Alexia - Textual Analysis

Sound was effectively used in this short film to build suspense. This was through the use of both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds. Firstly, the diegetic sounds were very limited. This itself was a very good use of diegetic sounds because the silences were used immaculately to create the nervousness of the audience whilst building suspense. The long uses of silences were effective as left us preparing for a jump scare as in most horror films, but they kept delaying and delaying the outcome from the silences meaning it created tension for the audience. To add, the main actual diegetic sound was the keyboard. This was useful as still continues to build suspense whereas dialogue would have ruined this as makes it less scary due to protagonist himself not being scared. therefore, this short film met a vital convention of a horror in which the protagonist being scared is more likely to make the audience scared themselves and for the character.

Furthermore, for the use of sound in this short film, I felt that they used non-diegetic sounds just as effectively as the diegetic sounds. Straight away we were exposed to the non-diegetic sound which was the soundtrack. The soundtrack was synchronous and excellent to build suspense. This was used well as it worked in conjunction with the close ups and jump cuts to evolve the tension even more. This left the audience biting their lips and on the edge of their seat preparing for a jump scare.

Moving onto the camerawork, again this was used well for me. I believe the camerawork went well because it was kept simple but effective. The reason for this is that the uses of close ups and extreme close ups became repetitive but it was successful. The effect these camera shots had was that it kept the surrounding location a mystery. This meant that there was a sense of unknown, a key code to create suspense which is vital for the horror genre.  There again leaving the audience fearing for this worse.

In addition, other camera work was used towards the end of the short film, such as, tracking shots. The use of the tracking was to once again create a further unease to the film. The shot meant we followed the protagonist and left us not being able to see what was in the room just as he could see. This puts us in the shoes of the protagonist, making us as the audience feel as if we are the protagonist and are about to turn into the room, this is a great way to involve the audience whilst causing a discomfort, which is what the film was aimed to do.

Mise-en-scene was integral for the success this short film had. Firstly, the lighting was the first factor that had an effect from start to end. The lighting was low key due to create a dark location for the effect to create this sense of unknown.  Having low key lighting meant that the focus was on the incident lighting which was coming from the computer. This built suspense due to the audience generating many possibilities from past experience in horror films, such as; Is someone/something behind him? Is he going to be possessed through the computer? Is something going to come out of the computer? and so on. This leaves the tension among the audience still, making them scared of whats to come.

Moreover, other mise-en-scene such as props was useful. To begin, the computer which has been mentioned but was there as prop to be the focus. We experience the computer breaks and is hacked, building suspense and leaving the audience think who and why? There is also the plug, which the protagonist unplugs yet the computer still works. This impacts the audience as we know it shouldn't work, however it does, meaning something bad about to happen, leading us towards the climax of the short film. Lastly, the setting emblematizes the sense of unknown and isolation. This is because it its mostly in one setting, a key convention of a short film, and also the setting is dark therefore creating unknown factor.

Continuous editing in Alexia was used throughout to create the sense of realism.This was effective in making the audience feel scared due to it feeling real. This editing technique was even more successful as it combined with the everyday location and everyday objects. This means the audience could relate to the protagonist in his house on his computer, which was made feel real due to the smooth use of continuous editing. The relation the audience gets with the protagonist means that they feel the panic and worry as he does too.

Lastly, the use of fast paced editing and jump cuts generated a feeling of uncertainty and creates adrenaline rush shown in the extreme close up of the protagonist pupil that enlarges. As an audience we mirror his feelings and feel in danger or at risk. This is because the jump cuts and fast past editing emblematize his reactions and thoughts of being at risk.