The survey results showed that most respondents found the opening scene of The Nightmare on Elm Street engaging and effective at establishing the film. Key elements like the creepy music, tense location, hidden villain identity, and vulnerable female costume helped build suspense. For their own horror film, the production company plans to focus on these effective elements, including varying title positioning, using diegetic screams, and creating mystery to generate curiosity.

1. Analysis of Survey results based
on The Nightmare on Elm Street
By Millie Iron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn_DjzN8410&spfreload=10

2. 80%
20%
Do you like the opening titles within this clip?
Yes No
Some of the detailed responses
included:
“Because they are really jumpy and in your
face which is good for a horror.”
“They were effective and eye grabbing”
“I don't usually pay much attention to titles.”
“I don't like that they are all in one space on
the screen”
Our results reinforce the significance of titles as they establish the film for
viewers. The titles for our horror film therefore need to be vibrant and eye
catching in order to secure the attention of those who do not “pay much
attention to titles”. The positioning of the titles is also important as our
feedback portrayed a disliking for basic, central titles. This means that we will
try and vary the positioning of titles, using negative and positive space on the
shot to emphasize them.

3. 78%
22%
Do you like the music used in the clip?
Yes
No
Some of the detailed responses
included:
“Its creepy”
“It builds tension and excitement”
“I didn't like the music - but thought it
fitted with the genre well”
“It is effective and creates suspense”
Music, in general, is a concept n which Hungry Media Productions struggles
with, as its difficult to find something effective yet not exaggerated (slightly
comical) in my opinion. I personally feel the most effective music is
instrumental ( of a High, slightly uncomfortable pitch) that gradually builds,
similarly to The Nightmare on Elm Street clip that we used with our survey.
Such music, achieved positive reviews from the survey, so the soundtrack to
the clip will inspire the soundtrack to our final film.

4. 89%
11%
In your opinion, does this clip build tension and
suspense?
Yes
No
Some of the detailed
responses included:
“The music creates a eery feel and
the laughs of the antagonist make
you feel like your waiting for the
encounter to happen.”
“Because of the music used”
Once again, these results confirm the significance of music and so we will
spend more time carefully selecting and adjusting the soundtrack to achieve a
high level of tension and suspense within our audience. To do this, the
production company may pursue further research in terms of music and the
soundtrack, to how different types fit to different sub-genres.

5. 12%
29%
24%
35%
Which sounds do you prefer in this clip?
Rats
Music (organ)
The laughing from the murderer
Screams of the woman
The results collected from our survey, exemplify the significance of diegetic
sound as well as the non diegetic sound as previously discussed (
soundtrack). The preferred sound from the clip were the screams of the
woman, this may be because they are a signifier to the horror in which the
audience are to experience and the audience can relate to the woman's terror
and distress. Therefore, diegetic reaction sounds like screams or gasps will
be used within our film, as they are evidently effective.

6. 78%
22%
Do you find this clip engaging, making you want to watch
more?
Yes
No
Some of the detailed
responses included:
“It draws you in”
“I don't particularly like horror films
Yes because I want to know how
the woman's pj's actually got cut”
“It creates curiosity and excitement”
The results prove that many prefer a mystery that evolves and develops
throughout the film as it creates “curiosity and excitement” within the audience
. Therefore we will try and consider using unexplainable, possibly non-linear
scenarios and events in our own horror film that will make people want to
watch more, to resolve their impending curiosity.

7. 89%
11%
Do you think the location used in the clip is
effective?
Yes
No
Some of the detailed responses
included:
“It is creepy and creates fear of the
unknown”
“It’s great as the whole factory, industrial
like scene, makes you feel as though
something bad will happen. “
I feel location, is the most important macro/ micro element in a horror film and
therefore will be thoroughly planned and discussed prior to making our horror
film. As evident from results, location is crucial to increase effectiveness and
the industrial, desolate setting of the clip in which the survey was based on
did succeed in creating tension and suspense, so may inspire our final film.

8. 78%
22%
Do you find the Villians hidden
identity effective?
Yes No
77%
23%
Do you like the choice of weapon used by
the villian in this clip?
Yes
No
Some of the detailed
responses included:
“It is unique and different to
the usual weapons used.”
“It is unrealistic”
The fact that the majority preferred the Villains identity hidden has inspired to
us to create a similar scenario, where in reality the villain is never seen, only
their feet, shadows or hands. As Hungry Media Productions have chosen the
psychological horror as our sub-genre, the weapon is not vital as it’s usually a
focal point of the slasher genre.

9. 77%
23%
Do you like the female’s costume?
Yes
No
Some of the detailed
responses included:
“It makes her look
vulnerable.”
“It makes her look weak”
Costumes are another crucial element of the horror genre and we will adapt a
similar style to The Nightmare on Elm Street, in terms of the protagonists
attire. This includes the use of pale colours and a stereotypical blonde actress
to increase the sense of vulnerability.

10. 89%
11%
Overall, in your opinion do you feel this opening scene
establishes the film well for you?
Yes
No
Some of the detailed
responses included:
“When she wakes up, you can see
where the murderer has scratched
her night dress. This gives the
idea that the dream was real. I
also liked the start where you saw
the murderer make his weapon
(the gloved hand)”
“The eery music and location work
well together.”
“I think the location and sound are
most effective”