Film studies Horror Mise-en-scene
The film i
will be doing my horror study on is The Blair witch project which was made in
1999. Its is an American found footage horror film which was directed and
written by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Shanchez. The plot for the film was simply
based around Three film making students who visit the woods. They go there to
shoot a documentary video about a local urban legend called the Blair
Witch for there college. The
main actors and actress played themselves in this film playing
Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams and Joshua Leonard. The
film is used based of a true story which makes. Almost the whole movie was unscripted.That is why no other
"found-footage" movie after Blair witch Project reached
the intensity of the original. It still makes
the audience feel uncomfortable due to its mystery.
The setting of the film, is in the woods near Boston (America) The woods is throughout most of the film is dark and gloomy with the quiet atmosphere which builds up to jump scares. The quiet whistle of birds in the background. As the film is found footage the angles and views and even sound are quiet messy being knocked about creating noises that are just rustling against the camera and movement causing unsteady video footage making view hard to see whats going on sometimes. especially in the tent scene when the mysterious sound of children laughing. which is then followed by a running scene out of the tent which makes the stability of the camera poor.
The props used in the films are items such as camera's and Battery Torches. These are intended for project use but in the film are used as recording and having some light on when the Blair Witch is picking the protagonists off one by one. The props are very limited in this film. Also the tent. The tent with all their camping equipment in shows the fact that the protagonists where not planning nothing major and simply where having a camping trip along with their project search and findings.
The Facial expressions and body language at the start of the film shows determination and hope to be able to come across good findings for the project. But when in the woods and the clues and mysterious happenings of the Blair which occurs. Tears and panic is shared within the group running and hiding getting upset due to the Witchcraft which drives them insane to point of them leading themselves to their own death. Shivering and spine chilling scenes create the protagonists to show their feelings and show true emotion during their recording and scenes on the camera. The end of the film shows an apology scene that is made from Heather explaining how the whole things is her fault but during this it really shows the audience that she is regretting her mistake of doing this project and also her feelings towards her near death experience . She concludes this with "I am going to die out here". she cry's and struggles talk. The heavy breathing and non focus of her eyes on the camera suggests that the Blair witch is coming closer to her.
The lighting and Color in the film is very dull and bland being mainly dark brown colors and wood like scenery creating green and different shades of wild life colors such as brown and black. The lighting from the sun during the day creates brightness during the morning and day time wood scenes, but as most of the film takes place during the night the only main light is from the torch and the camera. It is very low- key writing.
Here is a link to a PowerPoint i put together to analyse scenes and screenshots in the movie:
https://www.slideshare.net/secret/GgzExy9lGaLGSk
