Genre Research: Bird Box

Bird Box is a Netflix original movie that came out in December of 2018. This film was very popular and many people were watching and talking about it. It can be described as a post-apocalyptic horror-thriller film. Bird Box is about a mother who aims to protect herself and her children from an evil entity that pushes people to suicide once they look upon it. The women and the two children have to travel through the woods blindfolded to escape the entity and secure refuge. 

1.What elements of the genre that you chose to base your final task on does this movie have?

The element of the thriller genre which Bird Box included in the film is incidental music. Sound, in general, is very important to a film because it can make it more dramatic, emotional, and ultimately bring a scene to life. I found this type of sound to be very effective in creating a somewhat lonely and eerie vibe throughout the movie. It was also effective in aiding in the advancement of scenes and the storyline. I feel like adding any type of sound is very important to a thriller since it can make shots seem more intense and suspenseful for the audience. I also noticed the presence of all the angles within the movie. This included low, high, and canted angles. The angling was done so naturally that it made the movie feel even more realistic. The audience becomes more invested and engaged in the film when there is a great deal of practicality to them. 

2. What elements of the genre did the movie have that you like?

I liked how the directors used lighting to their advantage throughout the movie. During the first half of  Bird Box, the lighting was darker and set the visual atmosphere for the scenes to follow. Lowkey lighting was used and increased the shadows in the frame so that there was a contrast between the darker and light areas. But in the end, when they reached safety the lighting was bright and had fewer shadows. By utilizing high-key lighting, they were able to end the movie on a more cheerful and optimistic note than it was throughout. Even though this aspect of lighting can often go unnoticed, I really enjoyed how the lighting was used in this film.

3. What elements of the genre did the movie have that did not appeal to you?

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and there were no elements that did not appeal to me. There was a cohesive balance of elements throughout t which made it flow seamlessly.  Even the editing in the film was spot on and added to the realism of the film. All in all, Bird Box was a really good film and opened my eyes to the many possibilities within the thriller genre.