R: ABE Textual Analysis

The film title shot of the black background and white text dissolving after one another connotes darkness and sinister atmosphere, which represents a horror film intro. The silence in the opening makes the atmosphere intense as the non-diegetic sinister music builds up. The third rule shot of chains and curtains setting supports the representation of horror genre film, as it is intertextual to Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock, with the curtains. The black pitch background and the high key lighting that draws behind the curtains connotes a menacing presence as the handheld camera is focused where the light is coming from.

The jump cut to the soft focus close up of the chains dangling with dark red blood dripping from it and blood splattered in the curtain connotes danger and a gruesome feeling which represents a slash horror.

The fast paste pan of the camera where the hand held camera shakes when focusing on female behind the curtain unconscious and has a duck tape around her mouth suggest that she is kidnapped and is in danger as she is isolated. This represents a horror film genre, as the setting is like a small little isolated workspace for a killer. The shakiness of the camera may suggest that it will soon become more frightening as the sound increases. The fast cut to the butterfly on a UV light represents horror as it a reference from a classic horror film, Silence of The Lambs. Also the butterfly has dark colours only which connotes rebirth and death which creates an enigma code.

The extreme close up to the females fluttering her eyes open also links to the butterfly which flutters away which may connote that she is a representation of the butterfly and death is near representing the horror genre. The tilt shot of her struggling as she realises she is tied up connotes danger as she can’t escape so someone or something wants to do something to her against her will. The diagetic sound of her screaming behind the tape connotes fear as she suddenly wakes up in an unusual place tied up, her facial expressions show that she is scared. This represents a horror film, as there is stereotypically someone tied up struggling to escape.

The females point of view shot, focused on the curtain in front of her tracks a robotic figure walking in. the non- diagetic sound of a robot walking helps the audience identify that the antagonist is not human. Which again represents the horror genre, as the villain is not always a human but animalistic, alien etc.

As the camera tracks the figure walking down and the lighting becomes darker. The jump cuts to the robot and the close up to the female’s eyes connotes that is coming for her which builds tension.

The close up shot of the antagonist by the dark curtains revealing itself connotes his is dark and powerful as everything around it is dark. this represents a horror film as the Villain stereotypically is seen in a dark setting. The diagetic sound of the antagonist voice is very mono toned, emotionless and the language is smooth. Another close up shot of the antagonist where there is light coming from the left connotes that the antagonist isn’t completely evil. The antagonist talks about love and affection which fits the horror genre how villains may be abandoned or have lack of love and affection from others so they turn on people which fits revenge horror. Furthermore, the music changes in between romantic violin music to a sinister feeling which could connote the antagonist feelings of love and betrayal.

The female is wearing a pink lace dress which connotes that she is fragile and soft which also links to Laura Mulvey male gaze theory. Her hair is not messed and she doesn’t have a single scratch on her face and her legs are revealed in a longshot. She is a countertype to the damsel in distress as in horror films the females are the ones who are screaming and scared however though she is scared she is still quietly listening to the antagonists speaking.

The mid-shot of the antagonist holding a knife creates tension as he is talking about how human life is pointless and says “it all can end in a blink of the eye” the music is daunting but as soon as the high angle shot of the antagonist saying those words and kills the butterfly the music stops. Creating an enigma code as he looks at her when killing the butterfly which may connote that she is the butterfly and she is going to be next. This fits into the horror genre as there is multiples of knifes, butterfly and the antagonist is putting fear in his victim and it’s emotional state of mind is the reason to why it’s doing this also fits in the psychological horror. Furthermore, horror films tend to have lots of long takes and short takes with simple editing as they want the audience to look at the characters and take in the emotions.

The close up long take of the antagonist holding up the knife and putting it closer to the female, the female is then not shown but the music build up and the music increases creating more tension and it cuts to the curtains with blood splattering on it and a loud scream from the female connoting that it’s her blood. As this is scene is shown behind the curtains and not actually seen this fits into the horror genre as many do not show the violence. If they do so it will be rated as an 18+ film. A little chuckle comes from behind the curtain which may be the antagonist which connotes that it is getting pleasure out of killing which fits the horror genre that the villains find pleasure or comfort in killing.