4A.

b-Short film analysis

Film One-Jameson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5Ae4b5EA4I
Genre
Horror
Conventions
An underlining fear of the unknown
This convention is commonly used in horror films to keep the audience on edge throughout
the film to build the atmosphere of the film as well as build tension, which usually takes
place before other conventions such as jump-scares to make these effective.
Vulnerability
Characters are often shown as vulnerable in horror films as this similarly builds tension and
creates an atmosphere of the unknown, which allows for the audience to become closer to
the characters, which heightens the sense of fear to the audience.
Loss of Identity-Linked to main protagonists
There is often a lack of identity linked to the main characters involved in the film, this is so
that the horror aspect of the film to heighten the suspense of the film and as well as this
make the horror aspect of the film realistic and heighten the fear in the audience.
Jump Scares
Jump Scares are used in horror films to scare the audience, by surprising them with a
sudden change, with a certain image or sound, to help build the atmosphere of the film and
as well as this it makes the story being told more realistic and amerces the audience in the
story.
Dark colours
Dark colours are a commonly used in horror films, this is because these particular type of
colour it can help the audience see that the genre is a dark or of the horror genre and ass
well as this dark colours, especially black help add to the mystery of the horror genre
Low key lighting
Low-key lighting is conventional of the horror genre as it is used to enhance the shadows in
the scenes that it is used in, by doing this it focuses the audience’s attention on a particular
point in a scene which helps build tension and heightens suspense often before jump scares
take place.
Synopsis
A man’s peaceful life is disrupted when three armed travelers try to siege his secluded cabin
in the woods, but they have made the wrong choice and do not understand the horrific
nature the lurks within the woods.
Mise En Scene
Mise En Scene that has been used in this film is the location for this this film
as it is set in the middle of a forest, this has been done to firstly show the
calm and peaceful nature of everyday life, to show that there is nothing
abnormally different about his daily life, the use of this location links to the
horror genre as it has been the location for many similar horror films that
have been successful such as “Cabin in the woods.” (2012) And “Blair Witch
Project.” (1999), this is because by using a forest which is dense helps give the audience as
sense of the unknown and of what could be lurking in forest out if sight and heightens the
fear of the film’s storyline.
In contrast to showing the peaceful nature of the location first
shown when his cabin is attacked the use of props such as the
security cameras and traps around his cabin shows the other side
of his personality, that he is calculated as each trap and device that
he set up is so intricate that this is not the first time he has had
unwanted visitors, this links to the horror genre and has been used
in successful films such as “Hostel.” Which also uses security cameras and by doing this it
changes the audience’s perception of the main character as this reveals that he is not the
innocent man that he is portrayed as at the beginning of the film.

The mise en scene of low-key lighting has been used to create shadows and specifically in a
horror movie creates a sense of the unknown for the audience as what is in the woods
watching them, but also it adds to the tension and dramatic nature of the action scenes that
are involved in this film, the use of low-key lighting is commonly used in horror films such as
“Annabelle.” (2014), the reason for this being used is to heighten the suspense and fear in
the audience, which helps when revealing the zombie to the audience
t
Cinematography
The film begins with a montage of shots from nature to demonstrate that
at the beginning of the film everything is calm and it then changes to a
mid-shot of the axe the man is using to chop up wood; this has been done
to imply that something violent is going to happen later on in the film and
that there will be disruption to the initial peace and tranquillity, this is important to the
horror genre as it helps set a realistic story that is believable for the audience and can help
give brief details to the main characters backstory.

Following this scene, there is another montage of the man going

about his daily routine including chopping wood, hunting game
and cooking - this is to show that he lives a normal life in
seclusion. This links to Todorov’s theory because this beginning
section of multiple montages showing the man’s normal life is the
equilibrium point of the film and in this part the audience are uncertain about what
events are about to unfold, montages are important for horror films as they show a
development in time and because of this can help develop the story and can show the
audience details about the character that may not be able to have been clearly shown to the
audience otherwise.

The disruption point happens when the travellers start attacking the man
when he confronts the group leader outside the front of his cabin. Multiple
shots are used such as close ups and mid shots - this has been done to show
the emotions of the characters involved and relates to the horror genre as
this confrontation shows that the main character has a secret to hide and is
sacrificing a lot just to keep his secret hidden.

