The document provides details on the narrative structure and plot of a proposed horror film. It begins with an equilibrium of normal school life, which is disrupted by the arrival of a new goth student named Rue. A series of murders then begin, and a group of alternative students realize Rue's dark artwork has been predicting the deaths. They attempt to stop the next murder by decoding Rue's next painting. Rue is then arrested, but the ending is left open as it is implied she may be released to kill again.
2. The Narrative theory behind my film
(Based on Todorov’s Narrative theory)
Equilibrium
Students in year 11 at school are
attending school every day as usual.
We come to know of a group of girls
who are the bullies of the school. We
also come to know of an alternative
group of students – a small group of 3
friends who tend to keep to
themselves.
Disruption
Half way into the new school year,
A new girl (an art student) called
‘Rue’ Joins the year. Because of
her Dark and gothic
clothing/appearance, she is
instantly rejected by her peers.
Soon, a series of murders begin
happening around the school.
Realization
At this point, The alternative
group of students realize that
Rue’s dark and sinister artwork
has been predicting the deaths
of each of the students. They
realize she is the murderer
Attempt to repair
IAfter carrying out research and
closely digging for the deeper
meaning of Rue’s next painting,
they manage to prevent the next
murder and get rue taken away
by the local police force, never to
be seen again.
New equilibrium
After rue is arrested and jailed, the
school seems like a much happier,
safer place for the students.
It soon becomes apparent that rue
has been freed of her jail sentence
and that she will be released back
into school (which can only mean a
series of more murders…)
My Story has an Open structure
to it (the ending is left open for
people to assume what happens
next)
4. The Horror Genre/Sub-genre of my
film:
As you can see from the useful chart above, I have circled the three categories that I feel my Horror film idea fits under. I feel
that it fits under the ‘Slasher’ category because of the series of murders that occur in a serial-killer like fashion. I feel it fits in
with the Phobia and isolation category because the main character and murderer, Rue, Is bullied for her appearance and
therefore feels isolated and alone. This forces her into a deep state of depression and anger. She deals with these feelings
through painting/drawing violent and disturbing images in her art class (we later discover that her paintings predict the
murders that she will carry out on the students). Lastly, I feel that my horror film idea fits under the category ‘Torture’
because of the disturbing ways that she treats her victims before finally murdering them.
6. Scream
Release date:
First film -18 December 1996
Most recent film - June 30, 2015
Genre/Sub-genre :
Plot: Instigated by a cyberbullying incident that goes viral, a brutal
murder in Lakewood stirs memories of a crime spree from the town's
past that has haunted some, intrigued others and maybe just spawned
a new executioner.
Thoughts on title:
I think that the title of this film really links well with the overall Genre
of the film (which is psychological serial killer). As the film is about a
series of murders happening to a young group of teenagers, the word
“scream” really mimics the sounds that would be heard at the scene of
each individual murder. I think that this title is also quite intriguing for
anyone who reads it/is thinking about seeing the film because not only
does it foreshadow the fact that a violent action will take place in
order to make a characters scream/cry in pain, but it may also hint at
the fact that this film is so captivatingly scary that it will make the
audience scream – for any lover of horror movies, this is appealing as it
shows the film to be something that will really take your breath away
(and will therefore be a worthwhile experience to go and watch it). As
for the cover for the film, they are both quite simple. I like the one at
the bottom as it shows the terrifying mask that may be worn by the
killer in the film (therefore when paired with the title, it helps the
viewer to imagine just how terrifying it would be to be in the position
of the characters being murdered) however I like the top image better
as “screaming” is a phrase more commonly associated with a woman
than a man. As the cover shows an image of a woman with her mouth
covered over, it links more to the title as it almost shows how this
woman is almost being forced not to make a sound despite the
horrifying condition she finds herself in.
7. Final
destination
• Release date:
First film – 17th March 2000
Last film – 25th August 2011
• Genre:
• Plot:
On a school trip to Paris, student Alex, experiences a premonition in which
him and his classmates all die in a plane crash just minutes after their
departure. He insists that him and his friends are to be let off the plane only
to see the plane explode in the sky a few minutes afterwards. He and the
other survivors have briefly cheated death however they won’t be able to
avoid their fate for long. One by one, the survivors begin dying in the same
order that was shown in the premonition.
