So, what's next?

         Looking back at all the analysis I've made, I plan on using most, if not all of the thing's I've analyzed. I want to include some sort of flawed character, with a creative design for a monster, and obviously a horror genre. Recently there have been quite a few popular and well-made horror movies, so I certainly have lots of inspiration.

        The idea I feel most comfortable going with is a thriller-horror about a monster that haunts nightmares. The idea is very similar to A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), as there is some sort of safety net protecting the characters while they aren't being hunted down or chased in their dreams. While this can go against pacing, it does provide a sense of preparedness, as the characters are able to devise some sort of plan, while at the same time providing a setting for character change and development. 

        However, I want to take inspiration from A Quiet Place (2018), Alien (1979), and The Thing (1982), as they all had creative designs for monsters that either played into the plot, or had a plot centered around those monsters. I would like to avoid the latter, and create a story that doesn't pander to the point where there is no sustenance. But this will take quite a bit of time and effort, and I see myself writing a few scripts and drafts because of it.

        While I do not have the time, money, or desire to include a full-scale monster, I don't see why I wouldn't be able to hint at it using close-ups or renderings such as pictures and drawings. I really want to bring the antagonist to life, and make it a valid threat, but going for the funny jumpscare and closeup approach seems like a bad idea. I plan on building up the characters and plot within the trailer, giving basic insight into what the characters are like as well as establishing some sort of presence that drives the movie forward.

Our favorite flawed characters

         Conflict plays a great part into almost all movies and TV shows, but often times we see something that relates to a character's flaws or shortcomings, whether it was their lack of decisiveness or a lack of knowledge. As we follow these character's stories, their flaws will often intervene, either by causing a problem or worsening it. These weaknesses and shortcomings are what makes us want to see their success.

        A perfect example of qualities and shortcomings impacting the plot and story is Death Note. As we follow every character, their flaws and qualities start to clash, bringing about an enjoyable dynamic to them. In the end, Light loses because his traits (precision and independence), were lost as he grew his following.

        

        Even Superman has flaws, whether it's his impulsiveness, or his immense naivete. And it's those flaws that serve as a drive as well as a hindrance to him when someone is kidnapped so as to distract him.

        In horror movies, a character's flaws usually boil down to a lack of knowledge, and only once they learn some vital piece of lore are they able to triumph. However, there are quite a few movies that are able to do away with this trope (sort of).

        Believe it or not, but in IT (2017), and later in IT Chapter 2 (2019), the Loser's Club does in fact lose to Pennywise, twice. While this was partly due to something outside their control (the ritual not working), the final victory only comes when all the characters managed to get over their fears. 

        It's this growth and development that keeps us wanting to see our characters succeed. Think back to any character you know, and you'll most likely see their flaws, but if you look a bit deeper, you'll be able to see that those flaws shaped up the character into something you could grow up with.

Unmasking horror movies and thrillers

         Taking a step back to look at the overall conventions of movies we consider  "scary", we see the uncanny resemblance of inhuman monsters. There are quite a few movies that prey on our innate fears of things such as sharks, birds, piranhas, snakes, spiders, bats, crocodiles, and many other types of animals. As you may have guessed, there have been numerous movies with the antagonist taking one of those forms. But ask anyone if they'd rather take on a real animal or a monster from hell, I can guarantee most people will refuse to go with the latter.

        So what makes non-real things so successfully scary? The mystery is certainly and important factor. When you have a monster that does not follow our well-known biology, the audience is constantly wondering about what it may look like, as opposed to an already discovered animal. When refusing to follow conventional norms, directors are able to create terrifying monsters, from the indestructible Michael Myers to the nightmarish Freddy Kreuger.

        One great example of character design playing into tension is in Predator (1987). Throughout the entire movie we do not see the alien's face, not even a glimpse. However, as the final showdown begins, he removes his mask, showing his true face. This was not something unexpected, as the movie built up to this moment. We see the predator's "honor", as well as the malfunctioning technology, and we come to expect the moment, yet we are still surprised when it happens. 

                        In case you needed a reminder as to what he looked like

        We see this trope in many movies, both in literal and rhetorical way. Most times we see some sort of monster, we know nothing about them, but as the movie progresses, we learn more and more about them. And it's this discovery that we feed the audience that keeps them entertained, whether it's Jason Voorhee's physical unmasking, or the more figurative unmasking of Freddy Kreuger's past, we all want to learn and see more of the monsters that haunt our dreams.

What we don't see in monsters

         Hello again! Today, we're gonna be researching techniques in horror/action/any movie with a focus on big things. Are you ready? Neither am I, but let's get started.

        I'd first like to name a few of the objectively best horror movies (and you aren't allowed to disagree). Alien (1979), A Quiet Place (2018), Jaws (1975), The Cabin in the Woods (2011), and Reign of Fire (2002) are among the best, both in the amount of detail and creativity put into composition as well as the astounding effort put into having everything come out the way it did. I will try to not talk too much, but if you appreciate horror and good filmmaking, check those out, as each film includes the techniques I will talk about in this post.

        To start with a very well-known example, we'll take a look at Jaws. We all know it was a scary movie and not because of what was shown, but rather what wasn't shown. The lack of the shark in many scenes could be blamed on mechanical malfunctions (who knew it was a robot?) and a comparatively low budget, but because of the movie's pacing and unique approach, the substitution of any shark shot with a POV did not seem forced, and played into the movie's elements perfectly. When watching the clip below, notice how infrequently the shark appears, and when it is shown, it is usually obstructed by something, such as blood, darkness, a cage, or the edge of the frame. This obstruction and framing makes it seem like we are seeing something tangible, that is able to interact with the environment, while at the same time making the subject much more threatening and massive.

        To hit a higher word count and help you understand these concepts a bit more, here are some more examples. Remember that both techniques can be used seperately, or joined together to create any sort of shot.

        We very clearly see how massive the dragon is in Game of Thrones, but not because of a size reference. If you are able to recall the Jaws scene you just saw; how many shots included a full view of the shark? Not many. When you obstruct something that the audience clearly knows is larger than normal, said thing appears to be much larger. Similarly to how a low or high angle shot makes a subject appear larger or smaller, cutting out parts of an already massive thing makes it seem even larger.

        In this shot from Pacific Rim, the kaijus are given a sense of size by the comparison to the surrounding buildings, but the focus of the shot is the occlusion that is happening. While we know that kaijus aren't real (yet), we see that they are real at last in the movie, given how they interact with the environment and other physics. The same technique was used in Jaws, as the shark was hidden behind the cage and other elements in the scene.

        Obviously there are more differences and specifics to these techniques, such as some characters being physically real, while others are CG, but the incorporation of occlusion and framing remain the same. I will eventually go over the incorporation of these techniques in both a real and virtual environment, but I will leave you with an overall view on occlusion and framing for now. Until next time.