Researching Similar Film to The Red Heels.

 

In order to have a better understanding of how I will plan the script, storyboard and the camera movements of The Red Heels I decided to research a Film with similar plot to the red heels.

The Ring (2002):

The Ring (2002), directed by Gore Verbinski, is a supernatural horror film that has become a cornerstone of the genre. It follows themes of fear of technology, isolation, trauma, paranoia and suspense. It is a remake of the Japanese film Ringu (1998), based on Koji Suzuki's novel.

Plot:

The story revolves around a cursed videotape that causes the death of anyone who watches it within seven days. The videotape is the object that is the cause of the death of anyone who watches it. Similarly, in my film opening whoever wears the Red Heels faces their demise. Journalist Rachel investigates the tape after her niece dies mysteriously. As Rachel delves deeper, she uncovers the tragic story of Samara Morgan, a young girl whose spirit is tied to the curse. The film's climax reveals that the curse cannot be broken by helping Samara find peace, leading to a chilling twist.

Cinematic Techniques:

"The Ring" (2002) employs a distinctive cinematographic style that amplifies the eerie, unsettling atmosphere of the film. Here's an exploration of its key elements:

1. Color Palette and Visual Tone

The film is known for its muted color palette, dominated by blues, grays, and greens. This cold, desaturated look mirrors the grim mood and thematic despair of the narrative. The recurring imagery of water (representing death and connection to the cursed videotape) further supports this visual tone. The use of high contrast and subdued lighting adds to the film’s haunting, otherworldly quality.

2. Lighting

Lighting is used strategically to emphasize fear and isolation. Soft, diffused lighting creates an ethereal atmosphere, while harsher lighting highlights pivotal moments of horror. Shadows are often cast starkly, especially in scenes involving Samara or the well, reinforcing feelings of dread. Practical lighting sources, such as dim lamps or flickering lights, enhance realism while maintaining a foreboding mood.

3. Camera Techniques

The cinematography employs unconventional angles and movements to disorient the viewer and enhance suspense. For example:

Extreme Close-Ups: Focus on small details, such as the grain of the videotape or a fly crawling on the screen, creating unease.

Slow Zooms: Gradually intensify tension during moments of revelation.

Tracking Shots: Follow the characters, emphasizing their vulnerability and isolation.

Handheld Camera Work: Used sparingly to simulate a sense of chaos or realism.

4. Symbolic Imagery

The film frequently incorporates symbolic visuals, such as the circular motif of the ring itself (representing the well's opening, infinity, and cycles of torment). The distorted images on the videotape serve as a visual narrative, foreshadowing the eerie events that unfold.

5. Mise-en-Scène

The mise-en-scène, or the arrangement of elements within the frame, plays a crucial role in the film's storytelling. Key locations like the Morgan family’s barn and Samara’s well are meticulously designed to evoke unease. Props, such as the videotape and photographs, carry significant symbolic weight, linking the characters to the supernatural curse.

6. Atmosphere and Texture

Through cinematographic techniques like shooting from the shadow side and utilizing texture-rich environments, the film achieves depth and atmosphere. The moist, decaying settings (wet earth, old wood, and waterlogged objects) are visually unsettling and reflect the themes of decay and death.

7. Pacing and Editing

The cinematography works hand-in-hand with the editing to maintain a deliberate, suspenseful pacing. Long takes build tension, while quick, jarring cuts during the videotape sequences create shock and disorientation. The blurred, distorted visuals mimic nightmares, immersing the audience in Samara’s world.

Marketing Campaign:

1. Viral Marketing

The marketing team created actual VHS tapes resembling the cursed tape from the movie. These tapes were anonymously distributed in public places, such as coffee shops and video rental stores, without any explanation or branding. When people played the tapes, they were greeted with the eerie, disjointed imagery from the film, mimicking the experience of the characters.

2. Creepy Phone Calls

In some campaigns, viewers who interacted with promotional material online or in theaters received mysterious phone calls. The calls featured a chilling voice whispering "seven days," referencing the film's curse. This interactive element heightened the sense of dread and curiosity.

3. Teaser Trailers

The trailers for The Ring were unconventional, focusing on the haunting visuals from the cursed tape rather than revealing much about the plot. This approach intrigued audiences and left them wanting to know more.

4. Online Campaigns

The film's website was designed to immerse visitors in the movie's eerie world. It featured cryptic clues, unsettling imagery, and interactive elements that allowed users to "experience" the curse.

5. Word of Mouth

The mysterious and unsettling nature of the marketing generated significant buzz, with people sharing their experiences of finding the tapes or receiving the phone calls. This organic word-of-mouth promotion amplified the film's reach.