Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Evaluation

Q1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge the forms and conventions of real media products?

The main convention used in our thriller film is partial vision, the reason why this is so important is because it preserves the killers identity and creates a sense of mystery in order to make sure the audience don't know exactly what is going on, which will make them want to watch the remainder of the film. As partial vision has been used the audience won't be able to see the whole picture, however, the images that you can see have been used in order to connote crime. Dark low key lighting has also been used in order to create shadows and add to the partial vision. Again, this is typical of a thriller film as it makes the scene seem more mysterious.



Slow, tense music has been used in order to create tension. Tension is typical of a thriller film as it makes the watcher want to know what happens in the end, thus, making them watch the full film. The music in our film also has an eery feel to it as a minor violin piece has been used.

Also, certain enigma codes are used in order to create questions, such as:

  • Who is the man?

  • What is he doing?

  • What is he drawing?

This is a still from the opening sequence of seven, as we can see it uses partial vision like we do in our sequence:


Q2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In our thriller opening we haven't particularly portrayed any social groups as we have only used one character in which partial vision is used, therefore, meaning nothing can be obtained about any type of social group.


However, if we consider the rest of the film, there is a representation of male and females; As none of the main characters in our film are female it shows that we live in a patriarchal society. It also shows that males have power that females do not.

The main character in our film is Detective Edgar, Detective Edgar is a high status crime investigator, who spends most of his time solving high profile crimes. It is typically stereotypical of people of this description to be male in fiction. This is because males come across more powerful, fearful and fearless.

Age can also be found within the film. As the audience can assume that Detective Edgar is almost twice as old as the killer, Detective Edgar took the killer from his abusive parents when he was a young boy, it shows that the film also subverts from stereotype as Detective Edgar comes across as stronger than the killer as he defeats him. The film also reinforces stereotype as Detective Edgar who will be relatively older is a lot smarter than the killer as he out smarts him.



Q3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?


As our thriller film is a big budget film, because of the use of big actors such as Kirsten Dunst, i researched into film distributors and found the ones that would be most relevant to the opening that we have produced.
These are the websites that i found:

http://www.newline.com/

http://www.fox.co.uk/

http://www.sonypictures.co.uk/


In my opinion the best distributor out of these for my film would be new line cinema which is a part of Warner Brothers. I thought this would be best as it has already distributed thrillers such as; Seven, The butterfly effect, The number 23. These films aren't too different from the idea of our thriller film.




Q4. Who would be the audience for your media product?


Our film was aimed mostly towards the under 25's so that more modern technology can be used, however, after reviewing our earlier ideas we decided that it is aimed at both sectors; under and over 25's. This is to add to the diversity. We also believe that it will be aimed more at males than females as there is lots of violent images involved throughout the film.










These are pictures of people who would be expected to watch the film that would be produced, this is because they are both males under and over 25.








Q5. How did you attract/address your audience?

In order to try find out what people would enjoy our thriller film to consist of we distributed 25 questionnaires between people aged both under and over 25, males and females. We did this in order to point us in the right direction of what would be an effective thriller film that a wide audience could enjoy.


Our research found that the most popular idea was; A delusional man attempts to rein act his violent dreams, with the title; The delusional. We used this audience research in order to completely fulfill the audience's wants when it came to our film and we feel that we have done this. However, we changed the name of the title to 'The Delusion' as we thought it fit more with the story but still stuck to the original version. Here is an audiences reactions to our film:


The audience found that our sequence worked well as a thriller opening. There was a lot of good feedback given and we found that they thought the different effects such as the screams had a good affect on the viewers. Editing techniques such as cross fading were also complimented and the use of partial vision and withholding important information made the audience want to watch more.



Q6. what have you learned about technologies from the process of constructing this product?


From the process of constructing this sequence I have learnt how to use the program Adobe Premier Pro.
Here is a screen shot of our premier project.



