Genre Research Blog: Mystery

 The last genre we are considering is mystery. 

·       Common Camera Angles: High and low angled shots are used most commonly in these types of films. They help establish the film's power dynamic. For example, a low angled shot establishes authority and power to the individual(s) it faces. A high angled shot accentuates the vulnerability of the victim(s) and establishes LACK of authority.

·       Common Costumes: Detective and or work attire is common clothes that are worn and seen throughout mysteries. Things like suits, ties, and trench coats.

·       Common types of editing are fade in, dissolve, and cutaways

·       A common type of lighting is dark lighting. There will be multiple pitch-black scenes and light and/or dark scenes. Silhouetting is a very common lighting technique used in mysteries.

·       Common types of makeup is little to no makeup. Occasionally, make-up is made to look like blood and bruising is used. 

·       Common settings include dark alleyways and places like hotels. Although with mystery, settings can have an exceptionally large variation, like any other genre.

·       Common editing elements are flashbacks that give the audience a good backstory to better understand the film.

·       Common sound aspects are implementing voiceovers into the film, commonly over backstories, to give a suspenseful setting.

·       Elements of the genre I like and would use are definitely the lighting and silhouette aspects, as they are what give mystery films the best sense of suspense.

·       Elements of the genre that do not appeal to me are definitely the use of alleyways as settings, as I think it is way over used and does not give the flare and creativity a mystery film should have.

·       Some example films are Fear Street Part Three: 1666, Knives Out, and Scoob!

·