Narrative structure, Style and Theory

Consideration Of Narrative Structure

STRUCTURE

Non-Linear

Most psychological horror films are non-linear due to the fact there may be flashbacks being used. In our opening sequence, we plan to use flashbacks to make the audience feel connected with the characters and they can also start to make connections between what is happening and try to figure out what will happen.

STYLE

1) Restricted or unrestricted?

2) Subjective character identification OR objective character identification?

1) Our opening sequence is going to be restricted as we want to create enigma, so the audience will want to watch the rest of the film to find out what will happen or what's going on.

2) The audience is given objective character identification. This means that they will have access to the characters thought or memories which will come the form flashbacks. This will make the audience feel connected to the character, as they know their past.

Consideration Of Narrative Style

Theory

Todorov: yesPropp: partialBarthes: partialStrauss: noCameron: partialTodorov: Our opening sequence will start off with a disequilibrium which is usual for psychological films as they don't follow a linear fashion. There will quite quite a few flashbacks to the equilibrium which will help the audience understand what is going on.Propp: we are going to have a few enigma codes because we want the audience to wonder what will happen to the little girl.The action code is also going present as the audience will be expecting something to happen to the little girl.The symbolic code will be sort of present as the clown doll has some symbolism, which also the semantic code.The cultural code won't be present.Strauss: There are no binary opposites in our opening sequence.Cameron: Anachronic will be used as we will have some flashbacks. Forking path, episodic and split screen won't be used in our sequence.

Consideration Of Narrative Theory