1. This is the time line. Here, we assemble the film using different layers in order to make the sequence affective. This is needed in order to put all of our shots into one sequence.

2. This is the Preview screen. This is where you can see a preview of the sequence that you are making in the timeline. Here, we can see if the sequence looks good or bad and then make the wright corrections.

3. This is the selection box. This is where music and film clips are stored that will later be inserted into the timeline. From this we decide which clips we won't to put in our sequence.

4. This is the effects box. Here, we can get effects that will make our films look more professional. it also allows us to put emphasis on the distorted mind of the killer by the different effect used.

Using Adobe Premier Pro has been useful as it creates room for mistake as it is non linear editing, which means you don't have to be as precise as what you would normally have to be with linear editing.

Also, When creating the film we had to blog our progress, thus, meaning we learnt how use technologies such as blogging in order to use the information we have obtained from making the film and put it on the Internet so other people can see.

Q7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it to the full product?


In the progression from my preliminary task to this one I feel that I have learned different things, ranging from the uses of different technology to working in a team. I have improved in different aspects of film making and I feel I will continue to improve with future projects. I also feel that the my thriller film is a large improvement from my preliminary task.

On filming this sequence I learned how to correctly utilise the camera in order to achieve the shot that I wanted. This involved using different sizes, angles and movements in order to portray to the audience what our character is like. I also learnt that in order to achieve a good shot you have to do different takes so that you can choose the best one.

Also, in our preliminary task we used continuity but in our thriller film we used a montage of images, this means that we have gone from straight forward filming that goes in order to a stream of different images but still make the scene effective.

When using Adobe Premier Pro to edit the sequence I learnt how to use effects and insert sound clips in order to make the sequence affective. Again, this adds to the characters portrayal in the film. I also learnt to pay close attention to detail in order to make sure that all the shots match and the sequence goes how I want it to.

When filming the sequence I learned how to work professionally within a group of people I wasn't too familiar with in order for the shots to turn out how we had anticipated them to. As we working professionally within the group it meant that there was no room for mistakes and disputes would not be tolerated as we have to work together in order to achieve something that we all want.

What I have learnt so far, I feel, are the most important factors in being able to effectively film and produce a piece of media.

Wednesday, 4 November 2009

Background to the thriller genre

Thriller Film Conventions

  • Music to suit the thriller mood
  • Tension
  • Suspense - Audience becomes anxious
  • Mystery - Audience is in the dark about important information - secrets revealed
  • Sinister Plot - lots of twists
  • Typical narrative structure - beginning is normal, middle has a disruption by evil characters, end builds up tension - climax, villain is foiled
  • main character - hero
  • villain is usually male
  • female in distress
  • Deception

There are certain common aspects and conventions that appear in films that are associated with the thriller genre, these conventions will be used in order to achieve; tension, suspense, anxiety and mystery. The main thing that film makers will consider in order to create these things will be the way the characters are and the way that they act. Usually in a thriller film there is a main character who is a normal person forced to act the hero and there is a villain, usually male, who causes distress, normally to a female, but then is foiled towards the end. This will cause the audience to side with the hero and connect with them, thus, causing the audience to become worried if anything were to go wrong. This will create suspense. Another main characteristic the film makers will consider is the music that will be needed in each scene. Normally, the music in the film suits the mood, for example, if the main character is hiding from the villain then there will be music used that will create tension and suspense within the audience.

Red Eye

The definition of a thriller is a film that creates suspense and excitement. The film Red Eye is a good example of a thriller as it creates suspense and excitement in different, yet, subtle ways. In a thriller film there are certain conventions used in order to convey to the audience that it is of the thriller genre, these include things like; music to suit the mood, a sinister plot and deception. Again, the film Red Eye is a good example of a thriller as it uses these conventions and more.

