What is a thriller film? (&Saw opening analysis)

The definition of a thriller film may seem vague as it involves many different factors. It differentiates from other genres in the film industry by heavily relying on suspense and anticipation. This can be achieved by psychological as well as physical abuse. The thriller genre aims to provide the audience with thrills, high level of anticipation, uncertainty, surprise and terror. It promotes intense excitement and suspense to the audience through an intensifying build-up of tension. This leads to a highly stressful climax which keeps the audience alert and full of anticipation.

The basic plot consists of the antagonist presenting the victim with obstacles to overcome. It is conventional for the victim to be dragged into a dangerous conflict or situation that they are not prepared to resolve. Therefore the protagonist tends to be an ordinary person unaccustomed to such predicaments. Due to this, the most common themes involve captivity,revenge and psychological mind games. All action is made to seem realistic by reflecting real life situations in order to capture an essence of every day life posing a threat.

Depending on the sub-genre of the thriller, different complimentary conventions are involved. Thriller films tend to by hybrids of different sub-genres that that make use of plot twists and cliffhangers to evoke the audience's curiosity. The most common sub-genres seen in the thriller genre are:

Action thrillers - main elements of a thriller are used along with fast-paced action and special effects e.g.'Inception'

Horror thrillers - follows the codes and conventions found in its genre as well as conventions of a horror film such as blood and gore e.g.'Saw'.

Crime thrillers - a fusion of crime and thriller, often focusing on the criminals' point of view and the solving of the crime e.g.'Seven'

Psychological thrillers - This sub-genre focuses on mentality and emotion with the protagonist being in a potentially dangerous situation . It usually incorporates elements of the drama genre e.g.'Shutter Island'

Man-on-the-run thrillers - this usually involves the protagonist alone and paranoid whilst trying to avoid death or capture e.g.'The Fugitive'

In an opening sequence, it is expected to see low key lighting which accentuates the contours of an object by throwing areas into shade creating shadows that generate a dark atmosphere. This convention increases the tension felt by the audience. The low key lighting allows the antagonists' identity to be concealed which keep the audience questioning themselves as to who the identity of this person is.

Sound and editing is also a very prominent part of thriller films. Quick cuts and a variation of shots and camera angles contribute to the impact of a thriller on the audience. The on screen action is also accompanied by incidental music and exaggerated diegetic sound effects.

Saw opening scene analysis

The opening of the thriller 'Saw' illustrates a variety of codes and conventions of the genre. The first scenes show the character being suffocated by the water overflowing his face which suggests drowning. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it connotes potential death as well as presenting the character as a victim in the narrative.

The sequence is set in an abandoned bathroom which is conventional due to it being an isolated location. The location creates an enigma for the audience who is unaware of its purpose. The creates suspense and sets a fearful atmosphere that is reinforced by low key lighting. Low key lighting creates a dark atmosphere that is associated with fear of the unknown.

As the light turns on, the victim is seen being blinded by the harsh bright lighting. He is revealed to be an ordinary person which is suggested by his light casual clothing which connotes purity and innocence. His defensive body language presents him to be helpless and vulnerable in a life threatening situation.

This is made clear to the audience due to the victim being chained to metal pipes that run along the walls. The chains look stern and connote entrapment. They show the victim's restricted movement which is suggestive of the killer's intentions to capture and inflict pain on the victim. This exemplifies effectual use of iconography that possesses desired connotations within the scene.

The killer's intentions are unknown yet they are suggested by the shot of a person dead in the centre of the bathroom.  The blood surrounding the victim has a connotation of pain infliction and murder. This creates tension and suspense felt by the audience that will subconsciously foreshadow the fate of the character chained to the bathroom pipes.

The development of the thriller genre

How has the Thriller genre developed in both the mainstream and independent fields over the last 30 years?

A mainstream field refers to mass media which is applied to general media targeted at all cultures and audiences whereas media of an independent field is specialized to be targeted at one specific culture and audience e.g. sub-genres.Thriller being a broad genre of film that engages the audience through the use of tension and suspense also applies other conventions of different genres in order to create:

Over the past 30 years the thriller genre has developed significantly; possible due to the advancement of technology. Thriller that were produced during the 1940's-1970's were based on human fears which made them very realistic,the psychological aspect being key. A film such as 'The Untouchables' being set in an ordinary setting yet creating tension and suspense reinforces this idea. This contrasts with the modern thrillers which are now more complex with a variety of sub-genres used to complicate the plot. The involvement of violence and blood is now one of the main conventions in films; a film such as 'Saw' being one amongst many.

