Question1 comparison
- 1. ‘IT FOLLOWS’ AND ‘APPARITION’ OPENING SEQUENCE COMPARISON:
- 2. • In both opening sequences the female protagonists are running away from an something, unknow to the audience. The will appeal to the audience as it provides them with an enigma. SIMILARITY…
- 3. • In both opening sequences the female protagonists turn around to look at something which is unknown to the audience. Again this provides the audience with an enigma and incorporates an intellectual audience pleasure. Both of these shots connote the protagonists strong emotions of anxiety. SIMILARITY…
- 4. SIMILARITY… • In both of the opening sequences the female protagonist runs away, alone to a place in which she feels safe. Both of the shots emphasises (Although in ‘It follows’ a lot more) the vastness of the locations in which they choose. This connotes that they are both isolated and lost both physically and mentally.
- 5. 1. Both of the opening sequences subvert the stereotypical ideology that home/ school is a safe place. This is shown as both the protagonists are running away from these locations. 2. Both females protagonists as represented as being middle class due to the middle class suburb in which the protagonist lives in ‘It follows’ and the middle class school In which the female protagonist attends in ‘Apparition.’ The fact that both of these protagonists are middle class and struggling from a supernatural threat following them, subverts the stereotypically representation that the middle class has an ‘easy life.’ SIMILARITY…
- 6. • In ‘It Follows’ there is a long take of the beach. This is a stationary shot. In ‘Apparition’ there is a long take of the protagonist is the wood however this is not a stationary shot. This is a 360 degree track. The long takes in both opening sequence connote to the audience that something is about to happen. In ‘Apparition’ this is confirmed as when the camera tracks around the protagonists face, her dead friends appear, connoting that the threat is already tormenting her. In ‘It follows’ the fact that nothing is shown in the shot increases the suspense and enigma which will appeal to the audience. The threat is also revealed in ‘it follows’ however not in the same shot like ‘Apparition.’ It is revealed in a separate one. SIMILARITY…
- 7. • Both female protagonists are surrounded by leaves and nature. This subverts the connotations of naturalness as they are both being followed by an unnatural force. As well as this in both opening sequences leaves appear to be on the floor. Fallen leaves are symbolic of the end of spring when new life is celebrated in nature, therefore the leaves on the ground have connotations that the females are not alone. SIMILARITY…
- 8. DIFFERENCE… • Although in both opening sequences the camera follows the protagonist. In ‘It follows’ the camera pans to follow the protagonist, whereas in ‘Apparition’ the camera tracks to follow the protagonist. The pan connotes that the audience is stuck and can’t get close to the protagonist- they can only observe. However the track in ‘Apparition’ moves alongside the protagonist connoting that the audience are running along with her. This will appeal to our audience as this incorporates the gratification of personal identity as due to the camera movement (alongside the protagonist) the audience will feel as if they are a part of the film and the bond with the protagonist will grow.
- 9. • In ‘It follows’ there is an absence of close ups and medium close up’s. This reinforces the point on the previous slide that the audience are prevented from getting close to the protagonist. The fact that in ‘Apparition’ there are many close up’s and medium close up’s connote that the audience can relate to the protagonist and receive the gratification of personal identity. DIFFERENCE…
- 10. IS ‘APPARITION’ AS SUCCESSFUL AS ‘IT FOLLOWS’? • I believe that our production is just as successful as ‘It follows.’ This is because not only does it confirm vital conventions of psychological horrors, it also challenges some, which incorporates Neale’s theory of repetition and difference. However as stated, unlike ‘it Follows’ we believe in some ways we got too carried away with our auteur signature of a mental illness. Therefore if we were to do this production again we would focus more on the idea of a supernatural threat following her instead of a mental illness.