Northrop Frye argued that thrillers took ordinary people and threw them into extraordinary situations. Red Eye does this as it takes an ordinary girl, who works in a hotel and throws her into a world full of murder, lies and deceit. The fact that she is an ordinary girl adds to the suspense as the audience won’t want anything to happen to her and they will just want her to be safe at the end of the film. But the situation will have to be extraordinary as otherwise the audience will get bored very easily. The Characters In the film are typical of a thriller film; there’s an ordinary girl who gets made to act the heroine and there’s a male villain who ends being foiled in the end, again this adds to Frye’s argument.

Pascal Bonitzer said that the audience gets a partial view of things and important details are obscured. Red Eye holds important information like who the villain really is, why he wants what he wants and who the person he wants to assassinate is. Again, this adds to the suspense as the audience don’t know exactly what is happening or why it is happening and this will mean that the audience won’t be sure of what to expect. As the audience don’t know about any of the characters’ pasts they won’t know what to believe and what’s true and what’s not. This adds to the element of deception in the film as the villain can easily lie to the audience. This will therefore add to the thriller genre.


W.H Matthews stated that thrillers often use the idea of a character being trapped and needs to find a way out of their situation. Red Eye shows this theory quite clearly as the film is set on a plane and there is no way that any of the characters are able to escape, meaning that the heroine has to use wit and luck to get herself free from the awkward situation. This adds to the suspense and tension as it would seem that the female in distress has to do what the villain wants as there looks as though there is no means of escape.

Red Eye is a good example of a thriller as it conveys all the common conventions of the thriller genre. It shows these conventions in a subtle yet intense way. It adds music in order to add to the intensity of the mood and it has a sinister plot which breaks certain taboos.

Research into examples of thriller opening scenes

In order to obtain research into the types of things needed in order to create an affective opening scene of a thriller film i looked at the opening scenes of four films; Red eye, strangers on a train, State of play and seven.

Here is what i found:

RED EYE


Narrative structure

The story begins by establishing important narrative strands. The opening of the film starts with the camera going across several photographs of the same girl, this, straight away, establishes that this girl will be the main character or the film will be centred around her. A wallet is then stolen, thus, showing the audience that this will become important later on in the film. We then see a crate of fish being shipped from one place to another and we see plans of a building being studied, this will then let the audience know that these are connected.

Thriller codes and conventions

Throughout the opening sequence of the film the most obvious convention used is partial vision; the audience do not know exactly whats going on as important information is being withheld. In the sequence we can not see any of the characters faces and we do not see the bigger picture of whats going on. Another main thriller convention used is the music used, the music that has been used creates tension. Also, in this sequence, enigma codes are used in order to raise questions like:


  • Who's the girl?
  • Who takes the wallet?
  • why is the wallet taken?
  • what's on the box?
  • why is it hidden by fish?
  • whats the significance of the building?

Camerawork

Throughout a large part of the opening sequence close ups are used in order to hide the identity of the characters, this will make a bigger impact when the villain are revealed. There is also a slow tracking technique in order to put emphasis on how important the wallet is in the film., the tracking technique also shows the wallet travelling. There is also high angle shots which look down on the objects that appear in the sequence, this is used in order to create a sense of power that the crooks hold.

Mise-En-Scene

Throughout the opening scene dark colours are used in order to create a sense of mystery and wonder as the audience can not fully see what is going on. The characters in this scene are wearing dark clothes and suits this creates a feeling that the crooks seen don't want to be seen by anybody themselves, thus, showing the audience that they cant be getting up to anything honest. Linked to the idea of dark clothing being used, there is also low key lighting used in order to create shadows which in itself creates an eery atmosphere. There are also important props like a wallet and photographs used in order to show a background to the main character and to give hints of what is about to unfold.


