Use of shadows is very effective in a horror films. It can create an element of mystery, allowing the director to tell what is happening without actually showing it in great detail. The famous shower scene in psycho, for instance tells us that the victim is being killed but doesn't show us who. This means that the movie can progress without the outcome being too obvious.
Particularly in black and white films, shadows are used to create a sense of foreboding and uneasiness. This ties in to my previous point that it means a lot of the time we can't see the killer, and the unknown is usually scarier than the known. It's easier as an audience to deal with a psychotic murderer when we know who they are, because then we can sit back and yell at the screen not to trust them.
The scene in "Cat People" where Irina chases Alice into the pool house is terrifying because neither Alice, the token defenseless woman of the audience can see where Irina is.
The moving shadows on the walls can easily be mistaken for someone or something creeping around in the darkness. The water creates constantly moving light patterns on the walls.
No comments:
Post a Comment