Reflective Analysis - YOUR NEXT final draft

Reflective Analysis - YOUR NEXT

The title of our short film is 'YOUR NEXT', referring to the t-shirt that the antagonist in the film can be seen wearing. YOUR NEXT is a thriller/horror, we chose these genres as we agreed that it would be interesting to portray them through the use of camera shots, angles, shot lengths and the micro-elements. Through the course of making the film, I was in charge of the mise-en-scene meaning I selected props and clothing items that would contribute to the narrative and the genre.

The first shot shows our protagonist, Robyn, walking down a street with low-key lighting. We specifically chose to film at a late time as it adds an eerie feel right from the beginning, this goes hand in hand with the long length of the shot and the wide shot we used, connoting her isolation and vulnerability. Robyn is wearing a big coat, telling the audience that it is cold outside which again emphasizes the rather unnatural feel we are trying to attain. She makes her way to her house in the story, out of all our houses we chose this one as it has quite a Victorian, old fashioned and even gothic feel to it which fits the creepy theme. The house was also the largest and that adds a sense of uncertainty, as if there is the possibility that there could be something hiding.

The lighting in Robyn's bedroom is very warm but also low-key, its cosy which insinuates that she is safe from harm in there, so when she does have the nightmare it suggests that not even the comfort of her own home can protect her from bad, again contributing to that feeling of uncertainty. Robyn is purposely dressed in rather casual and stylish clothes as it alludes that she is just like any other person and suggests that it could be anyone in her situation. Her home is very nicely decorated and large which tells the audience that she is well off and also suggests a reason as to why Kieran could be breaking an entrance - because he is jealous of the life she leads. The items in Robyn’s room are also typically ‘feminine’, positioning her as a feminine person. This is suggesting that Kieran’s intentions are even more sinister than just killing her. There is a juxtaposition between the outside environment of her home and inside, outside is dangerous and unsettling and makes Robyn seem more vulnerable, contrasting to the inside, where the rooms are smaller and the camera is generally close to her. The comfort of her home makes the audience sense that risk is reduced so when Kieran does enter, it is more of a surprise.

The most prominent prop we used was the 'YOUR NEXT' t-shirt. The top has an overall unsettling feel to it and we felt it would contribute the characters (Kieran) personality as we only had a limited time to portray him. The t-shirt is incredibly inappropriate which does reinforce the situation as being frightening and uncomfortable, the finger is anti-establishment and reflects his twisted personality. The top also has chains all over, echoing his desire to control. The words 'your next' are not directly speaking to anyone, so it creates the illusion that perhaps our antagonist is talking directly to the audience, invading their personal space and also tells the audience that this is not his first killing.

There is a scene in which Kieran enters the house through the kitchen. I felt that this would be the best environment because of the dim lighting, which makes the shots seem quite cold and adds an unnatural feel, emphasizing to the audience that he is not a good character. Kieran entering through the kitchen tells the audience that he is coming in through the back door, emphasizing how he is not welcome into the home and that he is not supposed to be there. Kitchens are also clinical and cold environments, connoting with his clinical and cold intentions. There is a shot in which Kieran walks towards and passed the camera, which highlights the words 'YOUR NEXT'.

Robyn leaves her bedroom and she is almost totally in darkness, the environment is more dangerous and also hides the location of the killer, which builds up suspense and tension.

Another environment is the bathroom, where Kieran finally encounters Robyn. The room is full of large mirrors, which creates the illusion that the room is bigger and makes Robyn seem defenceless. Mirrors are also commonly found in horror films, so this scene adds to the films genre. This environment also makes us feel that there will be things jumping out at us, as that is what mirrors are usually used for in horror films, creating suspense for the audience. Mirrors in this film present two versions of Robyn which ties in with the theme of the confusion between reality and nightmares, creating uncertainty in the audience minds and asking the question 'are we still in the nightmare?’ Also, the shot in which Robyn stands up again and Kieran is behind her in the mirror is a classic horror convention and adds towards the genre. The music at the end is electronic which and without emotion – this is again reflecting Kieran’s cold, mechanical and clinical nature

The characters are very opposite to one another - Kieran is tall and tanned whilst Robyn is small and fair skinned. They juxtapose one another. This emphasizes that they are completely different to one another in lifestyles, appearance and even mental health.

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