Sound

As in all films diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are used. Within this sequence diegetic sounds like the sound of the wallet and the keys dropping on the table. Also, there is footsteps heard throughout the scene to add to the realism. Non-diegetic sounds are also added to the scene; there is a constant driving rhythm throughout. Opening music is very intense causing a dramatic atmosphere. As the title of the film appears on the screen the sound of a plane taking off can be heard, this links to the title of the film as the films called 'red eye' and this is the name of the over night flight, it also gives the sense of the beginning of a journey. When images actually appear on the screen of photographs and the wallet being placed on the table, there is a crescendo as we zoom in on the wallet, leading to a boom as the wallet is taken. Also, the orchestral music that is heard throughout the scene signifies the serious tone of it.

Editing

The opening scene is clearly occurring over a period of many days, however, the scene has been edited in order to show the audience the main occurrences of these days in a matter of two minutes. The scene also takes place in several different places and a montage is used in order to show these places. The dissolve technique is used in order to introduce photos of buildings smoothly.

Graphics

The title of the film appears in red capitals and zooms out, this is done in order to put emphasis on the link to the airplane. The different names that appear on the screen whilst the scene is occurring are written in a plane white sans serif font with a slight drop shadow in order to make it look modern looking.

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN

Narrative structure

The opening sequence of this film is linear meaning that it is continuous. Two men go to a train station and get on a train, they sit opposite each other and accidentally bump feet. Their paths cross.

Thriller codes and conventions

Partial vision is used in this scene as we can only see the feet of the men as they are walking to the train station, this is done in order to preserve the characters identities. The idea of a transformed city is also used; the setting is Washington and its used as the location for an exciting story. Another thriller convention that has been used is the idea that an ordinary man has been thrown into and extraordinary situation; Guy meets Bruno and Bruno asks if he wants to swap murders. Enigma codes are also used in this sequence as certain questions are brought up:

  • Who are these men?
  • Where are they going?
  • How are they connected?

Camerawork

The scene opens with an establishing shot of Washington, thus, showing the audience where its all taking place. The majority of this open scene is a mid shot of the two characters legs, just showing their feet and concealing their faces. Once the men are on the train a point of view shot is used from the front of the train showing the train tracks, thus, showing the start of a journey. The final shot used is that of the two men sitting opposite each other on the train.

Mise-En-Scene

The shoes that are used in this scene are used in order to suggest what the characters are like; Guy's shoes are plain and like everybody else's suggesting that he is ordinary and like everybody else, whereas Bruno's shoes are two toned brogues suggesting that he is theatrical and out of the ordinary. Also tennis rackets are used in order to show guy's occupation. When the railway tracks are shown they form a cross shape which links with the criss cross motif of the film.

Sound

The obvious diegetic sounds that are used are that of the likes of footsteps and the sound of the car doors shutting. Once the men are in the train station the announcer can be heard telling the passengers to board the train, adding to the realism. As well as diegetic sounds, non-diegetic sounds can also be heard, orchestral music can be heard throughout, however, the same foreboding music that usually occurs in a thriller film is not used, Hitchcock liked to add a sense of comedy in his films and this is clearly seen in this opening sequence. The same melody is used for both characters, but, a different in different keys to show there is a difference between each character.

Editing

Throughout the beginning of this scene a cross cutting technique is used in order to link the two pairs of feet to make it seem as if the two were destined to meet. In the train station a dissolve is used showing the train tracks, the floors matches the tracks in this instance.

Graphics

The only graphics seen in the sequence is when they appear over the establishing shot, these are the only graphics in the opening as they all appear at once, leaving no need for there to be any when the film has actually began.

STATE OF PLAY

Narrative structure

This opening sequence is a linear one. It starts with a man running across a busy street getting hit by cars and bikes. He then runs into a china shop and out the back into an alley where he hides. Once he thinks that he is safe to come out he is shot by a mysterious gun man, who then shoots a passing cyclist who witnessed the murder.

Thriller codes and conventions

Like most thriller films, partial vision is used in order to create mystery and tension. The film occurs in Washington which would seem ordinary but in the film it is transformed into a thrilling backdrop. Enigma codes are used in order to create questions like:

  • Who is the man?
  • Who is he running from?
  • Why is he running?
  • Who is the gun man?
  • Why is he shooting him?

