Theories

Narrative:

Levi Strauss' Binary Oppositions - This theory is about the discussion and application of oppositions within characters/location/narratives. Strauss believed that every film narrative consists of binary oppositions for example almost every film has a good and bad character or the comparison between wealthy and poor or the location changes from a cityscape to an exotic place.

Barthe's Enigma Code Theory - Barthe believed that the plot of a film constructs a puzzle that the audience must figure out while the characters act out the story. An enigma may end with a surprising twist. He said the narrative is delivered to the audience by expectation, suspense, tension and closure. The audience is led to expect certain things to happen which leads to tension and excitement.

Todrov's Equilibrium Theory - Todrov suggested that a media text usually starts off with a state of equilibrium where everything appears to be normal and calm. As the text goes on there is some sort of disruption (dis-equilibrium) where there is a threat to the normal situation. A new equilibrium is produced to end the narrative.

Propp's 8 Stock Characters -Propp said that there are 8 type of characters that are almost always in story lines. There is the villain, hero, donor (Provides devices for the hero to complete mission), helper, princess, father, dispatcher (person who sets up the hero's quest) and the false hero. An example of all of these can be given in the very popular film series Harry Potter. In these sequels the obvious hero is Harry Potter himself as he is seen as the protagonist who has to fulfil his destiny in the story. The villain is Voldemort as he seeks to kill Harry. The donor is every proffessor at Hogwarts as they cometogether to help him. The helpers are Ronald Weasley and Hermoine Granger as they are always there to support him in the battles. The dispatcher is Dumbledor as he is the one to set Harry on the mission.

In our narrative we will be using all four of these theories. In Bitter Revenge, the 4 friends who go camping are to be seen as the good characters and the ghost is to be seen as the bad character (Levi Strauss' Binary Oppositions). The suspicious sounds and sudden deaths will be a mystery for the audience as which they will unravel along with the characters (Barthe's Enigma Code Theory). At the beginning of the film everything is calm as characters are discussing their trip, once the film gets to the middle, everything starts to go downhill for the characters (Todrov's Equilibrium Theory). Our story line involves a villain - Naila and a hero - Inaya.

Focus Group Feedback

My focus group are anyone over the age of 12 so I sent the following questions to my focus group through twitter and whatsapp to see what they prefer in horror films.

This is the result I got from my focus group on twitter...

This is the result I got from my focus group on Whatsapp

Bitter Revenge - Script

FADE IN
INT. LANA’S BEDROOM/GRAVEYARD #1 - DAY

Close up shot of the characters phone as her hand comes into
the frame to play music from the phone.

                    LANA:
          Hey what shall i pack for this

          camping trip?
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF LANA THROUGH THE MIRROR

                    INAYA:
          Only the essentials, like some food

          maybe.
WIDE SHOT OF INAYA WALKING INTO THE FRAME

                    LANA:
          Okay, Well i think i might just

          pack an extra pair of jeans;
          camping can get really messy

               (Walks towards dressing table)
          Do you think i’m gonna need any
          hairspray?

PANNING SHOT TO FOLLOW LANA

                    INAYA:
          It’s ony a camping trip Lana, no

          body cares how you look. Just hurry
          up and get here already!

                    LANA:
          I can’t believe we’re going on with

          this stupid dare!

                    INAYA:
          I know right

               (Inaya looks around curiously
               as she hears a twig break)

                    LANA:
          Alright, i’ll see you there in a

          bit.
               (Cross cuts into Inaya’s
               scene)

                    INAYA:
               (Cautiously)

See you soon.

FADE IN
EXT. GRAVEYARD #2 AFTERNOON

Wide shot of Inaya as she walks around searching for the
source of the sounds.

                    INAYA:
          Is anybody there?

CAMERA FOLLOWS HER FROM BEHIND
                    SALIHA AND ZAHRAH:

          BOO!
MID SHOT OF BOTH AT EYE-LEVEL

                    INAYA:
               (Screams in fear)

          Oh my God! Why would you do that?
          Ugh you guys are so annoying!

CLOSE-UP OF INAYA’S FACE

                    SALIHA:
               (Laughs hysterically)

          If you could see your face right
          now.

