The short film horror
LOVEFIELD, is an excellent example of a horror, as it has the text book conventions and characteristics that are known to, and recognised by the audience. The key expectations that need to be met, in order to pleasure the audience's needs, are plots that involve death, fear of an antagonist or opposing force.
Screenshot 1. Establishing shot and title. The editing in this scene is a simple fade technique, to establish the setting. The title LOVEFIELD is clearly shown in the middle, with capital letters and white font. Capital letters are always used in film posters for horrors, as they want it to really jump out and catch the readers attention, the title 'LOVEFIELD' however is slightly disconcerting, as you don't expect a horror to have a name that connotes
happiness and a different genre entirely. This, however, was intentional as the producer of this piece of media text is trying to confuse the viewer, as the story is just about a woman giving birth, whilst using typical conventions of a horror to connote a different story entirely to the viewer. One of the connotations that is used to manipulate the audience in this opening scene is the simple sound of wind blowing, it makes the viewer feel isolated and alone, much like many protagonists in typical horror films. The other connotation is the plain and boring colors used, and the natural and slightly weak lighting, making the setting look austere. A high angle shot, used to look over the fields and establish the setting.
Screenshot 2. The camera then sinks slowly down into the wheat. Editing fades into different shots of the head-height vision, of the wheat field. The camera position is held at head height, and pans around, almost like a P.O.V shot of someone looking around. This connotes to the viewer the feeling of being alone, which is a typical feature of a horror because it's a more personal look into the setting, and subsequently making the audience more scared, as it adds tension and suspense. The depth of field is mainly focused far away, and the panning follows which way the wheat is moving, making it seem to the viewer that there is a presence in the field. As the camera pans at a low height out of the field, there is some diagetic sound of a sign, 'creaking' in the wind. Camera follows the sign upwards, to then reveal a black crow, an animal which is a signifier for death and horror, and the sound of the crows squawk is added to the diagetic symphony is the wind blowing and the swinging sign, simply horrifying. Camera closes up on the crow as it disturbs the dead silence of the area with it's piercing high pitched squawk.
Screenshot 3. Several cuts from the close up of the crow, to the wheat field, where the depth of field is reduced and focused to near the camera. A violin is being played as non diagetic background music, another typical horror convention that creates tension and suspense. The camera then pans across, the diagetic sound of a mobile phone 'beeping' gradually increases in volume until the camera reaches a close up shot of a dropped mobile phone. This prop is used to connote that an event has taken place that has forced a character to obviously drop the item, which then make the viewer assume that something/someone is chasing that said character.
Screenshot 4. Various other props enter the screen as the camera pans left, using depth of field to focus on items such as money, handbag and keys. There is a quite, crying shriek from a female character (not on the screen) and then as a hand reaches down and grabs hold of the grass, but then soon slips away, the scream and cries of agony get louder, connoting that the female character is in pain. Camera continues to pan left, as a pair of woman's underwear is displayed on screen, connoting that perhaps a sexual assault is being committed, terrifying and disgusting the viewer (shock and awe). The foot then begins to shake violently, due to the pain the woman is experiencing. As the non diagetic sound of the violins return, they slowly build up to an intense climax, and then silence as the foot stops shaking and remains perfectly still on the ground. The viewer now assumes that the woman is dead.
Screenshot 5. Violins are then used for sharp, piercing dissonance as (what we can only assume) a male, bloodied hand pierces a knife into the ground next to (what we can only assume) the victim. Violins and crow squawk, now used to create tension as the hand leaves the knife, and the camera gradually moves upwards the male figure, costumed in jean overalls and a white tank top and a trucker hat, connoting that he is a farmer or the negative slang term 'hill-billy'. A skull tattoo is revealed on his arm, whilst the camera establishes his appearance, obviously this connotes to the viewer that he is a dangerous man.
Screenshot's 6,7 and 8. The tension builds, as the male character turns around and runs to the car. The diagetic sound of the crows caw becomes more frequent, so does the non diagetic sound of the violins in the background. The editors used quick jump cuts in this particular moment in the film, in order to connote urgency and panic. Strategically, the camera never reveals what the character face looks like, as in many classic horrors, the antagonist doesn't have a face. In films like Halloween and Scream,
the antagonist wears a mask, and in horrors like The Grudge and The Ring the female antagonists face's are covered with long, black wet hair. Close ups on the hands, to connote urgency and panic.
diagetic violins speeds up, as the (assumed) antagonist grabs a blanket and runs back into the field to the (assumed) body of the victim. Faster
jump cuts are still being used.
Screenshot 10. Jump cut to low angle shot next to the body. Non diagetic and diagetic sound still loud, with constant jump cuts to the close up of the crow.
Screenshot 11. P.O.V low angle, intimidating powerful figure looking down at the victim. Covers the camera with blanket. Darkness. Jump cut to crows head, waiting for the caw to occur, gets the audience in a state of high anticipation and tension, then................
Screenshot 12. "It's a boy!!" Lighting is increased, connotes happiness and the mood has now changed as the narrative is now partly established. Cheerful violins now playing as non diagetic sound.
Long shot of setting, police car pulls up. The narrative is now fully established.
The narrative is fairly simplistic and definitely not the stereotypical horror narrative of an evil antagonist trying to hunt down/kill a scared, innocent protagonist. The genre conventions of horror, help disguise the narrative and divert the viewers expectations by creating signifiers that make the audience think that the narrative is something else entirely. The institution behind this short film, looks like a small budget, production, that could possibly just be filmed for a small arts evening or some other similar occasion. The quality of the footage is surprisingly good, considering it's a product of 'Matt Ratt Productions' and they are a small filmography company that have only created three short films in the past.
I think it's very clever how the divert your expectations of the narrative in this film, with all the typical horror conventions and connotations like the diagetic/non diagetic sounds, the good use of costuming for the antagonist that suggests he is a rough individual, with his dirty overalls, scuffed work boots, sweat stained tank top and skull tattoos on his arm. My only criticism of this film is the fact that they showed the supposed, antagonists face half way through the film. I think it would have been more effective if they limited the amount of 'face-time' with the antagonist, and focused more on the protagonist as a typical horror makes the audience feel sorry for the victim, it never lets the audience get personal with the assailant.
