Task 1 - In what ways does The Hostage use, develop and challenge forms or conventiopns of real media products?

1 - 2 - 3

4 - 5 - 6

7 - 8 - 9

1. The title: THE HOSTAGE hints on the subject of kidnapping, murder, torture that are all themes that conformt to the genre of thriller and horror.

2. Location: old, big mansion in the middle of nowhere is a stereotypical location where a horror film could take place. It enhances the scary feel of isolation and supposes a stranger breaking in to the house.

3. Daylight: The fact that we shot in the middle of the day subverts conventions because it doesn't provide the spooky atmosphere of darkness and night.

4. A POV-shot from an unknown point of view watching the vulnerable woman inside from the outside, suggesting that this person will be inside the house soon which is very likely to happen in horror films. It involves the conventions of raid, anonymity and mystery.

5. Location #2: bathrooms are popular used locations in a house in Horror movies to create a certain suspense with the features of a running shower (covering other sounds in the house when someone is breaking in for example) also saying that she will undress herself what makes her more vulnerable. It conforms to a convention, because a lot of female victims in older horror movies have been killed in bathrooms, bath tubs and showers.

E.g. Psycho

6. Props: The mirror is another part of the bathroom that emphasizes the mood of mystery and creates tension because we never know what could all of a sudden step into the mirror behind her. MIrrors are often used in thrillers/horror films and therefore conform to conventions.

In addititon, there was even a whole horror movie made based on mirrors!

7. Characters: The fact that we used a married couple and especially the young sexy blonde woman sticks to horror movie stereotypical features since a loving couple/a family is a popular target victim because they sympathize with the audience who in return increase hate for the antagonist. The attractive woman is a very common horror movie convention since she is a popular victim.

E.g. Sarah Michelle Gerrar as. Karen and Jason Behr as. Dough  in 'The Grudge'

8. Sound: The sound of a telephone ringing is also a horror film convention. It provides mystery since you never know who is on the other end. There are lots of horror movies based on telephones,

such as 'One Missed Call' or 'When A Stranger Calls' ...

 

9. The open door communicates raid, rubbery, and the uncertainty of not knowing 'Who's in my house???'.

This again conforms to conventions and enhances the thriller genre.

We also worked with the sound of a doorslam without showing the door to hint on something unusual going on.