                    ZAHRAH:
          Remember when you said how it’s

          absolutely impossible

CUTS BACK TO MID SHOT OF INAYA’S FACE ROLLING HER EYES AT
THE COMMENTS

                    ZAHRAH:(CONT’D)
          to scare the great Inaya

                    INAYA:
               (Frustrated)

          Yeah yeah whatever,Anyways i’m glad
          you guys are here, I was just on
          the phone to Lana who is still
          packing.

OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT

                    SALIHA:
               (slightly amused)

          Well it is lana. She’d rather
          attend late than ugly. I can’t
          believe we’re actually going

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

2.

CONTINUED:

3.

                    SALIHA: (cont’d)
          through with this. Why are we doing

          this again?
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT

                    INAYA:
          Because we wanna prove to those

          trolls back at school that we can
          do this. Besides we don’t have to
          look at it as a dare. It’s like a
          camping trip. We can complete the
          dare and have fun at the same time

                    ZAHRAH:
               (Shouts happily)

          Yeah, I bought marshmallows and
          blankets for us to gather around
          the campfire and tell spooky
          stories.

CLOSE UP OF HER BAG AS SHE PULLS OUT THE MARSHMALLOWS
Twigs break

                    INAYA:
               (Shrieks)

          Wait! Did any of you’s hear that
          sound?

CLOSE UP OF HER FACE THEN CUTS TO HER POINT OF VIEW PANNING
SHOT

CAMERA CUTS TO ALONG SHOT OF THE GIRLS FROM BEHIND

                    LANA:
               (Cheerfully)

          Hey everybody, I’m here!
               (Drops bags)

LONG SHOT OF THE GIRLS AS THEY JUMP AND TURN

                    LANA:
          When does it all start!?

CAMERA IS AT A LONG SHOT AS SHE POSES

                    SALIHA:
               (Walking towards her)

          Yeah about time, You’re always late
          to everything!

OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

                    LANA:
               (Flicks hair)

          Uh fashionably!

CUTS TO A HIGH ANGLE LONG SHOT OF SALIHA LOOKING THROUGH
LANA’S BAG

                    SALIHA:
               (curiously)

          Why the hell have you got this with
          you?

CAMERA TILTS UP AS SALIHA PULLS OUT THE DOLL FROM THE BAG AND
STANDS UP AND PANS TO LANA

                    LANA:
               (Confused)

          What? I didn’t put that in there.
          It was on my bed when i was getting
          ready. How did it get in my bag?

                    INAYA:(CONT’D)
          Why did you even keep that thing?

          It gives me bad memories just
          thinking of it. Put it away now so
          we can get back to this trip.

                    ZAHRAH:
               (Rolls eyes)

          Well C’mon then. Lets sit around
          the campfire, i’ve got so many
          stories to tell you guys.

CAMERA PANS AS THEY GO TO SIT AROUND THE FIRE

                    SALIHA:
               (Finding a spot to sit on)

          Yes! Let’s get comfy, these stories
          better be god Zahrah.

                    ZAHRAH:
               (Looking up at Saliha)

          Trust me, their good.
WIDE SHOT OF THE GIRLS

                    ZAHRAH:(CONT’D)
               (In a slight whisper)

          Okay, so it all started when a
          little girl went into a charity
          shop,she saw a doll there sitting
          on the rusty cracked wooden shelf
          behind the counter. She could not
          take her eyes off of it.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

CAMERA CUTS TO A WIDE SHOT OF THE GIRLS FROM A HIGH ANGLE

                    ZAHRAH:(CONT’D)
          She refused to leave the shop

          without the doll, it was almost as
          if she was compelled into buying it
          with the dolls freakishly black
          eyes. That day she left the store
          with that same porcelain doll in
          her hand and never let it out of
          her sight. Wherever she went, the
          doll followed.

CLOSE UP OF LANA

                    LANA:
               (Covers her face in fear)

          I don’t like where this is going.
CUTS TO A POINT OF VIEW SHOT FROM BEHIND TREES

                    NAILA:
               (Breathing heavily)

          These girls don’t know what’s
          coming for them. Bitter Revenge.

                    ZAHRAH:
          She slowly walked up the stairs as

          the floor boards creaked. It was so
          dark she could see nothing, but she
          kept going, afraid the doll could
          be behind her.She had to get to her
          room before the doll did.

CAMERA PANS AROUND TO REVEAL EACH OF THE GIRLS’ EXPRESSIONS
AS THEY LISTEN TO THE STORY

                    ZAHRAH:(CONT’D)
          As she got to the door she slowly

          turned the door knob, the door
          squeaked as she pushed it
          hesitantly and...

