Short Film

This is a short film called Craw Lake that I would like to take elements from to use in my own film.
   The quick jumpy cuts that start at around 0.16 - 0.33 seconds are effective in creating fear and tension. Not much is actually shown in these cuts because they are so fast but they connote panic. Also, the sound creates meaning too.There is no non-diegetic sound, something which I am using in my film, which I hope will create tension, adding a more realistic feel to it. The clip is linked with shots of the man cuddling a girl, presumably his daughter. These shots are tender and loving and contrast starkly to the shots of the man calling out through the woods of who we presume to be the little girl. Also through the film, the monsters are rarely shown, apart from at quick, unexpected shots. However, because these shots are so fast and are edited so quickly, we only see the threat for a second or two. This would fit with the conventions of the psychological horror that I am focusing on for my own film - the tension and suspense created in these films comes from the fear and emotional instability of the characters, rather than actually revealing the object of horror.
The colours are dark - it's filmed at night, with little lighting yet the colours of the characters are light. The father and daughter are wearing light colours, connoting their innocence. The colours in the cabin are very natural, warm showing that this place is of no danger. However, the darkness outside suggests the safety doesn't continue beyond the cabin. The creatures are red, connoting violence and danger, although they are only shown briefly. Then at 7.43 the man then wakes up in the morning. The colours are warm, soft - it makes it difficult to believe that the horror of a few hours ago actually happened. Because this place looks so serene, we cannoot believe that something awful could happen there. I hope to use this to an extent in my film. The woods are a calm place, with warm colours and it doesn't seem as if something so violent could happen there. In the film the shots are of nature - the trees, the sky, the lake - everything is calm and serene. This then contrasts sharply with the next shot. It is a close up of the man laid unconscious, his face bloodied.
The shot of the shoe is significant, although used on it's own it would be insignificant. The fact that the shot of it is a close-up and it juxtaposes with the shot of the man shows its importance - it is obviously his daughter's.
I think the film has helped me because it's also a short - the narrative of it works well and is easy to follow, even though the film is only 10 minutes long. The use of the elements of film - the mise-en-scene, sound, editing, performance, cinematography all help to create meaning and all works well, something which I hope to achieve in my short film.