By comparing both films, it is visible how the thriller genre has developed. Violence and the use of intense imagery such as blood has been extended. This reinforces the idea of advanced technology which increases the potential of films being gory therefore creating visual tension. 

One of the most well known and popular thriller films is ‘Psycho’ which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and was produced during 1960's. This film is a psychological thriller based on the American 1960‘s time period; adapted from a novel written beforehand. The thriller genre was a popular genre during the past fifty years and is still increasingly popular within the industry today.

'Psycho' shower scene analysis

How is editing used to enhance the conventions?

A variety of camera shots have been used to enhance the viewing of the film. A prominent example is when the camera zooms in on the shadow behind the curtain. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it makes the audience aware of the intruder's presence. However, it does not reveal the killer's identity to build tension and create an enigma.

This is followed by a close up of the victim's mouth which emphasises the victim's reaction to the sudden appearance of the antagonist. The sight of her screaming connotes her vulnerability and helplessness as a victim which is conventional to the thriller genre.This also demonstrates an effective use of camera by providing the audience with thrilling emotions. 

The blood seen in the bath emphasises the woman's injury which seems fatal due to it's excessive amount. This is a common convention of thriller films as it has a connotation of death which is one of the main themes.The sight of it washing away down the drain also reflects her fear which suggests she has been defeated.This theme is further exemplified  by the knife which connotes pain and injury. It illustrates the impact of effectual iconography on the scene. 

A shot of the character's eye zooming out to reveal her face is also used. This enables the audience to empathise with the character which is seen with a  lifeless facial expression that evokes pity. The tear seen running down from the corner of her eye once again connotes her vulnerability and innocence which are both conventional characteristics of a victim. 

The scene is accompanied by high-pitched orchestral music in the background. It starts very suddenly; from the quiet non-diegetic sound of the water to an unpredictable screeching sound,surprising the audience. It begins at its peak without the use of a crescendo creating very fast-paced action. Its impact is heightened with the image of the knife along with the scream which has a connotation of fear. The knife is another example of effective iconography as it can be associated with the thriller genre due to having connotations of pain or potential death.

The sound used is able to create an atmosphere which compliments the action as well as evoking emotions such as fear from the audience. It therefore achieves the desired effect i.e. an increase in tension. It is also adrenaline rushing due to being very sudden and unexpected which emphasizes the events of the scene. It can be concluded that the sound is a prominent aspect due to having a great impact on the emotions felt by the character as well as its ability to place emphasis on the iconography seen in the opening. The knowledge gained by recognising the importance of sound will enable me to carefully consider the soundtrack which will be used in our thriller. As I am now aware of the desired impact, I will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of sound and whether it compliments the opening sequence. This will allow me to choose the appropriate diegetic and non diegetic sound and so evoke emotions such as fear from the audience.

The editing of the scene involves the use of fast-cutting after a slow start in order to capture the audience's attention. Many edits being made in a short amount of time too keep the man's identity concealed. The sequence focuses on the woman which allows the audience to pay less attention to the killer;his identity a mystery. In out thriller, both types of editing will also be used in order to capture attention as well as create tension and suspense.

Thriller film conventions

Plot: thriller films usually involve a plot that focuses on the antagonist's attempt to harm or scare the protagonist also known as the victim. The audience is typically engaged through a chain of bad events from the protagonist's point of view. This allows the viewer to form an emotional attachment with the character which causes sympathy.The narrative is not usually revealed yet subtle hints are provided in order to keep the audience guessing as to what and why something is occurring.

Characters: the antagonist/killer tends to be a mysterious character that desires to inflict psychological or psychical pain on the victim due to anger,revenge or misinterpretation of events. A contrast is usually recognised between the darkness of this character and the victim which is commonly associated with vulnerability. A series of enigmas (mysteries of the plot) are often introduced such as in 'Psycho', the audience does not know the killer's identity which creates suspense.

Theme: story-lines are usually based around real life situations that are most feared by society so the audience can relate to the scenarios. This is why thrillers are usually set in ordinary places with the realism of the narrative enhancing the fear aspect of the film. The audience being able to relate to the narrative gives it an edge as they feel it could also happen to them.

