Lily Anderson

Analysis of Horror films

REC 2 – Part oneRec 2 is a horror sequel, this film is set in Spain and the language in which it is set is also Spanish. This film has English subtitles; I believe this makes the film more eerie for an English audience because of the suggestion of confusion. I also believe that because Spanish is a very fast paced language it is suppose to represent this throughout the film. Through ought the film it uses the four techinical areas to make the horror film effective.
The first technical aspect in which the horror film uses is sound. This is used at the very beginning still when the film is starting. The sound that is used is Non digetic, this is because it is the very start of the film and it is used to make sure the target audience knows that this film should scare them. The sound that is used is a scream this is directly linked to terror, this is what a horror film initially try’s to create. This makes the audience make the direct link, which this film will make them want to scream. The second technical aspect that is used is the camera work, the first shot is a mid shot, this shows us some of the characters environment but still allows us to see there reaction. The reason that I believe that they have chosen this particular shot is because you feel sympathetic with her and you put yourself in her position and the audience also knows that they would be breathing heavy and screaming. This also makes the audience feel on edge because as there is a build up, the audience knows that something is going to happen because she is panicking. Another example of camera work that is used, is also post production editing, this is the use of night mode; this is used because it makes it more eerie. Also the fact that the night mode it adds to the suggestion of the location being dark. The night mode also suggests that somebody is recording the girl this suggests that she is not alone, this also puts vulnerability within the audience because they are expecting something to happen at any time, and this causes tension. The third technical area in which is used is the sense of darkness’s in which is expressed in the first section in the first scene. The reason in which they have used a re-enforced sense of darkness is because it creates both vulnerability for the character and the audience. This is because people generally can’t see in the dark, stereotypically bad things happen at night, for examples murders are suppose to occur within the dark. The audience then make this connection. Dark also suggests evil, for example "black magic" this links to the darkness element. After this the title sequence appears, this element of the four technical area us editing, this is because of the title. The title is written in sans-serif this is so that the audience is able to read the title clearly. Within the title it represents the film in general as it also represents how the film was created as in record as it uses that symbol which is used to represent that a camera is recording, the example of this is:
　
　
　
The effect in which this displays is which initially how the film is created, so it is recorded by the people, and the red is used to display danger, blood, virus. This is directly linked to the film because bodily fluid for example blood is red, this empathises the illusion.
It then skips to the second section in the first part of Rec 2; this first expresses the technical area mise-en-scene. The reference to Army is used within this; this is mainly done by costume and props. The Army Characters costume consists of the stereotypical elements such as helmet, dark, green-coloured, gloves, padding and very manly. The props that are used to make the audience connect these characters to army, is the fact they are carrying ammunition. This reflects on there importance, it also suggests that the characters are in a very vulnerably position and that they need protection. The van in which is transporting them also backs up this idea of vulnerability as because of the costume and dialogue add to this sense that these men are of extreme power. Even though they of extreme power, they’re being transported as if they’re location is to remain anonymous. This adds confusion for the character which is transmitted to the target audience, this also adds to anticipation because both the characters and the target audience display wanting to know where this van is leading them to.
Another section in camerawork, which can also be described as editing, is scene on screen, which shows the personal camera of the army men, to show there perspective. This occurs in the corner on the screen on the left hand. I believe that is a good technique because it shows how what they are seeing, there personal view, this makes it very personal and allows the audience to connect with them more, and are more likely to feel there emotions.
Another example of the technique sound is the dialogue, within the dialogue between the army men; the use of taboo language is used. However for this particular social network, I believe that the use of "fuck" would be very common, as it reflects on there masculinity and how "hard" they are suppose to be. It also suggests that they have a lot of authority and they often rebel from it as teenagers are stereotypically suppose to use taboo language to come into themselves, I believe the taboo language here, is to signify there venerability and there arrogant towards the situation they are placed in.
The next technical area to be used is mise-en-scene; this is with the use of props. The significant prop within this section is the use of masks, this initial tells the audience the sub genre within the horror section. It is in fact to do with infection, this suggests that the location in which they are going to could infect them because it is air born. This would make the audience make connections with viruses that have occurred which have been targeted by the media such as "bird flu". The mask creates verisimilitude and would make the target audience more tense because they know that some how these army characters will eventually get infected because it is very typical narrative. Then the introduction of the building is very stereotypical of other infectious incidence, which have also had media coverage of building being quarantined. This is done by the coverage of white plastic-like sheets, and men in which are wearing white protective suits. This is also in effect used to create verisimilitude, this also scares the audience because it makes them realise how serious this particular situation in which the army character are going to have to experience.
The final example is of sound, the example of this is diegtic sound of sirens. This suggests panic and something going wrong. I believe this is used because it is suppose to also reflect on the narrative, that like the sirens the army men and what ever is to be endured within this particular building it is very urgent, very serious and something will inevitably go wrong. I also believe that it makes the target audience very on edge due to the particular nature of the panic and hustle and bustle.Rec and Rec 2 have endorsed this symbol and made it there own, they did this by adding blood spatter within the title for example on the [REC] section as shown below.