The film uses low angle shots such as when the man who owns the cabin
captures the leader of the group and feeds him to his zombie daughter in
the woods; this has been done to show how weak the group were and
that they underestimated the man’s power. This scene reflects the horror genre as it shows
that throughout the film the man at the beginning was hiding a secret which makes the
audience understand why he had the place rigged with traps.

The final shot is of Jameson having a drink whilst looking at a picture of him
and his daughter; this links to Todorov’s equilibrium theory as this is the dis
equilibrium as just like the start of the film where everything is tranquil and
he has been left alone in his cabin; this relates to the horror genre as usually
in horror films after the disruption and disequilibrium events, there is a
form of resolution and this is where the audience are shown that his life is
back to normal. The shot that has been used is a wide shot of the main
character having a drink with a picture of his deceased daughter, this has been done to
show the audience additional information about the main character, but also to show how
close he was with his daughter and helps them understand why he was so protective over
his land. This type of shot to end a horror film is important as it ties the story together and
helps reveal further unknown details about the main character and as well as this it can help
clearly show the audience that it is the beginning of the new equilibrium.
Sound
Non-diegetic sound of Foley sounds of food frying on Jameson’s frying pan
and in addition wood being snapped in half, the wood being snapped in
half adds to the suspense of the scene and show the life that he lives
secluded in the woods and the tedious nature of the daily events he
undertakes during the day and the sound of the food frying has been
added in increase the realism of the tasks being show on camera and
because of this it allows for the audience to be further immersed in the story. It is common
for a horror film to immerse their audience into the story that is being told, this is common
in horror films as with conventions such as jump scares it is important to keep the audience
immersed so that this convention has a greater intended effect on the audience.

Another example of Non-Diegetic sound that has been used in this film is the sound of the
alarms when the armed travellers are spotted on the land, these are usually used to alert
people of something dangerous or troublesome and has been used as his initial warning and
makes the three armed men realise the mistake they have made in confronting this man at
his home, this links to the horror genre as the sound of the alarm unnerves the audience
and makes them anticipate that something bad is about to occur.

On the other hand, diegetic sound has been used throughout this film which includes the
sounds of birds chirping as well as other animals as they have a source on screen, this adds
to the tranquillity that is show at the beginning of the film and then
as the tone of the film changes and becomes more sinister the
nature and animal sounds stop to help keep the tension of the film,
this is common for the horror genre as it makes the films story
more realistic and believable as by firstly portraying the character
in this way helps build the tension in the film until the disruption
point of the film is recognised.
Another example of diegetic sound that has been used in this film is dialogue and this has
been used to give the narrative authenticity and help tell the story in more detail to the
audience and as well as this when first confronted one of the travellers tells the main
character “Dark’s Dangerous.” This is a reference to the end of the film and that he knows
something is lurking in the woods but doesn’t find out until it’s too late, this is common to
the horror genre as it helps build the sense of the unknown and as well as this it helps make
the jump scares that may be used in the films more effective.
Editing
The main editing technique used in the duration of this short film are jump cuts and this has
been done to show the progression of his work alone in the forest. This shows the audience
what a routine day in the life is for him by doing each task and this links to Todorov’s
equilibrium theory as this is the equilibrium part of the film which is when there is
absolutely no form of disruption to the main character’s everyday life, this editing technique
adds to the horror genre as this show his normal day to day life and then these shots are
cut between him and the armed travellers that are going to attack his cabin, this helps the
audience understand the disruption phase of the film as well as introducing new characters.

Another editing technique that is used in this short film is a shot reverse shot which takes
place when the main character is talking to one of the armed travellers, this shot has been
used for continuity purposes and the reason for this being done in a horror film is to build
tension by showing continuous action between two characters until a disruption point
occurs, which in this case is the other travellers attacking the cabin, this is common in horror
films as it builds tension for the audience as it gives the audience more information about
the characters involved until a disruption point takes place.
Todorov’s Equilibrium Theory
The Todorov’s Equilibrium film is theory that all films are split into five separate phases
starting of with an equilibrium state then as the story unfolds there is a recognition of a
disruption then attempt to repair the disruption, followed subsequently by a new
equilibrium.

