Paranormal ActivityParanormal Activity is a film based on the terrifying journey that a couple faces in a house full of ghosts. It is captured in a similar style to The Blair Witch Project (Sánchez, 1999) with its fast, intense pans and handheld shots, along with night vision and external lighting, allowing for a more realistic experience for audience members" ...color's influential association with reality was itself influenced by aesthetic factors: the more accurately films were able to represent color, the more realistic they were perceived to be" (Misek, 2010, p. 47). The lighting gradually alternates throughout the film to aid in the anticipation of terror and this is a horror trope according to Xiangyi Fu (2016, p. 31) as he explains that "directors who shoot in color tend to use combinations of color and light to influence the mood of the public.". For example, at the beginning of the film, as there are suspicions of paranormal activity in the house, the set lighting is natural during the day with a cool blue hue, suggesting that this is a place where the non-living can live like the non-living. the color blue has connotations surrounding death and characters with cold demeanor. Additionally, shadows created by outside light add a darker shaded vignette on the frame to suggest something lurking around them in their natural environment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. This can be seen progressively throughout the film, such as when Katie begins to feel the effects of the paranormal spirits she sits outside when her partner runs out of camera and outdoor lighting. In figure 9 below you can see that the effects of chiaroscuro lighting could allow the audience to focus exclusively on the high contrast parts of the shot, i.e. his still, inert body on the swing. Since the edges of the frame are obscured by shadow, this causes the fear of the unknown in the darkness, which is the main theme of this film. Furthermore, the tension increases further with static movement on the screen as shadows are the main focus in the darkness. As previously mentioned, black has connotations of death, suggesting that possible dark activity in the frame could cause an additional feeling of terror. As Cherry (2009, p.80) explains that "in films that are largely psychological or supernatural, modes of effect can be created through suggestion [and] the use of lighting", this means that the spectacle of horror will be emphasized through the approach regarding shadows, highlighting a specific object or person, which is similar to The Exorcist (Friedkin, 1973) in which Father Merrin stands in the spotlight of a street lamp to suggest that he is a pure force that interrupts this world of evil. Katie's character wears a white top throughout the beginning of the film and, as previously revealed in Horror Aesthetics, this is similar to Marion's character in Psycho as, according to McLeod (2016, p. 157), the color white has connotations of purity, transparency and cleanliness and this connects well to the narrative context since Katie has a perfect life, husband and job; there's really nothing wrong with his life, which is why his character wears white. Related to "cleanliness", his house is cleansed of evil spirits as white can also be associated with spirituality and enlightenment - "seeing the light". However, later in the film Katie can be seen wearing a black top once ghosts have infected her houseand took possession of his character. In Western cultures black has connotations of death and mourning, sadness and black moods can be associated with deep depression (McLeod, 2016, p. 158) which is relevant to her situation as house spirits have taken over his soul, insinuating that he is mourning the loss of his life. Additionally, her character is commonly seen throughout the film wearing many shades of blue, for example when she and her partner become scared of paranormal activity, she wears blue and covers herself with a blue blanket while crying. According to Feisner (2006, p. 122) blue is a color representative of introversion and sadness and this is a common connotation, for example, in Western cultures: "I feel blue" is a phrase used to mean feeling down. At the end of the film the color is faded to a bold cool-toned blue to represent the idea of ​​CCTV cameras watching the characters at night. This is a common feature of security in everyday life, which is why this idea becomes more realistic and sinister as it is a way to catch thieves and murderers in murder investigations. The same blue color is used as a tint at the beginning of the film, however now it is used as a complete color to suggest the idea that the dead spirits have now completely filled the house and there is no escape like in this scene with the ghosts. they get the characters out of bed and control their actions. Likewise, when the characters walk around during the day, the tungsten light used is very hot on their faces. This orange/yellow tone is commonly depicted in nature: sunsets, leaves in autumn, fruits and flowers (Feisner, 2006, p.121). It is common to relate these colors with the feeling of life and happiness since this is what nature suggests. Alternatively, yellow is a more easily perceived shade and is seen before other colors, especially when placed against black. According to Feisner (2006, p. 121) "This combination is often used as a warning signal in nature, by insects such as bees, and in industry to signal dangerous situations." and so when this warm-toned yellow is paired with the black darkness of the shadows surrounding Katie's character, this could be seen as a warning sign, foreshadowing future events of possession and death. SuspiriaSuspiria is a film about a young girl who arrives at a new school ballet, only to find that she has joined a coven of witches. After a perilous journey she is stripped of her innocence as she destroys the coven. This film completely juxtaposes Paranormal Activity due to its absurd gothic-fairytale style structure, versus a more realist approach. This colorful horror shows themes of sexuality and violence through a wide color palette. For example, when the audience first sees the protagonist, she hails a taxi in the rain, wearing virginal white clothes, suggesting a kind of vulnerability that she will carry with her throughout the film. This color has many connotations of purity and innocence and according to Feisner (2006, p. 120) could alternatively be associated with cowardice and surrender, for example, raising a white flag during war. This idea may suggest that she is giving in to sexual desires as she matures in the film, which is a motif presented throughout the film. When she reaches the bright red outer walls of the dance studio she is surrounded by the color of lust, suggesting the intentions of her visit may not prove so pure. This color is present throughout the film contrasting mainly with the color blue to highlight the confusion of his sexuality. Red and blue are commonly known as