• Thoughts on title:
The Title of this film is a little bit harder to understand before actually seeing
the film. However, from the perspective of having seen the film, I feel that
the term “Final destination” is representative of death as death is every living
persons ‘Final destination’ at some point however this film explores the fact
that you are able to reach your final destination (you can be faced with your
own death) at any point in time. Overall I feel that the title really sums up the
deeper meaning within the film. As for the cover artwork of the film I think
that the top image (or the girl in the mirror) is very powerful in showing that
a somewhat everyday image can be turned into something dark and sinister
very quickly. This concept is displayed in the film as it shows how an everyday
scenario can very quickly lead to your death/final destination. The smashed
mirror in the image shows that death can come to you extremely quickly/
your life can be taken in an instant. I also like the bottom image as the half
skeleton, half normal look to the characters foreshadows how each of them
are destined for death – maybe some sooner t.
han others
8. Sinister
Release date: 5th October 2012
Genre:
Plot:
Run down author, Ellison Oswald, Hasn’t had a best-seller in
more than 10 years and is desperate for some inspiration.
When he comes across a series of short video tapes that display
the torture and deaths of families, he vows to solve the
mystery. He moves himself and his small family into the victims
house and gets to work however when the footage begins
hinting at the presence of a supernatural force within the
house, Ellison realises that living in the house could be fatal.
Thoughts on title:
Here, the title of the film mainly describes the overall feel to
the story. It informs the viewer that what begins happening to
the family will be sinister, unnatural, spooky etc. the term
“Sinister” also hints that the story is based on supernatural
occurrences. I also feel that the title here describes how the
actual characters feel about what happens during the story –
particularly the main character ,Oswald. I feel that the title links
really will with the simplistic yet eerie cover art for the film
itself. We can see that there is blood on the walls of the house
and in it, we are able to make out the shape of a scary face.
This is sinister in itself because from its evil facial expression,
we can tell this supernatural being wants the family dead. The
fact that there is also children present in the cover art adds a
sense of innocence. It also emphasized the evil nature of the
enemy. It must be extremely violent and twisted in nature to
want/crave to kill young innocent people.
9. Halloween
Release date:
26th October 2012
Genre:
Plot: On a cold Halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers brutally
murdered his 17 year old sister and was sentenced and locked away for 15
years! However on October 30th 1978 (15 years later), while being transferred
for a court date, now 21 year old Michael escapes. He returns to his quiet
hometown, Haddonfield, Illinois, where he begins the search for his next
victims
Thoughts on title:
The title of this film clearly picks out what time of the year that the story
will be taking place. Before even seeing the film, the audience are able to
get a feel for what the story is about. As Halloween is typically the time of
year where everyone dresses up in scary costumes and walks the streets,
the title really emphasized the fact that during the story, the characters
will be almost helpless as they wont be able to recognise the killer
amongst all the other people celebrating Halloween. Therefore they will
be taken by surprise by the killer. This tells the audience that there will be
a fair few of jump scares for both themselves and the characters through
the story. As for the cover artwork, it mixed a seemingly innocent carved
pumpkin face (which is widely associated with Halloween) with the fist of
the killer, holding the weapon. The way the killers hand and weapon are
disguised in with the seemingly innocent looking image of a pumpkin also
links to how the killer will be well disguised (possibly wearing a mask to
blend in with others walking the streets and celebrating) and will
therefore be more shocking to the characters when the murders are
carried out.
10. Smiley
Release date:
12th October 2012
Genre:
Plot:
A mentally fragile college student (Caitlin Gerad) believes
that she will be the next victim of a serial killer who can be
summoned through the internet.