The film Jameson does this well as the begin showing an equilibrium of the main character
going about his daily tasks of chopping wood as well as gardening to show him as a normal
person and that there would not be any reason to suggest that there is something strange
about him.

The next phase begins when the travellers spot his cabin and then are caught on his
surveillance system, this phase begin to show that the main character is not who he was
shown as at the beginning of the film.

After this his attempt to repair disruption the main character fights with the travellers killing
one, letting one go and trapping another one in a bear trap, this shows how calculated he is
and that because of the precise nature of his security system and traps shows that he is
hiding something.

The beginning of the new equilibrium starts with the remaining traveller being feed to a
zombie and then cuts to the main character having a drink as this happens which show that
he is not fazed by this and shows that these events are a regular occurrence.
Analysis of Narrative
The narrative of this film represents the horror genre well as throughout the film from the
equilibrium to the disruption point of the film little is given away about the main character;
throughout the film little details about him and his past appear such as the detailed and
intricate traps and weapons that he has hidden around his cabin which is similar to that of
the film “Don’t Breathe”. On the other hand, this film did not contain many jump scares
which is a common convention of horror and can help build the atmosphere and tension in a
film.

A way that I think that the narrative of this film could be improved is that they could
increase the amount of detail about the characters involved in the story and by doing this it
would give the audience a better understanding of the character’s personalities and the
reasons behind the main plot of the film.
Film Two-Tuck Me In: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd6iqpufdMY
Genre
Horror
Conventions
An underlining fear of the unknown
This convention is commonly used in horror films to keep the audience on edge throughout
the film to build the atmosphere of the film as well as build tension, which usually takes
place before other conventions such as jump-scares to make these effective.
Vulnerability
Characters are often shown as vulnerable in horror films as this similarly builds tension and
creates an atmosphere of the unknown, which allows for the audience to become closer to
the characters, which heightens the sense of fear to the audience.
Loss of Identity-Linked to main protagonists
There is often a lack of identity linked to the main characters involved in the film, this is so
that the horror aspect of the film to heighten the suspense of the film and as well as this
make the horror aspect of the film realistic and heighten the fear in the audience.
Jump Scares
Jump Scares are used in horror films to scare the audience, by surprising them with a
sudden change, with a certain image or sound, to help build the atmosphere of the film and
as well as this it makes the story being told more realistic and amerces the audience in the
story.

Dark colours
Dark colours are a commonly used in horror films, this is because these particular type of
colour it can help the audience see that the genre is a dark or of the horror genre and ass
well as this dark colours, especially black help add to the mystery of the horror genre
Low key lighting
Low-key lighting is conventional of the horror genre as it is used to enhance the shadows in
the scenes that it is used in, by doing this it focuses the audience’s attention on a particular
point in a scene which helps build tension and heightens suspense often before jump scares
take place.
Synopsis
A son asks his dad to tuck him into bed and check for monsters underneath his bed, but
whilst doing this what he finds underneath his son’s bed truly horrifies him.
When the father checks under his son Alex’s bed he sees Alex, who tells his dad “There’s
someone on my bed”. This scene is used with close ups of their faces one after the other to
show the fear of realising that there is an alien version of Alex lying in his real son’s bed and
this is the disruption part of the film as this is when the characters realise there is something
wrong and this reflects horror as an event like this is paranormal and makes the audience
question which Alex is real.
This film finishes on a cliff-hanger which means that the new equilibrium point is not shown
which leaves the audience wondering what is going to happen to Alex and his father and
this convention is not usually a convention that is shown in horror film but due to this films
running time of a minute this gives the film an effective ending.
Mise En Scene
The Mise En Scene of natural light and night lights in the child’s room has been used to show
the audience that this is a normal bedtime routine and the addition of having no light under
the bed as a contrast can show that that is where the unknown is
located as children often believe that there is something hiding
under their bed when they are young, this links to the horror genre
as it has made the ordinary routine of tucking a child into their bed
and making sure they are safe, a horrible experience and has
created a child’s imagination of a monster under their bed into a
reality which would unnerve the audience who may have children.

