ASSIGNMENT 26: INDIVIDUAL

PITCH(PLANNING)

Horror Subgenre: Psychological Horror ■ I decided to choose the psychological horror subgenre due to the

resources that we have available within our group and due to the fact that I’m fascinated with how tension is created within these types of films; the directors create the illusion that what happens in the film can possibly occur in reality and so, as a result, creates the enigma of the unknown.

■ For choosing this subgenre, our group would not have to primarily focus on the blood and gore of the horror genre and so, collectively, we would be able to rely on the character’s mental and emotional instability to frighten the audience at hand. By exposing universal psychological and emotional vulnerabilities and revealing the ‘darker parts’ of the human psyche to the audience, our piece would, hopefully, have more substance to that of other horror subgenres e.g. Zombie and Slasher.

Five films that are in this subgenre…■ Session 9 (2001)■ Seven (1995)■ The Silence of the Lambs (1991)■ Angel Heart (1987)■ The Shinning (1980)

Conventions of the Horror Subgenre:■ Props e.g. Weapons (knives/ guns etc…)When watching a psychological horror film, the props you tend to see, that are used to expose the universal vulnerabilities of a particular individual, are not actually apparent as they’re not needed in order to meet the narrative enigmas of the subgenre. Instead it is the costume, acting and make-up that help ones character to meet the requirements of the genre. For example, in one of the five films that I listed earlier (that are in this subgenre: The Silence of the Lambs) the protagonist mainly uses his mind in order to get what he wants- he uses it as a weapon for fear and self-destruction. Mirrors are commonly used in psychological horrors as they are used to portray the reflections of a characters inner self as well as representing the inhumane side of a character.

Conventions of the Horror Subgenre:■ Setting:The main settings used as a convention for this subgenre, that are seen time and time again on screen, are houses, woodland areas, schools etc. These types of settings create a sense of realism for the target audience as they’re put under the illusion of the fact that whatever occurs on screen may occur in their life- as a result, this capitalises the fear of the target audience as they picture themselves in those kind of situations. This is displayed in The Shining as we see the events that ensue in a hotel.

Conventions of the Horror Subgenre:■ Make-Up:*NaturalisticIn order to meet the conventions of the subgenre, make-up is needed to depict a natural image for the audience- therefore, heightening the effect of the illusion as a result. For example, in the film SeVen a lack of make-up is used for the protagonists to make the audience perceive them as a normal-everyday kind of working individual and likewise, with the sins/ antagonists; the individuals have smudged eye makeup, dark sullen eyes etc to display the emotions the character(s) uphold.

Conventions of the Horror Subgenre:■ Music:The musical conventions of the subgenre are shown through contrapuntal sounds. This is significant in depicting the enigma of the subgenre as it negates the action taking place on screen- adding to the intuitive fears of the film as a result. An example of a film in which such things occur is in Reservoir dogs, in the ‘eat cutting scene’, in where the man who is torturing the victim starts dancing to an upbeat song.■ Costume:The antagonist typically wears smart clothing and this clothing normally matches the locations that they’re in. In The Shining the antagonist wears smart clothing and is in an urban area. Also, the antagonist typically wears dark clothing to represent suspicion, mystery and death and the colour that is most susceptible for this is the colour black.

The possibility of what could happen in the first two minutes of the OTS…■ The antagonist will make his partner feel small within the scene e.g. “Okay that’s enough

now. I’m not having you or that bastard over there make me look like a fool… Alright?! … Take one more look… I dare you…”

■ He is convinced that his partner has a ‘’secret lover’ but in fact it is all in his head due to his possessive nature. E.g. PARTNERS SAYS… “I can never win ‘CHARACTER’!!! If I said I was thinking of every man in here, or if I said I was thinking of you or whoever…or whatever… it wouldn’t make the slightest of differences, Would it?! Would it?! ……”….

■ (He will exploit his partner’s vulnerabilities. The partner will question why he is acting in this way but due to his twisted mind he will continue with his persistence to harass her in public… Leading to her death and a strangers death as a result due to his possessive nature.)

■ This scene is a ‘snippet’ of a flashback of events that the antagonist has taken in order for him to become a killer- it makes the audience think of how he got to this stage in his life as a result… (*OBSSESSION??)

Meeting the Conventions…

■ Editing: E.G. MONTAGE the quick pace of editing used within the scene allows the audience to encapsulate the idea of the unknown- creating tension as a result. ***There is also the possibility of using a chase scene within the piece in where the antagonist hunts down his partners ‘secret lover’…. This would conventionally help our piece meet the subgenre but due to the technology we have, dolly tracking may not be able to occur, for example…

■ Flashbacks: Is used to show the past--- gives an insight into a characters past and shows why they are in a certain state in the present day.

■ Musical effects/ Contrapuntal sounds: to build a tense and eerie atmosphere. ■ Stereotypical victim: Female (*always under threat) – the audience in hindsight have the impression of what

may occur... (that she may be the only victim within the OTS…)■ Weapons are not used to meet the codes and conventions of the subgenre as only illusion is used within the

OTS to exploit the universal vulnerabilities of characters. ■ Enigmatic the audience don’t know what’s going to happen in the final ‘showdown’. ■ Non diegetic music used to reflect the different stages of the film, representing before and during the

psychological downfall of the antagonist…■ Short takes and/ or fades used during the scary scenes, the OTS will create a fast pace fear for the audience.

Narrative Enigmas:

■ The viewer wants to know what the motif of the antagonist is… ■ What is driving him...??■ What has made him like that…??■ Why is he like this…??■ Who has made him like this…??■ Will he recover his mental state of mind…??■ ETC...

Main targets to make this OTS effective:■ Low key lighting creates suspense and tension can create shadows and can unnerve and

terrify the audience… HIGHLIGHTS THE THEME OF THE UNKNOWN…■ Close up and mid shots are used to help the audience relate to the characters – it creates the

idea of realism and so heightens the tension within the genres OTS… ■ Flashback gives an insight into the antagonists past and therefore shows why he is acting in a

certain way in the present day…■ Props are not needed as it is the mental weapon of man that can expose the universal

vulnerabilities of oneself… ■ Setting: HOUSE sets the illusion of the fact that whatever occurs on screen may occur in the

audiences life… REALISM*■ Montage quick pace of editing used within the scene allows the audience to encapsulate the idea

of the unknown- creating tension…■ Contrapuntal sounds negates the action taking place on screen- adding to the intuitive fears of

the film…