Thoughts on title:
I think that the title “Smiley” is quite unusual as it twists a
word associated with being happy/joyful into something
dark and disturbing. The title gives off the idea that the
killer in this film has a love for/finds joy in killing people
which is obviously represented by the killers twisted choice
of costume which shows a face with a smile etched into it
with a blade. Overall the cover art for the film gives off the
idea that the killer is a dark and hugely disturbed character
because of the way that they had etched a smiley face into
their own body. It also tells the audience that this film will
be gory with a fair amount of violence.
11. Orphan
Release date:
22nd July 2009
Genre:
Plot:
Devastated by the loss of their unborn child, Kate and John
decide to adopt a child. At the orphanage, the two of them feel
drawn to a little girl names Esther and soon take her home as
their adopted daughter. However when a dangerous series of
events begin to unfold, new mother Kate, suspects there is
something evil lurking behind Esther’s angelic exterior.
Thoughts on title:
I feel that the title ‘Orphan’ creates a form of eerie innocence
to the film. Typically, an orphan is thought to be a young and
innocent/helpless person that had an unusual upbringing
thanks to being abandoned at birth by their parents. this
description is what draws unsuspecting parents Kate and John
to Esther (who is the complete opposite).The film itself plays
with this childlike innocence to create a killer that is completely
unexpected for both the audience and the characters. As for
the cover artwork, it follows the trend of being simple yet
effective. The dark shadows around her eyes, the most crucial
part of the face, really darken the meaning behind the image. It
makes it a lot less innocent and a little more creepy.
12. Saw
Release date:
First film - 4th October 2004
Last film – June 2016
Genre:
Plot: Photographer Adam and Oncologist Lawrence regain
consciousness while chained to pipes at either end of a filthy
bathroom. As the two men realise they have been trapped by a
sadistic serial-killer named jigsaw they realise that they must
complete his series of perverse puzzles in order to live.
Thoughts on title:
I think that this is one of the more unusual titles for a horror
film as it has limited links to the actual film. My first thoughts
when I read the title is to think of the construction tool. A saw
typically has very sharp jagged blades so the title may be giving
some insight to the audience of the violent methods of torture
used in the film (one of which may actually be a saw that is
used to kill people). As for the cover art for the film, I find it
disturbingly amusing that body parts are used to represent
what sequel to the first film is being shown (e.g. the three teeth
in the bottom image show that it’s the third film in the series
while still maintaining the horrifying imagery of torture)
13. Friday the
13th
Release date: 13th February 2009
Genre:
Plot: Against the advice of the locals and the police, Clay scours
the sinister woodland surrounding crystal lake for his missing
sister. The rotting cabins of an abandoned summer camp and
not the only thing he finds. Hockey-masked killer, Jason
Voorhees, lies – Waiting for a chance to use his razor sharp
knives on clay and his young group of college students.
Thoughts on title:
The Main purpose of this title is to highlight a specific date on
which a series of terrifying events will unravel. Friday the 13th is
typically a day that most people associate with being unlucky
therefore I feel that this film plays with the audiences
underlying superstitions and fears about that day. This means
that before the audience has taken a look at the film, they
already have an idea of what may happen. As for the Two
pieces of cover art for the film shown on the left, I feel that the
top one really summarises what is going to happen in the film
however the bottom image of the hockey mask follows the
trend of being very simple yet still maintaining a sense of
horror. I have found that many of the horror movie posters I
have looked at tend to stick to hinting at what the villain may
look like/wear. Other examples of films that do this include:
smiley, Saw and Orphan.
14. My conclusions about Horror film
titles:
• All of the horror film titles tend to make a direct link between the audiences
experience as well as the experience of the characters in the story.
• All the horror film titles are usually kept to one word yet that word is very
powerful and can make a big impact on the views/ideas of the viewer. (e.g.
Orphan, Smiley, and Scream)
• As for the cover artwork for horror films, the general trend is to keep it simple yet
effective. Good examples of this would be the saw series artwork.
• also, I have found that many of the horror film covers display something linked to
the killer/or the killers actions.
• (e.g. Halloween – The imagery of the stabbing knife
Friday the 13th /Saw – Showing the mask the killer would wear/the way the
killer looks.)
15. Title ideas for my film:
Sketch
Portrait
Depiction
Prophesy
Envision
Silhouette