Another form of Mise En Scene that is used in this film is the use of
the prop stuffed animals that Alex has in and around his bedroom, this has been done to
show the innocence of the young child and makes the audience unaware of the horror that
lurks in the young boy’s room, this links to the horror genre as it shows the fact that Alex is a
young child and makes the situation that is being presented to the audience more sinister
than it appears to be.

Cinematography
This film begins with an over the shoulder shot of the son’s bedroom
door with his name “Alex” on the door this is to show the audience
that this is a normal routine for the father. A way this scene reflects
the horror genre is with the use of eerie piano music and by using
this it sets the tone of this short film which starts to build tension and
this fits with Todorov’s narrative theory and this scene is the
equilibrium point and takes place giving the audience the impression
that everything is normal and that there is no disruption to be aware
of.
There is then a close up shot of the father’s shoes from underneath the bed and this fits the
disequilibrium point of the film as this is when the audience realise that this is no ordinary
bedtime routine and that an unknown individual is watching the father from under the bed;
this reflects the horror genre as it is a P.O.V shot from the entity under the child’s bed and
builds tension as to what the being is going to do to the father and son, this links to the
horror genre as it gives the audience a cliff-hanger and unknown ending to the film, which
leaves the audience questioning what is going to happen to the father and son.

There is no equilibrium point at the end of this film as it finishes on a cliff-hanger after Alex’s
dad has looked under the bed and looks back at the “Alex” that is in bed. This has been
done to make the audience question what was the second Alex doing in his room and what
happens after his dad finds out that the clone is in his son’s bed.
Sound
The non-diegetic sound of Eerie piano music is used throughout the short film and this has
been done to consistently unnerve the audience watching as if they feel unnerved when
watching it adds to the suspense at the end of the short film when it is left on a cliff-hanger
and adds to the horror genre that is being conveyed throughout this film and as well as this
the use of this particular music is common in horror films as it helps create a sense of fear
and immerse the audience more into the film, the use of a musical score is important in a
horror film as it helps build suspense throughout the film and heightens the sense of fear in
the audience.

The diegetic sound of dialogue has been used to show what seems to be
a normal routine in their household looks like, but as well as this it has
also been used to give the audience small details into their background
information to help them feel closer to the characters, the reason for this
being used is that it adds realism to the scenes that the dialogue is being
used in.

Editing

Due to the length of this short film there are few shots that take up the screen time and
because of this they have mainly used cross cutting which has been done so that they can
effectively show each shot type and make a story that can easily be followed and
understood for the length that this particular film and because of this the amount of screen
time differs between characters as the Father is shown the most which in horror films
usually is done to clearly show that they are the victim ,but even though this is the case Alex
is also a victim but it is not as clear until the father looks under the bed.
Todorov’s Equilibrium Theory
This film follows a brief version of Todorov’s Equilibrium Theory as it begins with a state of
equilibrium which is the normal appearance of the bedtime routine and then from this point
up until the recognition of the disruption when the father checks under the sons bed.

After this point in the film there is no attempt to restore disruption and create a new
equilibrium, this is because the film ends on a cliffhanger so the fate of the father and son
are undecided and has been done to leave the ending up to the audiences imagine and
interpretation of how the unseen events would take place.
This is not conventional that this film did no use the whole of this theory but it is effective as
it allows for audience interpretation, which means that there are many different ways
people believe that the story ended.
Analysis of Narrative

This story represents the paranormal horror genre very well and it is unconventional in
comparison as it does not feature jumpscares but the fact that the child’s face is unsettled
and the fact that he cannot properly explain what is under his bed and that it has turned a
normal everyday routine into a scenario that is far more sinister.

