DEVELOPED IDEA FOR SUPERNATURAL HORROR
DEVELOPED IDEA Here is the second idea, a supernatural horror. I have decided to develop this idea and focus on iconic supernatural films.
For this film, it is going to be set in a house and will involve a young women living on her own. I decided on a domestic setting as my survey showed that was the most popular. It will follow a non-linear narrative, by showing the climax of the film first. The protagonist will suffer from supernatural experiences and will end on a cliff hanger, leaving the audience unsure of the young women’s survival. I will keep the costume and props simple and basic in an attempt to make the protagonist more reliable to the audience. One aspect I am going to focus on will be jump scares. Films like Paranormal activity and Ouija use this as one of their main selling points. Paranormal activity is an extremely popular franchise and, as the films have progress, the focus on jump scares has intensified.
THIS FILM WILL PLAY ON THE FEARS ON THE UNKNOWN AND THE DARKNESS.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY FRANCHISE I decided to look at the Paranormal Activity franchise as it is similar to Insidious, a supernatural horror film which got a positive response on my questionnaire. Paranormal Activity is an American supernatural horror film series, currently consisting of five films. Created by Oren Peli, the original film was widely released in 2009. The films are based around a family haunted by a demonic entity, that stalks, terrifies and ultimately murders several members of the family, and other bystanders, during the course of the films. The series makes use of camcorders, security cameras and other recording devices, presenting the films as found footage, and is widely regarded as popularizing the genre. The series is a strong financial success, making strong profits based on return on investment. The series as a whole has earned over 40 times the overall budget. The simple plot and ‘found footage’ technique, along with the success of Paranormal Activity, all really appealed to me. However I have decided against a ‘found footage’ film as normally the majority of this type of film is recorded by handheld and this would not allow me to show a range of shots/techniques. The basic location of a domestic setting and the simple costumes are something I wish to portray in my horror film as it then allows the main focus to be on the storyline.
YOUTUBE LINK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_UxLEqd074
CHARACTER & LOCATION CODES As my film only contains two characters, one antagonist and one protagonist, I have not followed the stereotypical character codes. The main character, a young female, fits the typical characteristics of the final girl as she is vulnerable. She is a young women living on her own, this intensifies the fear for the protagonist as she is alone. A key location code which is seen within horror films is the fear of the dark. Horror films such as Silent House play heavily of this as it is a common fear with viewers. The main location of Silent House is a domestic setting, a house and uses dim lighting and a lack of natural light to create fear within the audience.