This is really well-shot and your acting is very good as well, you're very good at seeking realistic, but I have a lot of pointers. I've been thinking about this video for the past couple days and I couldn't stop thinking about how you could improve the horror elements. If I sound stupid just ignore this, just wanted to give some constructive criticism As far as the cinematography, fantastic work. The only suggestion I could have is possibly adding a couple scenes that last longer without cuts, a well-established unbroken shot can be super unnerving and make you feel anxiety for the character (like the nightvision scene in Silence of the Lambs) This isnt exactly as scary as it is interesting, likely due to the fact that you don't really have a budget, but there's ways to improve on that which are up to you but I have some ideas. First off, one of the things that makes it less scary is the movement of the nutcracker. It's plainly obvious its someone holding it, which is obviously going to be the case unless you have some sort of special effects experience. But you don't need special effects. A great way of doing this could be an antagonist that moves in a unique, unseen way. Since the sight of its unrealistic movement is what takes one out of the horror elements, try to dig deeper and do something new or different. Even if its something as simple as the Weeping Angels, unique movement rules are scary. Maybe a creature that hides in your blindspot, maybe a creature like the reverse of the Weeping Angels, they only move when looked at. That would allow a new work of reasoning for the resolution. Maybe the protagonist permanently blinds himself to avoid being killed. Maybe you never even see the creature, but hear it skittering around out of sight (by no means am I saying my ideas are better or the best, just giving examples). Creativity and working with what you have in the best way possible, essentially. The other thing is the protagonist himself. You did really well with the scene where he burns the pictures, because it makes you wonder what happened. It's a really realistic scene that doesn't explain anything besides what you see in front of you because that's how real life works. The issue is, however, is that it isn't enough to make the viewers feel fear when he's in danger. The viewers need a reason to want the character to stay alive. Movies like Final Destination aren't scary enough through their writing, so they try to scare the audience by just showing excessive gore, hence why critics and anyone with an idea of what a film should be know the series is bad and cheap. The burning pictures idea is good, but maybe show more. Maybe show the room a bit empty with boxes just to hint that something went wrong between the character and the people in the picture (again, not the best idea, just an example.) Once you care for the characters, the horror gets intense, and you fear for their lives, like in Rec or Texas Chainsaw 1 or the disfigured man from Under The Skin. So basically only two pointers. Sympathy and creativity. Cinematography is great, you have a great face for film, and the idea is interesting. If you really wanted it to be scary, though, don't give the character a break. It depends on if you want relief from the horror or a long-lasting thought or dread after the film ends. The first, relief, is present in something like Texas Chainsaw 1. She gets away, and she's alive. But it doesn't show a happy ending. She's broken and terrified, and you know the impact the event as had and will have on her for the rest of her life. In something like "It Follows", it gives you some ambiguity and the idea that maybe bad things are still to come, and its only the beginning. In this, the character kills the creature and he seems unaffected and victorious. If you don't have the budget or ideas to make the film itself scary, make the thoughts the viewer has after the film be the scariest thing of all. Maybe the second he kills the nutcracker, an immediate knock is hear and now there's the same box on the porch. Maybe 2 boxes now, as if to imply the more he defends himself temporarily, the worse it will get in the long run. Maybe I'm not making any sense. Either way, this video shows a lot of potential. Don't be afraid to try as many new things as possible, explore what hasn't been explored, or explore what's been covered from a new angle or unique twist. 7/10 goog jorb
This is really well-shot and your acting is very good as well, you're very good at seeking realistic, but I have a lot of pointers. I've been thinking about this video for the past couple days and I couldn't stop thinking about how you could improve the horror elements. If I sound stupid just ignore this, just wanted to give some constructive criticism
As far as the cinematography, fantastic work. The only suggestion I could have is possibly adding a couple scenes that last longer without cuts, a well-established unbroken shot can be super unnerving and make you feel anxiety for the character (like the nightvision scene in Silence of the Lambs)
This isnt exactly as scary as it is interesting, likely due to the fact that you don't really have a budget, but there's ways to improve on that which are up to you but I have some ideas.
First off, one of the things that makes it less scary is the movement of the nutcracker. It's plainly obvious its someone holding it, which is obviously going to be the case unless you have some sort of special effects experience. But you don't need special effects. A great way of doing this could be an antagonist that moves in a unique, unseen way. Since the sight of its unrealistic movement is what takes one out of the horror elements, try to dig deeper and do something new or different. Even if its something as simple as the Weeping Angels, unique movement rules are scary. Maybe a creature that hides in your blindspot, maybe a creature like the reverse of the Weeping Angels, they only move when looked at. That would allow a new work of reasoning for the resolution. Maybe the protagonist permanently blinds himself to avoid being killed. Maybe you never even see the creature, but hear it skittering around out of sight (by no means am I saying my ideas are better or the best, just giving examples). Creativity and working with what you have in the best way possible, essentially.
The other thing is the protagonist himself. You did really well with the scene where he burns the pictures, because it makes you wonder what happened. It's a really realistic scene that doesn't explain anything besides what you see in front of you because that's how real life works. The issue is, however, is that it isn't enough to make the viewers feel fear when he's in danger. The viewers need a reason to want the character to stay alive. Movies like Final Destination aren't scary enough through their writing, so they try to scare the audience by just showing excessive gore, hence why critics and anyone with an idea of what a film should be know the series is bad and cheap. The burning pictures idea is good, but maybe show more. Maybe show the room a bit empty with boxes just to hint that something went wrong between the character and the people in the picture (again, not the best idea, just an example.) Once you care for the characters, the horror gets intense, and you fear for their lives, like in Rec or Texas Chainsaw 1 or the disfigured man from Under The Skin.
So basically only two pointers. Sympathy and creativity. Cinematography is great, you have a great face for film, and the idea is interesting. If you really wanted it to be scary, though, don't give the character a break. It depends on if you want relief from the horror or a long-lasting thought or dread after the film ends. The first, relief, is present in something like Texas Chainsaw 1. She gets away, and she's alive. But it doesn't show a happy ending. She's broken and terrified, and you know the impact the event as had and will have on her for the rest of her life. In something like "It Follows", it gives you some ambiguity and the idea that maybe bad things are still to come, and its only the beginning. In this, the character kills the creature and he seems unaffected and victorious. If you don't have the budget or ideas to make the film itself scary, make the thoughts the viewer has after the film be the scariest thing of all. Maybe the second he kills the nutcracker, an immediate knock is hear and now there's the same box on the porch. Maybe 2 boxes now, as if to imply the more he defends himself temporarily, the worse it will get in the long run. Maybe I'm not making any sense.
Either way, this video shows a lot of potential. Don't be afraid to try as many new things as possible, explore what hasn't been explored, or explore what's been covered from a new angle or unique twist.
7/10 goog jorb
Also, forgot to mention, loved the whole "Holly Jolly" music during the horror. Makes it much more unnerving.