Camera work

The opening establishing shot is a wide shot of Washington showing the audience where t he film is set. As the man is running through the streets a hand held camera is used to follow him, this is used in order to create a panicky realistic view of whats going on. Later on in the scene once the man has been shot the camera quickly pans to the gun man in response to the gun shot as otherwise it would seem as if it had came from nowhere. The final shot of this sequence is zooming in on the cyclist as he is dying.

Mise-En-Scene

In this opening scene the majority of it consists of a sweating man running through the main street and then back alleys of a main city, showing that the man has been running for a while. The scene is also very dark and low key lighting is used in order to create a sense of mystery, and to add to the darkness, the characters used are all wearing black. When we first see the gunman we can see his breathe in the cold, this has connotations of evil and danger as mythical creatures such as dragons breathe smoke. The audience will also think that the killer is a professional killer as he is using a silencer in order to keep secret.

Sound

In the establishing shot of the scene we can hear a helicopter and police sirens, this will be added in order to create a feeling of crime being committed. When we finally see the first shot of people we can hear the sound of people talking and traffic passing by, this is to show normality until the running man occurs and we can hear him being hot by cars and smashing china in the china shop. Throughout the scene there is subtle non diegetic music heard, when the man is hiding we can hear a low buzzing which causes an ominous feel. After the man has been shot the music becomes more clear and it then becomes louder when the cyclist is shot.

Editing

As the scene as a linear sequence, long takes have been used in order to create continuity. These takes show the man running.

Graphics

Block capitals are used in order to make the writing clear and modern.

SEVEN

Narrative structure

Only fast images of a dark scrap book being made can be seen in this sequence. It looks like a crook is creating a scrap book of crimes and investigations.

Thriller codes and conventions

Partial vision is used in this sequence so that the audience don't see the face of the man, so that his identity is concealed. There is only flashing images used as well so we focus on the villain as if he is committing a crime. The majority of the colours that are used are black, white and red which have dark connotations of death and danger. Like normal thrillers seven has enigma codes which raise questions like:

  • Who is the person?
  • What is he doing?
  • Why is he doing it?

Camerawork

Extreme close ups are the main shot used in this scene, these will have been used in order to place us very close to nasty things. Occasionally the camera pans in order to follow what the man is doing.

Mise-En-Scene

In the Scene we see fingers with bandages on, this is to give the audience clues of whats going to occur later on in the film. We also see lots of sharp implements this is to make the man seem more menacing. Also, to add to the menacing feel we see photographs of violence.

Sound

All that we can hear in this scene is non-diegetic sounds which is a reflection of a twisted mentality. This consists of a low thumping beat with lots of layers; scratching, creaks, screams. Towards the end the sound builds up to a climax and the words "you bring me closer to God" are used so that the music links to the images on the screen and a religious theme is established.

Editing

A fast montage of jittering images is used to make the man seem more mentally unstable. Also, jump cuts are used to show the audience the man has taken a lot of time on these journals.

Graphics

A white distorted font has been used in this scene, the words jump around on the scene and it looks hand written this adds to the reflection of a twisted mentality.

The Number 23

Narrative Structure

The number 23 is shown along with facts that are related to the number. Blood later appears and seems to consume the writing, it then keeps appearing and splats on the screen covering the writing.

Thriller codes and conventions

Throughout the sequence the only colours used are black, white and red which have connotations of death and danger. Also, enigma codes are created like:

  • Why is this number so significant?
  • Why does it appear so much?

Camerawork

The screen moves around edgy and fast with close ups of the numbers and words, it also pans across the numbers.

Mise-en-scene

Throughout the scene the music works in time with the movement of the words. The contrast of the black and red against the bright red makes what the words are saying more shocking.

