The music plays a large part in the video, as it changes the whole atmosphere in the video. It adds intensity, like a dream or nightmare. E.g. when they are in the deserted house the zombies are coming closer to the girl as the music becomes louder, then leads up to a scream. We actually don’t start off with the thriller music as the horror film plays. When we are in the woods the sounds of screams and horror music, this relates to dreams and nightmares, as the music is very dramatic and scary. Different music is also played when they pass the grave when we flick back to reality; the thriller music begins, as they walk down the street to the beat of the music. This music changes dramatically from scary and surreal to beaty and energetic. This may be used to show the audience that they have come out of a nightmare into reality.
Special effects also help to make the nightmare more terrifying. When Michael turns into a werewolf seems very real and scary. Also a very clever special effect used in this video is that the audience can never tell if what they are watching is a dream, nightmare, or reality. This is a fabulous technique used as it creates the sense of confusion as when you are in a dream or nightmare. And by flicking from one to the other creates the illusion for the audience of a dream/ nightmare too.
The lyrics used in the film are important as they also tell as horror story, which could even be a nightmare. “It's Close To Midnight And Something Evil's Lurking In The Dark”. This is one of the lines from the lyrics. He is singing it to the girl, but in a narrator like story. Michael also used dance moves to correspond with his words, while his is singing thriller to the girl. “Under the moonlight you see a sight that almost stops your heart”. Michael would now perform a move like grabbing his heart.
There is also a voiceover when Michael and the girl pass the graveyard. He adds to the effect of a nightmare by reading scary lyrics about the dead and them rising.
The graveyard plays an important role in dreams and nightmares as it shows the audience a typical horror film surrounding. There is loud organ music playing and the graveyard is covered in a layer of mist, then the zombies start to rise from their graves.
They have symbolic costumes as they relate to dreams and nightmares. The zombies look so life like, just like a dream or nightmare. Their costumes look mouldy, ripped and decaying. The colourse, which are used, are dark greys, greens and browns. All of the zombies look very similar. This is essential when the dance sequence begins Michael is in a red jock jacket, so he stands out from the zombies. In the film Michaels costumes changes, as at the beginning they are rather 80’s costumes as the girl is wearing girly skirts, and Michael is wearing a jock costume. These are essential as it makes it easier from the audience to see when the video changes from reality from a dream or nightmare.
The movement is one of the most important parts to show that they are zombies. Their moves are almost robotic like at some points. They are jolty, sharp moves. They also use lots of isolation on certain parts of the body. In the dance sequence they use spins and jumps and their shoes tap and scrape against the floor giving sound effects in unison. The dance is also performed in unison, which is very effective. They use lots of horror positions to add the effect of dreams and nightmares. One of the best positions is where they have their hands in claws. This also adds to the horror effect.
All theses effects create the setting and surrounding of dreams and nightmares. I believe what relates to dreams and nightmares the most is the chopping and changing from reality, and how you cannot tell if what you see is real or not. But overall I believe this video is very similar to a dream or nightmare.
By Sarah Dawson 10V4
