Wow! Great Work, Dominique! Creepy Stalker

Unease

                                       By: Dominique Soverall

                                             Media Aesthetics

My film Unease is a about stalker stalking a woman. In the film the stalker is watching the other woman from the woods behind her house. While the stalker is spying on their victim they see weird things that make them feel tense and uneasy. However, the tense and unsettling feeling does not stop the stalker they continue to watch their prey. On one occasions the victim catches the stalker but does not show any emotion, she just points and keeps her distance. On the last occasion the victim catches the stalker, the victim shows more emotions, creeps closer to the stalker and again just points. The screen goes black and the film ends with the reveal of a youth child.

Furthermore, I choose to use a sepia looking background because the standard color did not have enough of a creepy effect for me. I used a fade technique to have smoother transitions as I didn’t shoot this film in one take. I also wanted the scenes to look like they faded into one.  The music is a song by Beyonce called “Haunted”. I used the instrumental version, slowed down the tempo and repeated certain tempos to help with the overall creepy effect. In addition to the music and sepia effect I zoomed in on certain things in the woods to make it seem like the stalker was hearing and seeing things, which caused the unsettling feeling for the stalker. I choose not to add special effects or the sounds in the woods to let the audience fill in the blank as to what sounds are heard in the woods. You do hear certain sounds throughout the video like the wind blowing, the stalker breathing heavy and birds chirping to set the atmosphere or tone.

Continuing, to me showing the victim pointing and inching closer to the victim adds a creepier effect as well because if I’m being stalked I’m calling the police and keeping my distance. What would make the victim feel like they could walk up to a stalker so confidently…like there wouldn’t be any consequence. I also choose to never show the stalker because this is the stalkers point of view and used a 16:9 shot range to add to that point of view. For the night time shot no lighting was used to add emphasizes on the creepy and stalker point of view. Stalkers are supposed to be incognito so lighting would only give away their presence.

In conclusion, near the end of the film after the victim points to their stalker and the film fades to black. I held on the victim for a few seconds to show that the stalker is now the prey and is afraid to turn around and see what’s behind them.  The moment of black represents a period of uncertainty and confusion. I wanted the audience to feel confused about what could be happening to the stalker and what was behind the stalker. After the black area you see a little boy who randomly appears. I wanted the audience to feel confused about this little boy as well. Where did he come from, how did he get there, what was covering his face and body, was he the one watching the stalker, does he know the victim? Those are some of the questions I hope the audience would ask after seeing the film. Some of the best horror and thriller movies I’ve seen have left me feeling confused and uncertain. As well as questioning things that I saw in the film and having to come to my own conclusions as to what may have been.