Key Points

I've been watching many videos that have to do with suspense and horror. What I realize is that they all have some things in common.

There were three things that caught my eye every single time.

First, the lighting. I watched several amateur videos, competitive videos, and even videos that were made just for fun. In every setting, the lighting either started very bright and continually got darker or it just immediately started out with low lighting all the way to the end. The reason for this is to set the mood for the piece. Viewers usually associate darkness with evil and mystery. What makes dark lighting so effective is that the viewer is not able to see everything clearly. Then, from one moment to the next, you flash something that is piercing to the eye. Combining this with the element of surprise makes the viewer believe that something else will pop out and keeps them entertained. Another thing about lighting is that it develops a frightening atmosphere. Creating an atmosphere is key to make the viewers stay on the edge of their seat.

After that, the sounds. Sounds, like the lighting, also influence the mood of the piece. Knowing where to place certain sounds can affect the atmosphere dramatically. For example, in a horror film it is common to hear music that starts out very quiet. The viewer can hear it, but it is not dominant in what the senses pick up. As tension rises in the piece, the music gets louder and louder until there is a climactic point. At this climax, the shocking part of the piece occurs with a pop out scare or something that horrifies the viewer. After this, the music falls back low or just stops completely, interrupting the viewers tension, but still maintaining the creepy atmosphere. It keeps the viewer wanting to see if anything else happens.

Finally, the editing. Fast paced editing was used in some pieces while others used long takes. In some cases, the piece used a combination of both. Fast paced editing creates tension with the viewer and does not allow them any time to develop their thoughts about what is happening in the scene. Long takes are used more for showing the reaction of characters to what is happening in the surroundings. Long close-ups of the character's face create an intimate feeling and spark terror within the viewer. When combined successfully, the piece feels real and shocks the audience very well.

To make my film a success, I must incorporate all of these aspects effectively.