Short Horror Sequence.

Short horror sequence

As a short AS film studies project we were given the task to make a short horror sequence. We took our instructions on board and came out with a film just over 90 seconds long. The film is based on the generally scary theme of ouija boards and was filmed within 15 shots. Within these shots we managed to incorporate long shots, close ups, extreme close ups, panning, low angled shots and birds eye views. To initially start the project, we brain stormed ideas that have connotations of horror and decided that the paranormal was a topic that is very popular within the horror genre at the moment and so we employed this theme in our film. When deciding on the location, we wanted somewhere isolating to emphasise the frightening theme that was running throughout the film. We decided to film in an empty music room that had not been used for some time in order to create a chilling atmosphere, we also decided to use minimal lighting in these shots as darkness is a natural human fear that is commonly used in horror films. As the storyline progresses, the characters get more involved in contacting the devil, close ups are used to show the shock and apprehension on the character's faces after a birds eye view is used to show the 'spirits' moving the object over the board. We felt like the use of this angle would give the audience the impression that they were watching the Ouija board from the characters perspectives which would allow them to feel more involved in the scene and give it a sense of realism. We then used close ups on each character's face to show to worried and shocked expression, we did this because often when the characters in films start to get scared and worried, it translates to the audience which was what we aimed to do. To end the sequence we filmed an extreme close up of a lit candle being blown out to not only acknowledge the end of the film but also suggest the end for the character, the lack of explanation and discussion as to what might happen to the characters leaves a very mysterious and unsettling atmosphere and also allows the audience to imagine their own ending which may be pleasant it not so. Throughout the sequence we added a subtal non diegetic soundtrack which progressively got louder as the scene went on, this was a way of building tension.

We felt like the short sequence incorporated most of the main and key aspects found in most horror films, for example; close ups, low key lighting and eerie music added in post production.