credits.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Codes and Conventions : Severence
Severence [Christopher Smith] 2006
The opening of Severance lasts about 3 minutes 15 seconds, and is interesting in the way that even though it is the opening sequence, it is actually part of the ending of the film.
Short takes of people running, then to a black screen, signifies action. It also makes it unclear as to what is happening. There is the slight comic aspect of where the man stops running, and the camera carrys on tracking, then having to go back and shows him catching his breath. Also with the women trying to get out of the hole, and having to take off their clothes to create a ladder, even though they are talking in a different language, the camera shot makes it clear when the girl says they need a little more to make it longer.
The reason I chose to blog about this film opening, wasn't about the way it is filmed, but more the idea of having the ending of the film at the beginning.
I would like to use this type of idea in my media coursework, as I feel it is an interesting way of starting a film, breaking away from traditional openings, and it can also be dramatic, and then have a short take, cutting it to the beginning of the films story, and then going on to tell the tale which leads up to the end sequence. I am going to look further into films in which they have their opening sequence this way.
Codes and Conventions : Bride of Chucky
Bride of Chucky [Ronny Yu] 1998
With an opening scene of 3 minutes 30 seconds with title sequences, the Bride of Chucky opening uses signifiers of the horror genre straight from the beginning, with the use of string based music for non diegetic sound. This relates back to Physco, one of the first and very popular horror films, which also has string based music.
The production logo, Universal, and the text - Universal presents - is shown, and serif text is used which can signify a serious film, and the text that was chosen looked as though the serifs were daggers.
From the first scene, exposition is used to let the viewer know little background details about the film, such as the american flag, and the close up on the police dept sign. Pathetic fallacy is also used in the first scene, with the heavy rain, night time, and thunder and lightening, which all give the idea that something bad is going to happen. All can be seen as typical aspects to a horror film.
Again, like in Halloween, a blue filter is used over the lens to create a sense of fear. A dutch angle is used, which is when the camera is off axis, which signifies something isn't quite right.
The opening also involves intertextual references to other horror films, such as Friday 13th sequals with the hockey masked thats locked away, and the Michael Myres from Halloween.
There is alot of shot variation in the opening sequence, from close ups to long shots, which keep the audience interested.
The false scare is also commonly used in horror films, where suspense is increased, in this example by the man reaching to look in the black bin liner, when a sudden action takes place, the loud noise of the police radio, which makes the audience jump, expecting something else to happen.
The scene in which the mans throat is cut, is taken in short takes, and he covers up the cut, and blood pours out. This is an easy way in creating verisimlitude in a horror film, trying to make the gore look realistic.
Male Gaze is also brought into the opening sequence, as a woman wearing little clothing is shown on screen, along with certain objects being shown twice, which could signify some importance later in the film.
Codes and Conventions : Halloween
Halloween [John Carpenter] 1978
The first 2 minutes were just titles; the production company and the people involved in the making of the film. The names came up ontop of a scene of a halloween pumpkin, where the face had been cut out and a candle flickered inside. This anchored the horror genre, along with the non diegetic sound, which is now a well known sound for horror.
As the light in the pumpkin goes out, text appears on the black screen, showing exposition of where and when it is set. There is the sound of children singing the trick or treat song in the background, and an audio bridge links it with the next scene.
When the action does happen, it was filmed in one long take, up until the ending. This connotes point of view shot, with the audience being the eyes of the murderer. - The famous opening of the 1958 film Touch of Evil was filmed all in one take, which could be where Carpenter was inspired from. Effects such as a blue filter over the lens is used, producing an eerie atmosphere, which can signify the horror genre.
Tension is created through non diegetic sound again, as the light in the bedroom goes out, and the sound cuts in. The choice of music is used to change the heartbeat of the viewer, making them feel tense. Carpenter put something infront of the camera to represent a mask, and make the viewer only be able to see out the the eye holes in which the killer sees; I think this is a good effect for enhancing the point of view camera shot. It also limits what the audience can see, which leaves the majority of the gore up to their imagination and less special effects have to be used.
Overall the opening minutes of action (doesnt include the title sequence) is 4 minutes 43 seconds.
Friday, 1 October 2010
Definition of Slasher
A slasher is a sub genre of horror, and typically follows a group of characters, in an isolated situation, who get hunted down by a killer. With common stereotypical characters such as the 'scream queen', 'final girl' and the masked murderer. The audience for most slashers are the modern horror lovers, which aim at young adults, who are a similar age to the cask, which can increase verisimilitude to the situation of the film, as they might be college kids themselves.
A common, and effective, use of camera shots that are used throughout a wide variety of slasher films is the point of view shot from the killers perspective. This builds tension as the viewers know that the victims are being watched, and more so that the killer is close.
The History of Slashers
With possibly the most well known slasher, Halloween, being released in 1978, slashers do precede this film. Films such as Psycho and Peeping Tom, both 1960. Tobe Hoppers' 1974 film, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, brought a family of cannibalistic sadistic to the big screen; Bob Clarks' Black Christmas, 1974, created the now common prank call from inside the house plot.
Friday the 13th, 1980, is an influential slasher, including aspects of foreshadowing and perhaps some irony, the film inspired future slasher directors, and also its own with the various sequels that followed Friday the 13th.
By the 90's, new, unique ideas for slasher concepts wore thin, but in 1996 Scream became a massive box office hit. More recently, directors have, instead of aiming for a brand new plot, re-created old classics. Examples include the 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which then was followed by a 2006 TCM : The Beginning. The Hitcher and The Hills Have Eyes are other remakes. In 2007, Rob Zombie Halloween was seen as a re-imagining, in which the narrative is somewhat similar, but does not stick to the exact plot.
A common, and effective, use of camera shots that are used throughout a wide variety of slasher films is the point of view shot from the killers perspective. This builds tension as the viewers know that the victims are being watched, and more so that the killer is close.
The History of Slashers
With possibly the most well known slasher, Halloween, being released in 1978, slashers do precede this film. Films such as Psycho and Peeping Tom, both 1960. Tobe Hoppers' 1974 film, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, brought a family of cannibalistic sadistic to the big screen; Bob Clarks' Black Christmas, 1974, created the now common prank call from inside the house plot.
By the 90's, new, unique ideas for slasher concepts wore thin, but in 1996 Scream became a massive box office hit. More recently, directors have, instead of aiming for a brand new plot, re-created old classics. Examples include the 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which then was followed by a 2006 TCM : The Beginning. The Hitcher and The Hills Have Eyes are other remakes. In 2007, Rob Zombie Halloween was seen as a re-imagining, in which the narrative is somewhat similar, but does not stick to the exact plot.
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