Sound

The only sound in this sequence is non-diegetic. The music heard steadily gets faster and the thumping beats become louder, this builds anticipation throughout, especially when more layers are added.

Editing

As real camera work was not used and it was computer generated this means no editing in terms of the smoothness of the sequence was needed.

Graphics

The writing throughout the sequence is written as if on a typewriter in order to make it modern and clear. The title of the film is written in red whereas the actors names are written as black, this is done in order to set the title of the film apart from the rest of the characters in the sequence.





American Psycho

Narrative structure

A meal is being prepared and set on tables, waiters are telling customers of what is on the menu. Four men sit around a table talking, they then go to a club and order drinks.

Thriller codes and conventions

At the beginning of the sequenceimagery of a knife and dropping fruit that looks like blood is shown. To show this partial vision is used in order to make the audience ask questions like:
  • Why is there a knife?
  • why is there blood?

As well as these questions other enigma codes are created:

  • Who are the men?
  • What are they talking about?
  • Is this important to the film?

Camerawork

At the start of the sequence the camera pans over meals on the tables and follows the waiter. When, the men are sitting around the table the main shot is a midshot of the man that is talking, this is used in order to allow the audience to see whos talking.

Mise-en-scene

Bright lighting is used throughout the sequence, this makes it seem as if the film isnt a thriller, however, when the characters go into the nightclub the lighting goes darker, this is used in order to allow the audience see that the chacters will have a darker side to them. Also, the characters are eating in a posh restraunt and wearing suits, this could be an indication of social class.

Sound

The non-diegetic sounds that can be heard within the sequence are the music in the restraunt and the music in the night club. The music in the restraunt is classical and claming with diegetic sounds such as people eating and talking heard. In the club the music is a song by new order which is loud pop music which will indicate the type of venue they are in.

Editing

Continuity editing is used in this linear sequence to show the men talking. It then cuts to the night club to show a different location.

Graphics

Black capitals are used at the start of the sequence when there is a white background. Here the letters look modern and neat which could be a reflection on the charcters in the film. Credits then come on durinmg the sequence, here, large white capitals are used to make the noticable.


Summary of thriller opening scene

According to our research, opening scenes of thriller tend to use the following conventions:
  • Important narrative elements are suggested without being made too obvious.
  • There is the sense of a narrative beginning in which ordinary life is disrupted by some threatening force.
  • There may be a contrast between good and bad characters.
  • The narrative structure may be linear or non linear.
  • Enigma codes are used to raise important questions in the minds of the audience
  • partial vision is often used to withhold important information
  • Settings are usually urban - a city that will be transformed into a place of excitement and danger
  • Close-ups may be used to produce partial vision - enigma codes
  • Lighting may be low key producing shadows with connotations of mystery
  • Objects, costumes etc may be used to suggest ideas about characters and narrative
  • Montage editing may be used to combine images from different times and places linked to the narrative.
  • Continuity editing may be used starting the narrative off with a thrilling taster scene
  • Diegetic sound often combines with non diegetic music
  • Dark, serious music is usually chosen to signify to the audience what kind of film it is
  • Graphics may be designed to reflect the dark themes of the film.

Brainstorm of Ideas of Your Film


Once put in groups we had a discussion on what type of things we want our thriller opening to have in it. in the brainstorm above we have mapped out our ideas in order to achieve a clear sense of what we want to achieve.

Audience Research - and research into BBFC film classification system

Target Audience

There are different quadrants used in order to put the different types of things used in different films in age groups.

Under 25's

Males
explosions, blood, cars, slapstick, poop jokes,
"your so gay" banter, sex but no romance,
horror with gore


Females
Friendships, pop music, fashion, sarcasm,
sensitive boys, romance but not sex,
horror without gore.

Over 25's

Males
Dark films, westerns, war films, men
protecting their homes, older heroes
they can relate to.


Females
Feel good films, weepies, doomed love,
triumph over adversity, romances with
younger men.



