Portfolio Project Genre #1

Before choosing AICE media, I had heard about this project from peers who have taken this class in the past; and so I knew walking into this that I'd need to come prepared to avoid as many bumps in this long process as possible. I thought about some genres that I know I like watching and I am pretty set on the type of film opening I want to make. 

PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR GENRE

The first genre that has always interested me and I think would be very fun to develop is the psychological horror genre. I love how instead of being simple gore and jump scares, it dives deeper into emotional conflicts behind the horror, making it the original horror genre that much more uncomfortable and scary. Usually centering a deeply flawed or unreliable protagonist, realities are distorted and themes of loss of control, punishment, and paranoia are often explored in a variety of ways. Violence is often implied rather than explicitly shown, which allows fear to be created from the audiences imagination rather than being planned and expected. 

Midsommar [Film still]. (2019). A24.

Some genre characteristics technique-wise include:

- "Restricted or subjective camera perspectives" (such as POV shots) to amplify feelings of personal anxiety or panic through immersive perspectives.

- Muted color palettes and lowkey lighting to imply an uneasy and eerie atmosphere.

- Sound design that highlights uncomfortable silence, internal sounds (heartbeats, breathing, footsteps), or even distorts audio to convey a sense of confusion or disassociation. 

- Slow pacing or long takes to further build tension 

- Unreliable editing like contradictory flashbacks, rapid disorienting cuts, hidden information, Surreal Time Jumps that also further conveys confusion.

WHAT ARE SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR FILMS? 

A perfect example of this genre would be the film Black Swan (2010), which utilizes body horror to develop a battle of internal obsession rather than external monsters. Through hallucinations and an intense hunger for success, the line between reality and pure madness is heavily blurred, sending the protagonist, Nina, into complete psychosis. Body horror is used through acts of self harm and actual physical transformations as a visual representation of Nina's restless strive for perfection, along with the use of "doppelgängers" which symbolize her "white swan" side (her innocence) and her ultimate transformation into "the black swan" (the product of her darkest desires). I really want to use the same concept of the horror coming from the character's own personal experiences rather than external "scary" events occurring. In other words, in my own film opening, I want it to feel more raw and and less like a spectacle. 

Black Swan [Film still]. (2010). Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Another great example of this genre would be the film Get Out (2017), which also strays from using traditional supernatural threats and instead conveys fear through societal anxieties and using a character's vulnerability to manipulate their reality. The film uses hypnosis to exploit the main character, Chris, 's past experiences, which proves how this genre's focuses on characters' traumas and uses it against them. The tension in this movie is first established through the micro-aggressions of the Armitage family towards Chris, leading to Chris' initial unease, which then progresses to his full psychological manipulation. What is so cool about this film is how the villain isn't a person but is instead the concept of the dehumanization and social paranoia that stems from racism. Like this film, I hope to rely on creating an unsettling atmosphere and using symbolism to create a psychological threat/prison rather than using explicit violence to evoke fear.

Get Out [Film still]. (2017). Universal Pictures.

SOOO...

After researching this genre, I am super confident that this is what I want to do. I think it's so interesting how a film can use such distinct techniques to go beyond the usual "character vs. character happily ever after" simple plot recipe and explore deeper themes of internal battles humans go through and the extreme consequences of them. I hope to evoke the same vibe as these films and will definitely watch some others to get more inspiration on how to develop this tone and style. 

K Blog, byeeee!!!!