CAMERA CUTS TO A MID-SHOT OF INAYA AND ZAHRAH

                    INAYA AND ZAHRAH:
               (In an abrupt manner)

BOO!

GIRLS SCREAM OUT LOUD AS THE CAMERA IS AT A HIGH ANGLE ABOVE
THEM.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

6.

                    ZAHRAH:
               (Laughs hysterically)

          Got you!
CAMERA CUTS TO MID SHOT OF SALIHA

                    SALIHA:
               (grabbing onto her shawl)

          Oh my God Zahrah! Why would you do
          that!?

CAMERA CUTS TO MID SHOT OF LANA

                    LANA:
               (puffing, with her hand on her
               heart)

          Feel my heart beat, I thought I was
          gonna die.

CAMERA CUTS TO MID SHOT OF ZAHRAH AND INAYA

                    INAYA:
               (Laughing mischeviously)

          That was a good one!
               (high fives Zahrah)

          You can’t trick the trickster and
          expect to get away with it!

CAMERA CUTS TO A WIDE SHOT AS THE GIRLS LAUGH
Sounds of wailing comes from inside the woods
CAMERA CUTS TO A HIGH ANGLE CLOSE UP OF SALIHA

                    SALIHA:
               (Whispering)

          Huh? What was that sound? Almost
          like an old woman wailing!

CUTS TO A CLOSE UP OF LANA

                    LANA:
               (Biting her nails)

          This story might be coming true
          Zahrah.

OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF ZAHRAH

                    ZAHRAH:
               (Panicking)

          Where’s that sound coming from?
CAMERA PANS TO INAYA

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

                    INAYA:
               (standing up)

          Guys relax,
CAMERA TILTS UP WITH HER

                    INAYA:(CONT’D)
          we should go check, someone could

          be in trouble.
CAMERA TILTS DOWN ON TO SALIHA

                    SALIHA:
          Puff, you go, i’m staying right

          here.
CAMERA CUTS TO A MID SHOT OF LANA

                    LANA:
          Yeah, have you never watched those

          movies.
CAMERA CUTS BACK TO INAYA

                    INAYA:
               (Rolling eyes frustration)

          Oh fine! You guys stay here.I’m
          gonna go on my own. I’ll be right
          back

CAMERA TILTS DOWN TO ZAHRAH

                    ZAHRAH:
               (Worried)

          What? How can you go wondering
          around all alone in the dark?

CAMERA CUTS BACK TO INAYA

                    INAYA:
               (Walking away)

          Don’t worry, we need to find out
          who’s causing these sounds!

CAMERA IS AT A LONG SHOT AS SHE WALKS OUT OF FRAME AND THEN
FOCUSES ON THE OTHER GIRLS.

The girls look at each other in confusion

FADE OUT

FADE IN
EXT. CAMPSITE #3 EVENING
The girls pace around, still waiting for Inaya to return
CAMERA CUTS TO AN OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF SALIHA’S WATCH

                    SALIHA:
               (Looks down at her watch in
               worry)

          What the hell’s taking her so long?

EYE-LEVEL SHOT FROM BEHIND LANA’S HEAD AND SLOWLY MOVES
AROUND TO THE FRONT OF HER HEAD

                    LANA:
               (Tying hair up)

          I know it’s been like 15 minutes.
          Do you guys think we should go look
          for her?

CAMERA CUTS TO AN OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF ZAHRAH

                    ZAHRAH:
          Yeah it has been a pretty long

          time. I tell you what, lets split
          up and see if we can find her.

OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF SALIHA

                    SALIHA:
          Split up?! Are you mad? What if we

          get lost too?
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF ZAHRAH

                    ZAHRAH:
          Oh we won’t. We all have our

          phones.
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF SALIHA

                    SALIHA:
               (Hesitantly)

          But...
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF LANA

                    LANA:
               (Cutting of Lana)

          Guys, we don’t have all the time in
          the world. Let’s go now.If i stay

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

8.

CONTINUED:

9.

                    LANA: (cont’d)
          up for too long i’ll get dark

          circles.
               (Flicks hair)

          I need my beauty sleep you know.

                    ZAHRAH:
               (Snickering as she walks into
               the woods)

          Come on then.
CAMERA IS AT A STILL SHOT AS THE GIRLS WALK PAST

FADE IN

          SALIHA:
     (Reluctantly following the
     others)

Oh i’ve got a bad feeling about
this.

