In our film, we tried to use a range of camera angles and editing techniques. We used match cutting, which helps to focus on significant parts without disrupting the flow, as we zoomed in on some parts - for example, when Harriet pushes on the door and Sammie follows straight after. The use of match cutting here helped to focus on the fact that Sammie is following her without showing her full body pushing on the door as this would give her identity away. These types of shots and this type of editing technique, as well as shots like extreme close ups etc., are conventional of horror films as they heighten the tension and suspense within the scene.
The use of the over-the-shoulder mirror shot towards the end of the film, gives the first slight look at the antagonists face. This shot is effective as it shows the audience that someone is following her and makes them worried for what might happen next yet, through the use of dramatic irony, the victim doesn't notice anyone there. We split this scene up with cuts from the toilet to Alex in the study room. This helps to build tension and quicken the pace of the scene. We also used match cutting as Sammie walks across the room. This shows the audience the setting and hints at the room being empty, somewhere where no one is going to see anything happen - a convention of killings in horror films as no one is a witness or knows what happened. A fast-pace is also conventional in horror films as it builds tension and fear effectively whilst also showing the audience that something bad is going to happen.
For Alex and Harriet's characters, we decided to use normal clothing to ensure their costumes were unsuspecting and were easy to relate to as everyday clothes. This makes the audience see them as regular people and enables the audience to see the film as if the events were happening to them as we wanted the costumes to mirror everyday life. This, with the setting, further encourages an unsuspecting, everyday nature in the film. However, for Sammie's character, we wanted to ensure she was hidden and no one could see who she was. This is conventional in horror films as they do not want to give away the killer in the first two minutes. In order to keep her identity hidden, Sammie wore a black hoodie with the hood up, black trousers and painted her hands with black paint to imitate gloves. The black clothing gave the impression of a shadow following Harriet, which relates to other supernatural aspects of horror films. The hidden identity of the antagonist is conventional as it creates fear and suspense for the audience and a bit of irony as the protagonist does not see the antagonist, but the audience does.
We didn't use many props that were specifically for the plot, but the important way we did use props are through the phones. Harriet's is taken which is the first sign of the antagonist in the film. This is added to when Alex tries to phone her and she doesn't pick up. The use of technology makes the film more relatable to our target audience. In horror films a convention is that the technology surrounding the victim is the first thing to act up, signalling that something is wrong. This is why we chose to steal the phone as it indirectly signifies that something bad is going to happen to Harriet's character.
