This week the inevitable happened as the country was plunged into a second lockdown. This means that unless I want to leave my project until the very last minute I will be forced to make a project just within the confines of my student accommodation.
Luckily my accommodation is quite large so I have the enough space but I initially was struggling for an idea. I knew before that I wanted to make a short film in one location it just now means that the location has been decided for me. After watching a number of classic horror films recently I decided to do some more in depth research and I thought what if I made my own homage to those classic horror films. I have started to cobble together a plot by putting together the best bits from the horror movies that I love.
After watching re watching a few of the feature length saw movies I decided to do some digging on the origins of the franchise. I found that the first film got made because the studio liked the short film that a young James Wan had created and decided to make it into a feature. The plot of the short it self isn't very original, the idea of a guy being taken and tortured for the sins he had committed in his life wasn't anything new but what sets the short film apart from other horrors is this idea of the game. Prior to saw aside from the protagonist and antagonist the cast of horror movies were usually just used as meat to be slaughtered up for the audiences entertainment where as this short showed the guy getting a chance to survive the torture and in doing so would learn his lesson and pay for his sins. Despite being made on a minimal budget and being shot over 8 days that simple twist got the film made into a feature film. What I want to take from this into my own film is that idea of redemption and trying to see if I can make the plot give each character a chance of surviving. I should note that due to lockdown I will only have maximum of two characters in my short film.
Although not technically a horror film Joker certainly has elements of horror in it with the idea of this guy going made and going on a killing rampage. That are several shots that I really like from this movie that I would like to take into my short. Most of the shots are like are shots that are used that show the character going made for instance the shot where he licks the paint after applying his make up or when he gets into the fridge. Shots that just show he isn't okay. I think the idea of going made is also very appropriate with the current state of the world with the many lockdowns that are being put in place and the lack of mental health treatment that is available.
Another film that I really enjoy and want to reference in my short is psycho. Again I like the idea of going mad and the imagery that can be used to show that. I also think the class shot (seen below) would be a great way of looking at shadows and looking at how I can use shadows to add tension to my own short film.
I want my short film to also contain references to 80's slasher movies as this was the era that defined the genre and really put horror on the map. I plan to look at creating a poster that has a very 80's slasher feel to it as back then even if the film was bad it could gain a cult following because potential viewers would go into the video rental shop and often just choose the horror with the best looking cover. I have put the image for Halloween below because of course it is one of the most well known 80's slasher films but I particularly like how simple yet effective their use of the pumpkin is. When people see a pumpkin they straight away think Halloween and then horror and they were able to take that concept and really creep audiences out with it. At the start of the first Halloween for instance as the opening credits roll there is just a pumpkin with a light burning inside of it and then the score kicks in and straight away tension starts to build. I also want to look at the aesthetic of my villain and try and give them make or a mask that is unique but also has the potential to be instantly recognisable.
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