EXT. GRAVEYARD #4 NIGHT

Wide shot of Lana as she paces the pathway

Scraping sounds

CAMERA CUTS TO A CLOSE UP OF THE BACK OF LANA’S FACE AS SHE
TURNS TO FACE THE DIRECTION OF THE SOUND

                    LANA:
               (Looking around in worry)
               What was that?

Voice over of Saliha screaming
CAMERA IS AT A HIGH ANGLE AS LANA RUNS TOWARDS THE SCREAM

                    LANA:
               (Fearfully)

SALIHA!

CAMERA IS AT GROUND LEVEL AS LANA RUNS TOWARDS SALIHA’S BODY
AND KNEELS DOWN

                    LANA:(CONT’D)
          Get up! Please, open your eyes!

CAMERA CUTS TO A LONG SHOT OF ZAHRAH

FADE OUT

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

10.

Voiceover

          ZAHRAH:
Inaya!Where are you? If this is

some kind of joke you better stop
it right now!

          LANA:
     (From a distance)

          Help! Somebody please help me!
CUTS TO CLOSE UP ZAHRAH’S FACE

                    ZAHRAH:
               (Confused)

          That’s Lana’s voice. Lana?!
               (Waits in silence for reply)

          Lana, tell me where you are! Oh god
          i hope she’s okay.

CAMERA IS AT A STILL SHOT AS ZAHRAH RUNS PAST

                    ZAHRAH:(CONT’D)
               (Hears leaves rustling)

CUTS TO A MID SHOT
          Lana? Is that you? Who’s there?

          Inaya?
               (Starts to get frightened and
               stumbles back)

Saliha?

CAMERA AT HIGH ANGLE AS LEAVES RUSTLE LOUDER AND ZAHRAH RUNS
THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION

Suspenseful music plays in the background as she runs and
then trips on something to fall over

CAMERA DOES A TRACKING SHOT FROM BEHIND

                    ZAHRAH:
               (Whispers fearfully looking
               down)

Oh my God.

CAMERA CUTS TO HIGH ANGLE OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT TO REVEAL
THE BODIES

                    ZAHRAH:(CONT’D)
               (Screaming)

          No! No! No!
CUTS TO AN EXTREME CLOSE UP OF HER FACE

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

11.

                    ZAHRAH:(CONT’D)
          Please, you have to be alive

          please! Why aren’t you breathing?!
          Open your eyes.

CAMERA CUTS TO A MID SHOT SHOW NAILA SLOWLY WALKING TOWARDS
THE GIRLS

                    NAILA:
               (Calmly with head tilted
               slightly)

          Did you miss me?
Zahrah turns around swiftly
                    ZAHRAH:

               (Shocked)
          Who are...? Naila? But i thought
          you were dead. We went to your
          memorial. How are you here?

CAMERA TILTS UP AS ZAHRAH STANDS UP
CUTS TO AN OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT

                    NAILA:
               (Slowly walking towards her)

          Well i had to come back. You 4
          still have something that belongs
          to me.

CLOSE UP OF ZAHRAH’S FACE

FADE IN
INT. CLASSROOM #5 DAY

FADE OUT

Zahrah has a black and white flashback of 4 children
surrounding Naila as they run around in a circles bullying
her.

                    GIRLS:
               (Running in circles around
               Naila singing simultaneously)

          Naila is a loser! Naila is loser!
CAMERA IS AT A HIGH ANGLE

                    MINI LANA:
               (Snatching the doll from
               Naila, pushing her to the
               ground)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

12.

          That’s mine now!

                    NAILA:
          Stop! That’s mine give it back!

                    MINI ZAHRAH:
          Nobody likes you! I bet the doll

          couldn’t wait to get rid of you
          either.

CLOSE UP OF EACH GIRL AS THEY SPEAK

                    SALIHA:
          Yeah! Why don’t you just leave and

          make everyone’s life easier.

                    INAYA:
          Exactly, just go back to where you

          came from. Nobody will even notice
          you’re gone. We’ll take better care
          of your doll.

