What gender are you?

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Male Female

This graph shows that we got both males and females to answer our questionnaire as our film appeals to both genders therefore it is important for us to get feedback from both.

Is the soundtrack conventional to a psychological horror?

This graph shows that 11 people agreed that the soundtrack to our film is conventional to a psychological horror whereas 3 people said that it is not. As the majority did agree it shows that overall our soundtrack was successful in helping to represent the horror genre and to therefore establish the narrative. The audience would identify the non-diegetic instrumental slow music used and would feel on edge as an eerie, spooky and supernatural atmosphere is created. This is the uses and gratification theory as the audience identify that the genre is a psychological horror film and they will get the idea that the film will be frightening due to the mysterious music. The music mirrors the action on screen as at times of tension the music gradually becomes higher pitched and louder. This use of ascending music is conventional to a psychological horror film as it emphasises the suspense felt by the target audience and keeps them target audience engaged.

Does our product connote the conventions of a psychological horror? why?

All of the people who filled out our questionnaire agreed that our product represented the conventions of a psychological horror for different reasons. 7 people said the soundtrack was extremely conventional. Therefore the audience identified the nondiegetic instrumental eerie music and were able to establish the genre of the film through the eeriness and uneasiness created through the soundtrack. 4 people said that the themes and characters build up tension making it conventional to a psychological horror; the theme of the supernatural is evident in our opening sequence through the music and camera shots; giving a clear indication as to what the genre of the film is. The pace of the film was another reason mentioned. They identified that the pace is quite slow yet the narrative gives away subtle hints and creates the unknown at the beginning so the audience are drawn into the film and continue to watch to find out what happens next. 2 people said that the camera positions suit the genre. In particular, the shot through the banister is extremely conventional as it creates the idea of someone watching the character, creating the theme of the supernatural. To add, the long shot camera shot through the cupboard of Jenny on the bed also reinforces the idea of being watched and gives the idea that something such as a spirit or the supernatural is in the house. This represents bad vd evil and therefore represents the binary oppostions . Also, it creates an enigma and makes the audience continue watching. Also the equilibrium todorovs theory can be linked here as we expect a dis-equilibrium to happen and something to go wrong now we know there is someone watching her and there is a conflict.

Was there a sense of enigma during the sequence, did this work? How?
6 5 4

3
2 1 0 Yes- Gives a sense of foreboding, tenison and danger Yes - Mystery was created Yes - Soundtrack was mysterious Yes- Camera angles added tension

Everyone who answered our questionnaire said that there was a sense of enigma created in our opening sequence. The majority of 5 people said that it was the soundtrack that created an enigma; the eeriness makes the audience feel on edge and tense and therefore creates the idea of the unknown as they do not know why they are feeling tense and what is about to happen next. Therefore an enigma is created. 3 people said the camera angles added tension. For example, the conventional shots from the banister and cupboard create a mysterious atmosphere as it makes the audience feel as if someone is watching the characters.

Are the titles conventional to a psychological horror?

10
8 6 4 2

0
Yes No

11 out of 14 people said that the titles are conventional a psychological horror. The white against a black background is extremely conventional in that it represents binary oppositions and therefore good vs bad, representing the horror genre. Also, black connotes death and darkness creating a spooky atmosphere while the white has ghostly connotations. Also, the shaky movement of the titles on screen could be identified as having connotations of the supernatural and suggests disorder, representing that a dis-equilibrium will occur and something will go wrong. However, 3 people felt that the titles were not conventional and therefore the audience may have been confused as to what genre the film is.

Does the opening sequence entice you to watch the rest of the film, if so why?
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Yes No

2
1 0 To reveal what happens next Conventional to the genre Leaves you on a cliff hanger Not enough suspense built

Everyone agreed that the opening sequence enticed them to watch the rest of the film apart from 1 person who said that not enough suspense was built. Overall, this graph shows that the product proved to be successful in engaging our target audience as 8 people said they would want to watch the rest to find out what happens next. The fact that not too much information is given away in the opening is important as it creates an enigma and therefore draws your audience in to continue watching. If the narrative is given away immediately, the target audience wouldnt be interested in watching the rest of the film. Also, 3 people said that it was enticing as it ends on a cliff hanger. This is conventional of a psychological horror in the opening sequence as it instantly engages your audience and ensures that they continue watching.