For our thriller film we have decided to aim our film at under 25's. This is so we can make our opening sequence more modern and thrilling. As it is aimed at under 25's it means we can include more modern technology as it appeals more to the under 25's rather than the over 25's, also, we are able to make the opening more fast paced. as we are able to do this it means we have more of a choice when deciding what exactly we are to do.




BBFC film classification system

What sort of issues might i find in a '15' film, DVD or video game?
'15' works are stronger than '12' or '12a' rated works and could include any of the following:

  • Strong violence.

  • Frequent strong language.

  • Portrayals of sexual activity.

  • Strong verbal references to sex.

  • Sexual nudity.

  • Brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence.

  • Discriminatory language or behaviour.

  • Drug taking - can't promote it.

Audience research

We created a questionnaire in order to find our from the public which one of our ideas and titles for thriller films was the best.

These were our ideas:


  • A group returns to a small village and feels something is out of place. Somebody goes missing

  • A delusional man attempts to rein act his violent dreams.

  • After the murder of his friend, a man takes the law into his own hands and goes after the murderers

  • A hitchhiker catches a ride with a murderer

  • A man is investigating a family’s murder and he finds it has similarities to his own family’s murder

  • A cursed family heirloom is passed down the family and each owner does something horrific

  • A psychiatric patient predicts the death of certain people – and they die exactly how he describes.

  • A man is framed for the murder of his family. On the run, he attempts to track down the real killer.

  • A paranoid man, claiming to be a vampire, murders the people who are “after him”.

  • A man who was fostered looks into the murder of his biological family.

We found that the most popular idea was:

  • A delusional man attempts to rein act his violent dreams.

We also asked on the questionnaire which one of our film titles they liked best. Here is our film titles:

  • Isolated

  • Paranoid

  • Into the Night

  • Guilty ‘till Proven Innocent

  • The Watcher

  • Misunderstood

  • Blood Transfusion

  • The Delusional

  • The Hunt

  • Blood Addict

We found that the most popular film title was

  • The Delusional

The most popular film title coincides with the most popular idea. We have decided we are going to use this idea and this film title as we find it is the most popular.

Treatment

Synopsis

Assigned to the case of a recent string of “artistic” murders, Detective Edgar of the Chapelford Police Department follows the tracks of a killer haunted by violent dreams which they re-enact – with brutal consequences.

Treatment:

Beginning – A man is seen drawing something – we are unsure of what, but we see him seal a plastic bag containing the piece of artwork he draws. A body is discovered in a nearby lake – water-logged and mutilated. Found by a neighbour of the currently unidentified victim, the Chapelford Police Department are assigned the case and Detective Edgar is given the task of leading the investigation. Upon performing the autopsy, the pathologist discovers a sealed plastic bag containing artwork bearing a striking similarity to the actual murder (however, the victim is portrayed as a monster appearing with markings not dissimilar to the injuries that caused the victim’s demise.) Studying the art, Detective Edgar finds that the style of drawing is similar to a local artist – making him the primary suspect.

Middle – Upon interrogating the artist, Detective Edgar discovers that his alibi for the period when the victim is believed to have died is solid – for he was in the company of his partner. With no possible leads, there is little he can do to solve the murder, for the flesh of the victim is so badly decomposed that any prints have long since vanished, and no distinct shapes from the cuts can discern the type of blade used.
A second and third murder is found simultaneously, and Detective Edgar is given the artwork found nailed to the tree nearby. The picture portrays a monster of gross proportions, with limbs jutting out from a disfigured body. The report explains that the bodies had been dismembered and the sewn together in the same proportions of the monster, then nailed to a nearby tree (where the art was also found). This time, prints are found littered over the limbs of the victims, though the heads are strangely missing. DNA tests reveal them to be the bodies of two local psychiatrists. A fourth victim is found, this victim was found not long after the murder occurred. The body was found outside an orphanage and was easily recognisable as the nun that ran the orphanage, her body was found with a large gaping hole where the heart is situated and the heart itself had been torn out and ripped in two, also, in the hole is a portrait of a monster with a hole in its chest and it’s heart visibly torn in two. The fifth victim that is found is a middle aged woman and is well known for being a prostitute, both her hands have been cut off and she has been shoved in a small box, left to suffocate, also, in the box is a drawing of a monster that has cradles for hands as well as a photograph of a young worn out boy. Immediately Detective Edgar recognises the boy but doesn’t know where from.

