My two media texts are VERY valid!

For my final media text research post, I’m analyzing two films that connect to the psychological thriller genre in different ways, Fall and Five Nights at Freddy’s. They’re very different movies, but both use tension, sound, and character perspective in ways that inspire me for my own short film.

Text #1 – Fall

Fall is technically more of a survival thriller, but psychologically, it does a lot. The entire movie centers around two girls climbing a 2,000-foot tower, which already makes you uncomfortable. But what makes it more than just “heights are scary” is how it focuses on isolation and mental strain. As the situation gets worse, the tension becomes less about the physical danger and more about the psychological breakdown. There’s a major twist later in the film that completely shifts your understanding of what you’ve been watching. That twist element is something I really admire, It makes the audience question reality, which is a key part of psychological thrillers.

The cinematography also plays a big role, wide shots emphasize how small and helpless the characters are, while close-ups capture fear and desperation. The pacing stretches moments out, forcing the audience to sit in anxiety as they see the girls surroundings. Even when nothing dramatic is happening, the height alone creates constant tension.

Sound design is subtle but effective, the film focuses on using foley sounds like the wind, metal creaking, and silence at extreme heights to make everything feel fragile. Instead of loud background music constantly playing, there are moments where natural sound dominates, which makes the danger feel realistic.

What I take from Fall is the idea that environment can become psychological pressure. You don’t just need tension from characters, sometimes the setting itself is enough.

Text #2 – Five Nights at Freddy’s 2

Okay. Yes. I know. People might judge this choice... But this is my excuse to talk about it because I genuinely loved it and found it scary in ways I didn’t expect soooo i don't care what people think. 

What stood out to me the most was the sound design during jump scares. The film builds tension through silence first. There are quiet hallways, faint mechanical noises, and slow camera movements. Then suddenly, a loud sharp sound hits. That unpredictability makes the scare more effective because you genuinely don’t know when it’s coming.

The editing supports that too, the camera often lingers on empty spaces or slightly off-centered frames, making you expect something to move. Sometimes it cuts quickly right before something appears, which disrupts your sense of comfort.

 - You can't tell me that is not creepy

The movie also focuses on the main character’s trauma and memories. There are scenes where dreams and reality blend together, using softer lighting and slower pacing to show emotional vulnerability. That blur between reality and memory fits perfectly with psychological thriller conventions.

Even if people critique the film, I think it does something well, it shows how tension can come from timing and sound rather than constant action.

Both films taught me different but important lessons: Fall shows how pacing, isolation, and perspective shifts can build psychological tension. Meanwhile, Five Nights at Freddy’s shows how sound and unpredictability control fear.