Short Film Analysis-PORCELAIN RISING

 PORCELAIN RISING-

Pathetic fallacy is used throughout this short film; thunder and lighting, which creates a foreboding and ominous atmosphere. As well, it sets a gloomy mood for the film and is therefore a very common convention used in horror films to set it at night; particularly with bad weather, suggesting something depraved is going to happen. 

The non-diegetic, child like music which opens the short film creates a sinister atmosphere from the start. The music played is typical music used in horror films and similar to the music used in jewellery boxes, which therefore makes you think of children or dolls etc, which is very fitting for this film as it features both of these. 

A zoom has been used on the dolls face, which allows us to see it breathing, however, the dad is oblivious to this. It therefore makes the audience on edge and question whether they did see it move and shows parts of it being a psychological thriller. It applies to the idea that children are scared of their toys, however, parents are unable to see or understand why.  As well as this, it creates suspense as the audience are waiting for something terrifying to happen. 

A worm’s eye view shot is used from under the bed to see the child’s feet walk across her room. This creates a tense atmosphere for the audience as we are aware that the child is walking towards the wardrobe, where the doll is hiding. The same worm’s eye view shot is then used from under the bed and we see the dolls legs walk by. This flash of the dolls legs walking by increases the horror and suspense, as it informs the audience that it is alive and that the child is in danger.

The young girls’ innocence is heightened through her dialogue; “stay here teddy”. On her return to her bed, the toy has moved and says “I told you to stay there”. This creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience as they are aware that the doll must have moved it and makes us question how long until it attacks her, conveying her vulnerability. 

Numerous fast shots have been used in this particular scene to amplify the horror and make the scene more dramatic. The shots cut from the doll, to the child and then fade to black. These fade outs have been used to speed up the shots and suggests time passing, which creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience, as they can see the young child is in pain and horror.

As well, the pace of these cuts become faster as the scene develops, making the scene more intense and reaching the films climax. This could suggest that it mirrors the rapid transition between the doll and the young girl, as they exchange bodies. 

Similarly, like the other short film ‘Luna’ that I have analysed, the audience does not see the action of the killing, or in the case of this film the stabbing happen, instead, we see a close up shot of the knife rise up and down in the air. This is very effective and with the screams of the young girl over the top, it makes the audience feel uncomfortable, as it is left up to them to imagine the stabbing happen, which again applies to certain aspects of it being a psychological thriller. 

The type of camera changes when the doll attacks the child. This gives the impression as if the doll is being controlled or possessed by something or someone, which adds to the genre of it being a horror film, as possession is used a lot.

The film ends with a blank black screen, with dialogue of the dad over the top. This again ends the film on a cliff hanger, as the non-diegetic speech of the dad “Ellie, what are you doing with that knife”, leaves the audience in anticipation. 

The night light is used as a subtle hint of when the horror will take place. When the light is on; surrounding the room with warm high key lighting, both the audience and young girl feel safe and that they can relax. However, when the light is switched off; filling the room with dull low key lighting, the horror and the doll come alive. This mirrors the idea that things are more frightening in the dark and that the light acts as a defence to the supernatural.