Mise-en-scene: low key lighting is commonly used to create a sense of suspense and fear with shadows being a common convention. Staircases are mirrors are also seen in many thriller films contributing to the impact on the audience.Colours are also used to connote themes or emotions of the character. For example,red is associated with danger and black connotes mystery and/or death. Thrillers are sometimes set in places that are isolated in order to provide an element of the unknown with darkness being a typical tool of generating fear.


Camera shots: extreme long shots are commonly used to establish the location and setting. Close-ups are also used regularly when emphasizing significant objects or facial expressions.

Sound: all elements of the mise-en-scene are accompanied by non-diagetic music which builds up tension. It is usually in the minor key which intensifies the solemn and mysterious tone of the thriller. Starting as slow paced and quiet , it gradually increases in pace to make the scene more dramatic.

Age classification

Universal - all ages are permitted to see the film as there is no unsuitable content.
eg.'Finding Nemo' is a universal film as it has a positive moral framework that offers reassuring counterbalances to any violence or threat.

 Parental Guidance - all ages are allowed to view the film but accompanied by an adult due to some scenes containing mild language and sex/drugs references. Moderate violence may occur if justified by the context (e.g. fantasy).
e.g. 'Matilda' is rated as a PG film due to its suitability for young viewers. However it is considered to be a parental guidance film as it involves scenes of bullying which parents may consider to be unacceptable.

12 Adult - those aged under 12 years are only admitted if accompanied by an adult, aged at least 18 years, at all times during the motion picture. Mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, moderate swear words, infrequent strong language and moderate violence, sex references and nudity may be contained.
e.g.'Twilight' involves horror elements which are moderate and therefore the film is permitted to be seen by children as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult able to recognise any potential harm. The last of the series was re-cut in order to meet the 12A requirements by minimizing the sexual activity.

12 -The content guidelines are identical to those used for the 12A certificate but nobody younger than can rent or buy a 12-rated film.
e.g. 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' is rated 12 due to sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images which are not suitable for children below this age.

15 - nobody younger than 15 is permitted to view the film as can contain adult themes, hard drugs, frequent strong language,strong violence and strong sex references.
e.g.An example of this film classification is' 21 Jump Street' which was rated 15 due to the involvement of strong language, sexual references, violence and drug use.

18 - only adults can view the film due to it containing content with no limitations. Explicit sex references and sexual activity is allowed if justified by the context.Drugs and sadistic violence is also permitted.
e.g.A example of this classification is the film 'Killer Joe' which was rated 18 as it contains     strong, bloody and sadistic violence as well as sexual threats.

 Restricted 18 - Films of this rating can be purchased at licensed sex shops or viewed at adult cinemas by adults who are 18 or over only. These films are defined as extremely sexual with very explicit content yet references to under-age sex or aggressive behaviour is not allowed.

BBFC

The BBFC stands for the 'British Board of Film Classification'. It is a regulatory body that classifies films into age groups according to the content. The issues examined involve discrimination,drugs, horror, imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, sexual violence, theme and violence which are all taken in consideration when deciding on suitable classification. The impact on the viewer (how it makes the audience feel) and the release format is also regarded as easily accessible media such as DVDs provide a higher risk of under-age viewing.

The classification decisions are based on regularly updated guidelines which take into account various UK laws as well as public consultation, research and the BBFC's experience.All films rated by the BBFC receive a certificate and consumer advice which specify the age which the film is suitable for preventing people below that age from purchasing it.

Regulation is important as it protects the society by setting guidelines on potentially dangerous viewings. It is required to monitor and shield young viewers from scenes of inappropriate nature as well as being an advisory tool for parents.

However,classifying films can be difficult as it provokes debate and discussion amongst individuals. Although there are concerns regarding the content shown, many believe their choice of viewing should not be limited.The classifications applied should be adhered to by young people and their parents to create awareness.

12A was recently introduced when Spider-Man received a 12 rating allowing younger children to see the film despite the violence shown, causing many parental concerns.This was then replaced by a 12A allowing anyone below the age of 12 to see the film if accompanied by an adult.

Group Narrative

Individual plot

Characters:

The victim - this character will be portrayed as a fragile young girl which will be achieved by natural make-up and white clothing.The colour white has a connotation of innocence and so enhances the essence of the character's purity. This will convey her to be a vulnerable character that will gain empathy from the audience who will experience her fear and anxiety when she is faced with a series of turbulent events.