Does the editing pace of the film add to the genre? (E.g. cuts between scenes)
12
10 8 6 4 2 0 Yes No

This graph shows that 11 people agreed that the editing pace of the film adds to the genre. This includes the fast paced editing that cut between the close up shot of the mother holding the phone and the shot the daughter holding the photograph. This shows that both scenes are linked and helps the audience to identify and establish a narrative (uses and gratification theory). It also is conventional to the psychological horror and creates am enigma.

Has the lighting been used sufficiently in order to add to the genre (pshyological horror)?
12
10 8 6 4 2

0
Yes No

11 people said that the lighting has been used well to represent the horror genre while 3 said that it doesnt. Our opening sequence represents dark lighting, a genre convention of the horror genre. This use of dark lighting creates an eerie atmosphere for the target audience and gives the sense that something is not quite right. It also represents the setting of the house as spooky, adding to the horror genre.

Is the dialogue effective, if so why? (e.g. more dialogue, less dialogue)

Little dialogue adds tenison Minimal dialogue leaves unanswered questions

Less dialogue connotes vulnerablity

More dialogue to gain further knowledge of the narrative

This graph shows varied results; 10 people said that the dialogue is effective for different reasons including that not using much dialogue adds t the tension, connotes vulnerability and allows the audience with unanswered questions leaving them to watch on. However, 4 people said that the use of dialogue is not effective and that more dialogue is needed to gain further knowledge of the narrative.

Have the main characters been established in the role they are going to play? (e.g. who the villain is? who the damsel in distress will be? etc.)
14 12

10
8 6 4 2 0 Yes No

All characters expect the villian

This graph shows that the majority of people agreed that the characters have already established the roles in the narrative as they all expect a villain to be present in the film. This is clear through the eeriness and enigma created as the audience identify that there has been a box left in the room with a photograph osf a girl in it and that the mother has recieved a text from an unknown number. The eeriness created is an indication that something will go wrong in the narrative and therefore there will be conflict between some characters, representing that there is a villain expected.

Are there any improvements/changes you would make, if so what and why?
12 10 8 6 4 2 0 It was good and conventional More dialogue needed Make lighting more eerie Yes No

The majority of people said that they wouldnt make any changes as it was good and conventional to our genre. Whereas 2 people said more dialogue is needed. This may of given the audience more clues to the narrrastive howverer we purposefully decided to not have much dialogue to create more questions in thre audiences mind and to not give too much away. Also, 2 people said to make the lighting more effective. This could of included using lighting more on characters to highlight vulnerability.

Do the camera/shot/angles represent the conventions of a psychological horror?

The majority of people said that the camera shots and angles represent the conventions of the psychological horror. These shots included the close up shots to represent key clues in the narrative; for exmaple the close up shot of the message on the mobile phone. This allows the audience to identify the text from an unknown number, creating an enigma as they wonder who or what the text is from. Also, the shot through the banister is extremely conventional as it creates the idea of someone watching the character, creating the theme of the supernatural. To add, the long shot camera shot through the cupboard of Jenny on the bed also reinforces the idea of being watched and gives the idea that something such as a spirit or the supernatural is in the house. This represents bad vs evil and therefore represents the binary oppositions . Also, it creates an enigma and makes the audience continue watching. Also the equilibrium todorovs theory can be linked here as we expect a dis-equilibrium to happen and something to go wrong now we know there is someone watching her and there is a conflict.

How has the mise-en-scene set the narrative for a psychological horror?
4.5
4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Lighting and sound The setting and location Empty eerie house Cold and harsh atmosphere Gives the protagonist a sense of isolation - makes it relatable

The mise-en-scene has set the narrative many ways; with most people saying that the lighting and sound, the setting and location, and the empty eerie house are the main ways that represent the psychological horror. The use of the setting being an empty house is highly conventional and introduces the theme of isolation and the supernatural. Also, the dark lighting and soundtrack used sets the narrative for a psychological horror as a spooky atmosphere is created. At times of tension, the soundtrack increases in pitch and gets faster creating tension.