The Strangers research

The director is Bryan Bertino
Narrative: A family of psychotic killers who target two lonely people, living in the middle of no where.
Conventions: the feeling of isolation and the unknown darkness and not being able to see dangerous lurking ahead.

lighting- set at night so very dark. Only lamps to light the house and they eventually go out.

Setting - a single house in the middle of no where, which symbolises the isolation and not being able to contact the outside world for help. They have to rely on themselves as characters this sets the characterisation as the one who survives is the strong one.

Costume - the killers where masks a familiar aspect of a thriller/horror. They are doll masks which is similar to the evil clown/china doll appearance, the use of the lighting also links into the costumes because in the darkness all you see is the mask. The to main characters wear quite posh clothes which shows that they have been out having fun but they are normal people.

Sound - tension building music as the main characters try to get away from the dangerous situation. Dieagetic sounds of footsteps walking behind so you know something bad is about to happen. The sound of breathing is also heard which also builds the tension.

Props - weapons are used not to harm but to threaten the whole way through the film. The killers have knifes which are quite personal because the killer has to get close to them. The victims have a shotgun which they don’t know hoe to load so there seemingly powerless against them. The mobile phones get broken so there's absolutely no way of contacting anyone. Phone chargers because this is the actual point that the character realises that she not alone in the house as the chargers get smashed and burned. The car, the killers destroy it so they cant escape, a heart is also carved into the back window, the audience know realise that the character is in.

Camera angles - lots of close ups of the main characters reactions and fear which helps make audience feel the fear. Establishing shots of the house showing the isolation and the woods surrounding the house. Medium shots of the killers to show the weapons they carry as well as their masks.

A sneak peack at the strangers. http://www.thestrangers.net/