On the other hand, a way I believe that this film could be improved by changing the tone of
the film and have darker lighting as it would be more realistic as children tend to be scared
of the dark and of things lurking underneath their bed.
Film Three-No Caller ID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0HYXTp4mGk
Genre
Horror
Conventions
An underlining fear of the unknown
This convention is commonly used in horror films to keep the audience on edge throughout
the film to build the atmosphere of the film as well as build tension, which usually takes
place before other conventions such as jump-scares to make these effective.
Vulnerability
Characters are often shown as vulnerable in horror films as this similarly builds tension and
creates an atmosphere of the unknown, which allows for the audience to become closer to
the characters, which heightens the sense of fear to the audience.
Loss of Identity-Linked to main protagonists
There is often a lack of identity linked to the main characters involved in the film, this is so
that the horror aspect of the film to heighten the suspense of the film and as well as this
make the horror aspect of the film realistic and heighten the fear in the audience.
Jump Scares
Jump Scares are used in horror films to scare the audience, by surprising them with a
sudden change, with a certain image or sound, to help build the atmosphere of the film and
as well as this it makes the story being told more realistic and amerces the audience in the
story.
Dark colours
Dark colours are a commonly used in horror films, this is because these particular type of
colour it can help the audience see that the genre is a dark or of the horror genre and ass
well as this dark colours, especially black help add to the mystery of the horror genre
Low key lighting
Low-key lighting is conventional of the horror genre as it is used to enhance the shadows in
the scenes that it is used in, by doing this it focuses the audience’s attention on a particular
point in a scene which helps build tension and heightens suspense often before jump scares
take place.

Synopsis
A young woman receives a mysterious call in the night and after multiple strange
occurrences, she is not alone and must try to survive the night.
Mise En Scene
The Mise En Scene of a killer wearing a mask as a prop is a very common
theme especially in slasher films and has been used in many successful films
and is well known with characters such as Jason Voorhees and his white
hockey mask in “Friday The 13th”, it is important to have props like this as it
makes the film more iconic and because of this helps add significant
meaning to the scenes that it is used in and as well as this can be used as a reference to
other successful films of the same genre.

Another mise en scene that has been used is the use of low-key lighting, this
has been used to enhance the shadow affect in this film, and the reason for
doing this is to build up tension and make the audience uneasy as this
enables them to see the danger before it is clear to Heather, the low key
liking is an important part of a horror film as it helps set the scene for the
audience as well as immersing them in the film which heightens the
suspense of what is going to happen to Heather.

As well as this another form of mise en scene that is used in this film is the prop of the
phone, as it is an important part of story as it revolves around the calls that Heather
receives from the two intruders and gives more detail about the story to the audience.
Cinematography
This film begins with a wide shot of Heather sleeping in her bed and a
pair of legs appear at the door to suggest there is someone in her
house watching her sleep and then cuts to a close up of her face - a
hand covers her mouth as she wakes up from what was a dream. This
thinks to Todorov’s theory as this is the equilibrium part of the film
where everything that is going on is normal and there are no strange
occurrences. This scene reflects the horror genre as the dream of a
person being in her house is inferring what is going to happen later on
in the film.

In the next scene there is a mid-shot of Heather walking towards the t.v
with the sound of television static which increases in volume with each
step closer to increase the tension and later on there is another mid-
shot of Heather brushing her teeth with a masked man watching
through the window which links to the disruption phase of Todorov’s
theory as it shows the danger that Heather is in, this shows how
unaware she is to her imminent danger and further builds tension for
the audience as they are aware that something is about to happen to
her and reflects the horror genre as in many slasher horror films the
killer always wears a distinctive mask such as in “Friday the 13 th” Jason Voorhees’s hockey
mask.
In the next scene she walks back into the living room and her television has turned back on
increasing in volume as she looks out into her garden; in addition to this the diegetic sound
of her dog barking makes her realises that the glimpse of the face peering through her
bathroom window was real and that she is in danger as this links to Todorov’s theory as this
is the disruption part of the film as this is when she realises she is in immense danger. This
is when the masked figure appears at her back door and attempts to break into her house.
This reflects the horror genre as it is a story of a person being home alone at night and then
being targeted by a killer which is a story that is used quite frequently with horror films such
as “Friday the 13th.” as it helps keep any information about the killers minimized and as well
as this it helps build suspension until the final scene where they find her hidden

When Heather is hidden in a cupboard, a shot reverse shot of her

and the killer has been used to show how vulnerable Heather is in
comparison to her intruder and that the intruder has a lot more
power and that all she can do is hope that she is not found, this is
used in horror films as it gives both character’s perspectives in the
film and by doing this it helps builds the suspense and uncertainty in the final scenes of the
film.