End – racking his brain to try to remember who this boy is he stays up most the night. As night heads towards the early morning Edgar suddenly realises that the boy in the picture is a boy in which he once saved by rescuing him from his abusive foster parents and arresting them. The last thing he heard of the boy was that he was in a mental institute; he sets out towards the Chapelford mental institute only to find that when he gets there the institute is now closed and has been for some years. Seeing a light in the top windows of the building he enters, expecting to find squatters. Instead, on the top floor, he finds a maze of corridors covered in dark sketches. He reaches the bottom corridor to find a room that has large shackles bolted to the floor. Suddenly a large figure appears behind him and knocks him out. Detective Edgar wakes to find himself in the shackles in a fogged up room, in which he soon realises is actually filled with poisonous gas, Detective Edgar begins to scream for help, just as a back up team in which Edgar called for earlier in the day turn up., the back up team find the room in which Detective Edgar is in just in time to save him, on the door a picture has been nailed; a large figure is shrouded by mist, wearing manacles. The team then find the killer dead in a nearby room.

Character Outlines and Script

Character outlines

Detective Edgar

Looks disorganised, got stubble and messy hair, looks as if he hasn’t got time to get ready but he is actually organised and very clever. He is also the officer who arrested the killer’s parents for child abuse.

The Killer

A haunted, artistic individual who relates abusive figures of his past with the monsters who plague his dreams. Since childhood, he has been subjected to physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and verbal abuse – each aspect taking the form of one of the five monsters he dreams about. He is cold, calculating, and reclusive.

The Monsters

  • Punishment – The monster that represents his physical abuse. Punishment is covered in fresh cuts, and lacerations all over his body. His abuser is the foster father of his early years.
  • Heartbreak – This monster represents his emotional abuse. Heartbreak has a hole in the chest, the heart visibly torn in two. His abuser is the nun who beats him and emotionally degraded him at the orphanage.
  • Lilith – the embodiment of his sexual abuser. A tangled mess of male and female limbs, reflecting the two psychiatrists who raped him during their sessions
  • Psyche – the result of the hatred he feels for his biological mother, who abandoned him. Her hands form the shape of a small cradle, symbolic of the box she left him in.
  • Screamer – The last of the monsters. Symbolising Detective Edgar, it is a man shrouded in cloth (for he could not see him) with his hands bound in manacles. He constantly wails, mimicking the police sirens he heard.

Script

The Delusion – Opening scene

INT. KILLER’S HOUSE. NIGHT.

We see a desk, that is relatively cluttered. Books, articles, and the occasional drinks glass cover its surface. Nothing can be heard, save for the scratching of a pencil on paper. The hand skitters across the page, sometimes disappearing from sight as it draws.

We then see the KILLER, as he reaches into a box of sketching materials, pulling out a second pencil. There are flashes of different varieties of grotesque monsters, flickering in and out of view and accompanied by a high-pitched humming sound, as he continues to draw. The flickering images sometimes match the picture he is creating.

Pausing, fiddling absently, the KILLER grabs a small knife and begins to sharpen his pencil, before adding the finishing touches to the drawing. Reaching for a plastic wallet, he pauses and covers his eyes, the images blending. Screaming can be heard, the images grow sharper, more and more sounds accompany the screaming until the KILLER opens the door. All falls silent as he leaves – the plastic wallet, drawing, and knife in hand.