Lighting Deconstruction: slasher/horror:

Lighting Deconstruction:

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2013):

I have decided to look at the different lighting used in both slasher and psychological horror films, so i can look at the different lighting and how lighting can be used to create atmosphere and as a pathetic fallacy to represent the mood of the characters or the events that are soon to come. For example, if something bad is to happen, the lighting may become darker. 

This is a youtube video of the trailer to the film. In which shows a gradual change of lighting as the killer comes into the film. 

 

Before the killers house or own self was part of the film the lighting was very bright, representing the characters mood, it soon became darker, a representation of the killers mind and foreshadowing the darkness to come.

 

Almost used as a visual representation to show what is to come and to show when the killer is going to strike.

Light/bright lighting is used at the beginning of the film before the events take a turn for the worst, representing their moods, happy and unaware of what is to come.

Bright lighting, allowing the characters to look friendly/happy and to clearly show that they are 'fine' at the current moment in time.

As the enter the house of the serial killer, the lighting darkens, representing the first sign that something bad is to happen.

Dark lighting, makes her features darker, compared to the light bright lighting which made her look a lot younger. Representing how the situation is becoming harsher and darker.

The lighting becomes even dimmer as the killer is presented, only the victim and outline of the weapon is easy to see.

Dim lighting, making her look darker and again making her features seem harsher. Representing the situation.

Dark lighting outside in a graveyard, as she tries to escape the killer. It makes the atmosphere creepier since it is harder to make out the victims surroundings. 

Evaluation:

• Overall the lighting used in this slasher/horror is very appropriate for the genre, it acts as almost a gradient, gradually becoming darker as a visual representation of the events to come.
• I like the idea of this, and could possibly use it for our own opening scene, since it looks effective.
• The dim lighting foreshadows events and possibly also being used to show the darkness of the killers mind.