CUTS BACK TO LONG SHOT AS GIRLS SKIP AROUND AGAIN SINGING
NURSERY RHYMES

CUTS TO A CLOSE UP OF NAILA

                    NAILA:
               (Rocking with hands on her
               ears)

          Stop it! Stop it! Please!
                                FLASHBACK ENDS BY FADING OUT

FADE IN
EXT. GRAVEYARD #6 NIGHT

Camera is at Zahrah’s point of view shot as Naila walks
closer and grabs her by the neck

                    ZAHRAH:
               (slowly walking back)

          Please don’t hurt me! Look we’re
          really sorry. We’ve been feeling
          guilty ever since we found out you
          committed suicide. We never meant
          for that to happen. I swear.

(Cries)

                    NAILA:
          Oh you never meant for it to

          happen? I begged for you stop! But
                    (MORE)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

13.

                    NAILA: (cont’d)
          you didn’t! You feel guilty do you?

          Well why don't i get rid of that
          guilt for you?

CAMERA STAYS STILL AS BLOOD SPLATTERS ALL OVER NAILA’S
FACE THEN DROPS DOWN ONTO THE FLOOR

                    NAILA:(CONT’D)
          I never meant for this to happen

          either. But you forced me, now you
          will all pay!

               (Takes a deep breath)
          3 down, 1 more to go.

CAMERA CUTS TO A HIGH ANGLE WIDE SHOT AS NAILA DRAGS THEIR
BODIES AWAY

FADE OUT

FADE IN
EXT. CAMPSITE #7 NIGHT
Camera is at a wide shot as Inaya comes out of the woods

                    INAYA:
          Guys did you hear all those

          scre...?
CAMERA CUTS TO A MID SHOT OF HER

                    INAYA:(CONT’D)
          Hey guys where are you? Okay i

          know, you’re gonna jump out at me
          again! You can come out now.

               (Looks around until she spots
               the bodies then runs towards
               them)

CAMERA FOLLOWS HER THEN CUTS TO A CLOSE UP OF HER FACE AS
SHE KNEELS DOWN

                    INAYA:(CONT’D)
               (Weeping)

          Guys wake up! This can’t be
          happening! Oh please wake up.

CAMERA CUTS TO AN OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT AS SHE PICKS UP THE
NOTE AND KNIFE FROM THE GROUND

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

14.

                    INAYA:(CONT’D)
               (Reads note in a shaky tone)

          You play with me, I play with
          you... Naila. Naila?

               (Gasps)
CLOSE UP OF HER FACE

FADE IN
EXT. OUTSIDE SCHOOL #8 EVENING

FADE OUT

Voiceover plays in the background of a black and white fast
paced flashback scene. Along with slow music.

                    MR PATRICK:
          Class, I have very important news

          to share with you today. As you may
          have noticed, our fellow classmate,
          Naila Malik, is not present here
          today. This morning we have
          received the news that Naila is no
          longer with us after the tragic
          accident that took place last
          night. This has been a great loss
          for us and to show Naila’s family
          some support, i would like to
          request you to please attend her
          memorial which will be held this
          afternoon. And keep her family with
          you in you in your prayers. May her
          soul rest in peace.

                              FLASHBACK ENDS WITH A FADE OUT

FADE IN
EXT. CAMPSITE #9 NIGHT

The camera is at a ground level still shot of Inaya’s feet
as she drops the note and knife. Distant police siren sound
plays in the scene and gets louder then stops. Another pair
of legsappear behind Inaya.

                    POLICE OFFICER:
               (Firmly)

          Inaya, I am arresting you in
          suspicion of murder.

CAMERA CUTS TO AN EYE LEVE MID SHOT

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

15.

                    POLICE OFFICER:(CONT’D)
          You do not have to say anything but

          it may harm your defence if you do
          not mention when questioned
          something which you later rely on
          in court. Anything you do say may be
          given in evidence.

                    INAYA:
               (Screaming)

          It wasn’t me! It was Naila, she’s
          still alive. She’s trying to get
          revenge from us. Please, you’ve got
          to believe me!

FADE IN
EXT. PARK #10 NIGHT

FADE OUT

Panning establishing shot of the park which stops at Naila
sitting on a swing with the teddy bear. Camera cuts to a long
shot of her from behind then slowly moves towards the doll.

                    NAILA:
               (Quietly in a dull tone)

          Ring-a-ring-a-roses. A pocket full
          of poses, a tissue, a tissue, we
          all fall down.

CLOSE UP SHOT OF THE DOLL THEN CUTS TO A CLOSE UP OF NAILA’S
AS SHE SCREAMS IN TO THE CAMERA.