Past Production Review: Don't Look Back

The film uses many typical conventions, for example the location as a house is uncanny and is frightening to the viewer as it gives a sense of realism. Also the fact that it is set at night makes the scene more eerie and emphasizes the isolation, which is also done in many horror films. Another typical convention is the music used, both diegetic and non-diegetic sound; the classic string, repetitive music and the girls scream at the end is what you expect to hear in any horror film. The fact that the victim is a teenage girl is also conventionally used as they are seen as the weaker sex and being more vulnerable. The mask of the antagonist also acts a traditional convention. The beginning, establishing shot of the house was effective in setting the mood as, to the viewer, it was as though the shot was a point of view of the antagonist, watching the house. Another thing i found effective was the props used; for example the created news story on the laptop made the whole plot line more realistic and believable. I also liked the use of the flashing lights, as it was unnerving for the audience and created a sense of confusion and disorientation. The loss of light also symbolised the sudden danger the girl is in, as light normally symbolises safety and hope, so the loss of it puts the viewer on edge. The use if mirrors was also very effective and added to the sense of disorientated aswell as allowing us to get a glance of the antagonist. The music was also cleverly used as the stringy music is unnerving and the continuous, repetitiveness of it gives the sense that is it leading up to something. Aswell as this the music speeds up and gets louder the nearer the the girl gets to danger creating fear within the viewer. However, the only problem i have with the film is that it is a very stereotypical, predictive storyline, in particularly the ending when the girl is grabbed from behind with a knife to her throat. This is something i will take into account when creating my own horror film; to try to come up with a more original idea that will shock the viewer, aswell as taking now of all the conventions pulled off very effectively in the film.