The antagonist - this character will only be visible as a dark blurred shadow moving in sharp motions. A hidden identity means the audience will be unaware of who the antagonist is, his intentions unknown. This will create suspense which is conventional to the thriller genre.

Conventions:

- An establishing shot of the room will be shown to familiarise the audience with the current setting as well as set the scene.

- Low key lighting will be used as it is an effective convention that is able to create a tense atmosphere. This will create a dark setting as well as shadows which can be suggestive of the antagonist's presence without providing the audience of certainty. Although a dark setting will be used, the moon light seeping through the window will provide enough light for the character's facial expressions to be visible.

- Non-diegetic music i.e. the background music will be increasing in volume throughout the progression of the opening sequence in order to build up tension.

- Exaggerated diegetic sounds such as the door slam will also be used to emphasise the elements of the scene and simultaneously provide the audience with fear.

-Close up shots capturing facial expression will be used to convey the emotion felt by the character.

The Narrative:

A young girl being awoken by a gentle voice repeatedly whispering the same phrase which imitates a nightmare increasing in pace. The girl's eyes open and a tear runs down her cheek. Shivering, she reaches over to the bedside table where an alarm clock showing the time is seen. The sound of wind rushes through the room as a dark blurred shadow moves across it. The door slamming shut disturbs the stillness of the night. The girl gets up hurriedly and grabs her phone in which she dials the number 999 whilst struggling to open the door. Her breathing is rushed and uneven. The lighting is dim yet the moon light seeps through the window, creating suspense. As she forcefully opens the door, she sees nothing but a photo laying on the floor. She picks it up, her hands shaking. The photograph is revealed to be of her sleeping peacefully; dressed in the same white gown. The words 'RIP' written across it in big bold letters.

Themes:

-Psychological trauma : this theme will be emphasised by a rushed heartbeat and heavy breathing of the main character who will be emotionally disturbed by the events. This will also be conveyed by the tear running down her cheek when awoken and traumatised. Struggling to cope with the events will create empathy for the character that will be enable a connection to be established between the character and the audience.

- Horror : this theme will be portrayed by the antagonist's appearance that will cause fear and panic for the victim as well as the audience. The dark shadow means it will be a sudden and rushed appearance which would not have been anticipated.

Advantages: the characters are defined as conventional due to the victim being portrayed as innocent when in contrast with the stalker who is seen as threatening. The location used in this narrative is a bedroom, a relatable setting for viewers making the scene highly realistic so the audience's fear is increased. 

Disadvantages: the narrative lacks complexity

Harriet Gold

Characters:

-Stalker/Young Man - my idea for a thriller opening will consist of a young man who will be a stalker and also the boyfriend of the victim. He will be stalking her constantly which will be sticking to the conventions of a thriller.
-Young woman - I have decided to use a young vulnerable female as the victim that will also be sticking to the conventions of a thriller.

Themes:
The themes that will be presented in my thriller will be stalking/obsession. This will be shown by the boyfriend also known as the stalker constantly watching the victims every move. This can also be shown in the theme of psychological as of the mental instability of him stalking the victim.

Narrative:
In my idea there will be a young couple that have been together for 5 years and have lived with each other for only a year. The woman thinks everything is normal and that they are going to be a happy family with there own children. What she doesn't know is her boyfriend in fact has two identities and stalks her every move while she's out the house. Before they met he'd been stalking her for 3 years, taking photographs, taking pieces of her belongings whilst she was out the house, which was all part of the plan to get into her life. The woman starts to suspect things while she's at work or out for a coffee but doesn't think to mention anything. This then starts to panic her when she finds strange things happening in the house. The last thing she'd imagine it to be is a stalker when in fact she's living with one right under the same roof.

Advantages: the theme of the narrative is developed and effective within the thriller film, taking into account the results of the questionnaire. Relatable characters are used for the audience to build a relationship with so they become emotionally involved and therefore are affected by the victim's state through sympathy.
Disadvantages: The narrative lacks detail as to what 'strange things' happen.

Ella Sutherland 

Characters:
-Within our thriller opening, a young woman will be portrayed as the victim. By using a character such as a younger female to play the victim, this will stick to the conventions of the thriller genre as the female will suggest innocence through her gender alone.
-A male stalker will be used as the antagonist in out thriller opening. He will be shown as having an obsession with the victim and consequently stalks her every movement. Obsession is a conventional factor between antagonist and victim within the thriller genre.

