Research #1

 For this research post, I focused on a short psychological thriller film linked below!

Short film

Since I’ve chosen to create a psychological thriller, I wanted to study examples of the genre in action. This short film was perfect because it shows how suspense can be created with simple filmmaking choices, without big sets, loud explosions, or heavy dialogue.

One of the first techniques that stood out was the film’s use of tight close-up shots, especially during key moments. For example, there’s a scene where the main character sits still and stares forward with nothing happening around them. The camera stays focused on their eyes and facial tension, and you feel the unease even though there is no action. This works because psychological thrillers often rely on internal conflict and subtle emotional cues. Instead of showing violence scenes, the audience is made to sit inside the character’s head, and that helps creates tension.

The lighting throughout the film is dim and shadowed, creating a mood that feels unsettling. One scene shows the character in a dark room, the light only illuminating part of their face while the rest fades into shadow. This technique makes the environment feel mysterious and unknown, a major convention of psychological thrillers. 

The editing style was a huge part of what kept me engaged. The film doesn’t rush but instead it alternates between long, lingering shots and quick cuts. For example, a shot may start on an empty hallway for several seconds, longer than expected, creating a feeling that something bad is about to happen. Then it quickly cuts to a close-up of the character’s face, making the viewer jump slightly because the quiet tension suddenly changes. This is seen across the whole film which was my favorite thing getting mini jump scares.

The sound design is subtle but plays an important role, there’s minimal dialogue, which means every sound choice matters. Background noises and moments of silence all contribute to the tension. In one scene, the character sits alone with only quiet room noise. The silence feels almost too quiet, and it makes the audience expect something to happen even though nothing does. Silence is a major tool in psychological thrillers because it forces the viewer to listen hard, and when they listen, they get uneasy. That anticipation creates anxiety, and anxiety builds tension without any loud music or dramatic sound effects.

Watching this short film actually made me excited because I realized I kind of want to do something similar. Not copy it obviously, but use the same idea of tension through atmosphere instead of action. I already have a rough idea forming in my head, something focused on one main character, internal conflict, and a slow build that makes the audience question what’s real. The simplicity of this film proved that I don’t need ten locations or huge production value, I just need good pacing and a strong social cues!!