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  • Essay / Analysis of the films "Paranormal Activity" and "Suspiria"

    Paranormal ActivityParanormal Activity is a film based on the terrifying journey that a couple must go through in a house full of ghosts. It is captured in a style similar to The Blair Witch Project (Sánchez, 1999) with its intense rapid pans and handheld shots, as well as night vision and external lighting, allowing for a more realistic experience for members of the public "...the influential association of color Reality was itself influenced by aesthetic factors: the more accurately films were able to represent color, the more realistic they were perceived" (Misek, 2010, p. 47).The lighting gradually alternates throughout the film to facilitate the anticipation of terror and this is a common horror trope according to Xiangyi Fu (2016, p. 31) as he explains that "the Filmmakers who shoot in color tend to use combinations of color and light to influence the film's audience's mood. For example, early in the film, while there is suspicion of paranormal activity in the house, the lighting of the setting is natural during the day with a cool blue tint, suggesting that it is a place where the unliving can live as the color blue has connotations surrounding death and characters with cold behavior. Additionally, the shadows created by the outside light add a darker vignette to the frame to suggest something lurking around them in their natural surroundings. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay. This can be seen gradually throughout the film, such as when Katie begins to feel the effects of the paranormal spirits she is sitting outside when her partner becomes exhausted with the camera and external lighting. In Figure 9 below, we can see that the chiaroscuro lighting effects could allow the audience to focus only on the high contrast parts of the frame, namely her still, limp body on the swing. As the edges of the frame are obscured by shadow, it causes fear of the unknown in the dark, which is the main theme of this film. Additionally, the tension is heightened more with static movements on the screen, as shadows are the focus of attention in the dark. As mentioned previously, black has connotations of death, which suggests that possible dark activity in the setting may cause an additional sense of dread. As Cherry (2009, p.80) explains: "In films that are largely psychological or supernatural, modes of effect can be created through suggestion [and] the use of lighting", this means that the horror spectacle will be highlighted through the approach. regarding shadows, highlighting a specific object or person, which is similar to The Exorcist (Friedkin, 1973) where Father Merrin stands in the spotlight of a street lamp to suggest that he is an interrupting pure force in this evil world. this character of Katie wears a white top throughout the beginning of the film and as previously revealed in Horror Aesthetics, this is similar to the character of Marion in Psycho because, according to McLeod (2016, p. 157), the color white has connotations of purity, transparency and cleanliness and this fits well in the context of the story because Katie has a perfect life, husband and job; there's really nothing wrong in his life, which is why his character wears white. When it comes to “cleanliness,” one’s home is free from evil spirits, as white can also be associated with spirituality and enlightenment – ​​“seeing the light.” However, later in the film, we canseeing Katie wearing a black top once the ghosts have infected her house and possessed her character. In Western cultures, black has connotations of death and mourning, sadness and black moods can be associated with deep depression (McLeod, 2016, p. 158), which is relevant to one's situation since the spirits of the house have taken control of her soul, insinuating that she is mourning the loss of her life. Additionally, her character is usually seen throughout the film wearing many shades of blue, such as when she and her partner are afraid of paranormal activity, she wears blue and covers herself with a blue blanket while she cries. According to Feisner (2006, p. 122), blue is a color representative of introversion and sadness and is a common connotation in Western cultures for example - "I feel blue" is an expression used to mean feeling depressed. Moving on, towards the end of the film, the color is graded to a light, cool blue to represent the idea of ​​CCTV cameras monitoring the characters in the night. This is a common feature of security in daily life, which is why this idea becomes more realistic and sinister as it is a way to catch thieves and killers in murder investigations . The same blue color is used as a hue at the beginning of the film, however, it is now used as a color shade to suggest the idea that dead spirits have now completely filled the house and there is no escape like in this ghost scene. pull the characters out of bed and control their actions. Likewise, when the characters are filming during the day, the tungsten light used is very hot on their faces. This orange/yellow tone is commonly depicted in nature - sunsets, autumn leaves, and fruits and flowers (Feisner, 2006, p.121). It is common to associate these colors with the feeling of life and happiness, because this is what nature suggests. Alternatively, yellow is the most easily perceived hue and is visible before other colors, especially when placed against black. According to Feisner (2006, p. 121) “This combination is often used as a warning sign in nature, by insects such as bees and in industry to signal dangerous situations. " and so, when this warm-toned yellow is paired with the black darkness of the shadows surrounding Katie's character, it could be seen as a warning sign, foreshadowing future events of possession and death.SuspiriaSuspiria is a film about a young girl who arrives at a new ballet. at school, only to discover that she has joined a coven of witches. After a dangerous journey, she is stripped of her innocence as she destroys the clan. This film completely juxtaposes Paranormal Activity due to its absurdist gothic-fairy tale style structure to the film, versus a more realistic approach. This colorful horror demonstrates themes of sexuality and violence through a wide color palette. For example, when the audience first sees the protagonist, she is hailing a taxi in the rain, dressed in pristine white clothing, suggesting a kind of vulnerability that she will carry throughout the film. This color has many connotations of purity and innocence and according to Feisner (2006, p. 120), it could alternatively be associated with cowardice and capitulation, for example waving a white flag during war. This idea could suggest that she gives in to sexual desires as she matures throughout the film, which is a motif present throughout the film. As she reaches the bright red exterior walls of the ballet school, she is surrounded