Narrative:
The narrative will consist of a young woman being stalked by an older male as he is shown to have an obsession with her. She is entirely oblivious of the stalker however begins to have dreams of the same nature suggesting she has become a victim. She later becomes suspicious and sub-consciously aware that she is not alone when thought to be. It is later revealed that the stalker is someone very close to her.


Themes:
a main theme within the opening will be obsession. Obsession will be shown with the younger woman by the antagonist. This is conventional to a thriller to make the audience feel uncomfortable and plays on the venerability of the female/victim.

Advantages: The theme is effectively achieved through the narrative which consists of stalking and obsession seen by the stalker towards the victim. The stalker turning out to be 'someone very close' the the victim is an effective twist to the plot.

Disadvantages: The narrative lacks depth as to the location and the events; the plot being very brief and basic. 

 Group narrative 

In order for our group to make a successful opening for our thriller, we have all wrote our personal ideas and perceptions on what we think they should consist of and the advantages and disadvantages of each point. Then we combined ideas in order to make a group narrative

Characters:
-The victim : Grace Davies, a 17 year old girl
-The killer : a disguised man (hidden identity creates suspense)
-Extra : the girl's mum

Themes:
-Obsession : the stalker's state of mind dominated by persistent thoughts of the victim and his desire to hurt her
-Stalking : the man's unwanted attention towards the young girl

Conventions:
-low key lighting as dim lighting conveys fear
-non-diagetic sound building up tension
-diagetic soundtrack to give the audience a rush of adrenaline

Narrative:
A young girl on the phone to her boyfriend whilst on the laptop when the internet connection cuts out. As she walks to the bathroom, her phone coverage gets weaker and her conversation is disrupted. She then sees someone behind her in the mirror's reflection. Her hands shaking, she rushes to her bed where her uneven breathing slowly returns to normal as she falls asleep. While sleeping, the camera zooms onto her face as a hand covers the lens. Flashes of images of her are then shown revealing the stalker's obsession with the young girl.

CHANGES TO THE NARRATIVE: 

In order to improve the impact of the narrative, it was made more complex with a twist creating an enigma for the audience.

A young girl on the phone to her boyfriend whilst on the laptop when she hears a sound that disrupts her conversation. Thinking it's nothing, she re engages in the conversation. She is then interrupted once again when her laptop and light turns off simultaneously. Shaken up, she rushes to the bathroom where she attempts to call her mum yet the number is not recognised. After trying to reassure herself, she rushes back to the bedroom. Her shadow is seen as another shadow walks up to her from behind. She turns around and gasps creating the illusion of the shadow being the antagonist. This however turns out to be her mum which would make the audience think all of the events were exaggerated by the victim acting paranoid. However, a photograph of Grace hugging her mum is then shown. As the camera zooms out, a collection of similar photographs is seen. This proves the stalker's obsession with the victim. This leaves the viewers with unanswered questions regarding the stalker's identity and reasoning. The remain of the plot reveals the victim's stalker to be her dad; his obsession caused by jealousy and hurt due to his inability to deal with the divorce and sudden found happiness of his wife.

FURTHER CHANGES:

The opening credit sequence will end with the main character (the victim) turning around and screaming. This will suggest the antagonist's presence however it will not reveal his identity nor provide certainty. Therefore the previous ending has been disregarded due to hidden identities being conventional to the thriller genre and so it was decided that the opening sequence would not resolve this enigma. The identity of the antagonist would be revealed towards the climax of the film rather than in the first two minutes.  The opening sequence would only introduce the film and it's theme; most importantly featuring credits.

Narrative theory

1) Vladimir Propp theory:

According to this theory, all characters have a narrative function which provides a structure for the text.They are often based on stereotypes with each characteristic being intentionally used for positive or negatives purposes. Due to this being sustained, it is therefore recognised by the audience. Propp indicates that there are several major roles which apply to many media however not all are used every time. These consist of:
the hero(protagonist) - a character that seeks something
the villain(antagonist) - who opposes or blocks the hero's quest
the donor - provides an object with magical properties
the false hero - disrupts the hero's success by making false claims
the helper - aids the hero
the princess(damsel in distress) - acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the villain's plots
her father - who's life usually ends during or before

This theory may be criticized as it gives restrictions to narratives which may not follow a traditional format. The remaining characters should also be identified as they may have a significant impact on the plot even if they're not seen as major roles.