This relates to Todorov’s narrative theory as this is the part of the film where
Heather attempts to call the police to get the intruder arrested which is the
end of the disruption phase and the start of the disequilibrium as the
intruder has outsmarted her and she has been talking to the intruder the
whole time as it cuts to a P.O.V shot of him opening the cupboard door which
is used as a jump scare to show the audience that she has been found. It also
reveals that there were two intruders inside her house and when this
happens the film finishes and this means that there is no equilibrium point to
this film as it finishes on a cliff-hanger as it is unclear what happens to
Heather after she is caught

Editing
This film uses a mixture of slow and fast cuts but the two predominantly used is jump cuts
and a hard cut. The jump cut is used to show time moving forward and has been used to
increase the danger that she is in and make this clearer for the audience to understand the
increasing danger that Heather is in, the use of these editing techniques help distinguish the
path that the intruders are making in comparison to Heather which helps show the two
sides of the story and invokes sense of fear in the audience as they know where the killers
are and do not want Heather to be killed, this is common in the horror genre as it changes
the tone of the film and makes the atmosphere tense and suspenseful as it makes it unclear
the fate of the character that is involved.

The hard cuts are used at the beginning of the film when Heather doesn’t realise the danger
she is in and depicts her daily bedtime routine and this helps the film build up tension ac it
makes the audience anticipate when the masked figure is going to break into her house
which will keep them on edge and watching the film until this happens, this is an effective
horror convention as it helps keep suspense throughout the film.

Sound
Diegetic sound of Heather’s heavy breathing has been used to emphasise the fact that she is
scared and this heavy breathing is used consistently throughout the film to show that she is
in imminent danger and that she could be found by the intruders at any moment, the use of
heavy breathing adds to the immersion of the film and makes it seem as if the audience is
with Heather throughout the film, this is common in this genre of film as it helps build
suspense in the final scenes of the film and builds tension until she is found by the intruders.

Another form of diegetic sound that has been used at the beginning of this film is the static
of Heathers television, these sounds help build the atmosphere of the film as static
televisions are a common them in horror movies as they help show the unknown as well as
representing paranormal activities.

On the other hand, non-diegetic sound has been used throughout this film such as eerie
music scores and noises such as Tv static, these sounds are used to show scenes when
Heather is in clear danger when she is unaware of it but also when she first comes face to
face with one of the intruders and the uneasy sounds help install fear into the audience
which makes it as successful film.
Todorov’s Equilibrium Theory

This film has used the Equilibrium theory well in this film and is the theory that a film has
five stages that starts off with the equilibrium which is wear heather wakes up and feels as if
she is safe in her own house.

The next stage is the disruption phase, this is when the faces start to appear through
Heather’s window without her realising as well as the strange occurrences that take place
such as the Tv going static and the dog barking at the garden.

After this the next two stages happen relatively close to each other, first is the recognition
of the disruption and which is when she comes face to face with one of the intruders
through her garden door and then after this the next phase is that she attempts to fix the
disruption by calling the police and hiding from the intruders.

The final stage is that of a new equilibrium were everything is as it should be and is similar
to the start of the film, but this film finishes on a cliff-hanger when Heather is caught by
another intruder and by doing this it makes it unclear if she survived or was killed and the
ending can still be interpreted differently by the audience.
Analysis of Narrative
The narrative of this film is about a young woman who is home alone and receives a call
from a no caller id who pretends to be from her home security alarm company and then
after this two people break into her house with the plan to attack or kill her, it is left to the
audience to imagine what her fate will be.
This story uses a very common scenario and has been used in successful films such as
“Scream” (1997) which has a similar theme to this film such as calling a person when they
are home alone and telling them personal information about themselves, by doing this it
heightens the suspense of the film and then builds until the disruption point of the film.
From this point, there is an increase in the amount of jumps scares to keep the audience on
edge throughout the rest of the film.

As well as this I believe that certain aspects of the film could be improved, for instance some
of the film is unrealistic such as when the main character clearly calls the police’s number
and somehow the intruder incepts this call, this could be improved if some of the shots that
were used could be from the intruder’s perspective which could increase the continuity of
the film’s story.