2) Tzeitan Todorov theory:

This theory focuses on the structure of the narrative. It explores the idea of all narratives beginning in a state of equilibrium (stability/peace) which is then disrupted by an event. This is followed by a recognition of the occurrence and an attempt to to repair the damage created. The narrative's resolution is seen as the restoration of a new equilibrium creating a motion in the chain of events.

Equilibrium > Disruption > Resolution > Re-equilibrium


3) Aristotle theory:

Aristotle believed that the most significant element of a narrative is the arrangement of incidents creating the beginning,middle and end. He believed that the outcome depends on the intentionally constructed cause-and-effect chain of actions with all the events relating to one another. The connection between the incentive moment and climax is the 'tying-up' which is knows as the complication whilst the chain of events from the climax to the resolution is the 'unravelling'. The incidents must be necessary and inevitable to create a unity of time, place and action with all of the events moving towards a logical conclusion.The plot should include a variety of themes to give it a more universal and significant meaning to capture the emotions of the audience.

Conclusion:

The theory that will be used in our group's narrative is the 'Vladmir Propp' theory which focuses on the presentation of characters. The villan (antagonist) will be the stalker with an obsession towards the victim. He will be portayed in a stereotypical way of having a hidden identity. The representation of the antagonist will contrast against the victim that will be a young innocent girl. She will be conveyed as the 'damsel in distress' which supports the 'Vladmir Propp' theory. This will gain the audience's empathy and enable a connection between the victim and audience to be established. Using this theory will also allow the audience to instantly understand the narrative as they will be already familiar with its use.

Individual Narrative

Characters: 
The victim - this character will be portrayed as a fragile young girl which will be achieved by natural make-up and white clothing.The colour white has a connotation of innocence and so enhances the essence of the character's purity. This will convey her to be a vulnerable character that will gain empathy from the audience who will experience her fear and anxiety when she is faced with a series of turbulent events.
The antagonist - this character will only be visible as a dark blurred shadow moving in sharp motions. A hidden identity means the audience will be unaware of who the antagonist is, his intentions unknown. This will create suspense which is conventional to the thriller genre.

Conventions:
- An establishing shot of the room will be shown to familiarise the audience with the current setting as well as set the scene.
- Low key lighting will be used as it is an effective convention that is able to create a tense atmosphere. This will create a dark setting as well as shadows which can be suggestive of the antagonist's presence without providing the audience of certainty. Although a dark setting will be used, the moon light seeping through the window will provide enough light for the character's facial expressions to be visible.
- Non-diegetic music i.e. the background music will be increasing in volume throughout the progression of the opening sequence in order to build up tension.
- Exaggerated diegetic sounds such as the door slam will also be used to emphasise the elements of the scene and simultaneously provide the audience with fear.
-Close up shots capturing facial expression will be used to convey the emotion felt by the character.

The Narrative:
A young girl being awoken by a gentle voice repeatedly whispering the same phrase which imitates a nightmare increasing in pace. The girl's eyes open and a tear runs down her cheek. Shivering, she reaches over to the bedside table where an alarm clock showing the time is seen. The sound of wind rushes through the room as a dark blurred shadow moves across it. The door slamming shut disturbs the stillness of the night. The girl gets up hurriedly and grabs her phone in which she dials the number 999 whilst struggling to open the door. Her breathing is rushed and uneven. The lighting is dim yet the moon light seeps through the window, creating suspense. As she forcefully opens the door, she sees nothing but a photo laying on the floor. She picks it up, her hands shaking. The photograph is revealed to be of her sleeping peacefully; dressed in the same white gown. The words 'RIP' written across it in big bold letters.

Themes:
-Psychological trauma : this theme will be emphasised by a rushed heartbeat and heavy breathing of the main character who will be emotionally disturbed by the events. This will also be conveyed by the tear running down her cheek when awoken and traumatised. Struggling to cope with the events will create empathy for the character that will be enable a connection to be established between the character and the audience.
- Horror : this theme will be portrayed by the antagonist's appearance that will cause fear and panic for the victim as well as the audience. The dark shadow means it will be a sudden and rushed appearance which would not have been anticipated.