Short Film Primary Research #6 - 'Mirror'- Mystery/Thriller

'Mirror' is a 2013 mystery/thriller short film made by students in America.

The way the film opens is particularly engaging. It opens with a black screen, with loud, diegetic sounds of a phone ringing aggressively. After about 5 seconds of this, the title 'Mirror' pops up in the middle of the screen. Then, an establishing shot of the phone ringing appears on screen. It has been cleverly edited so that each time the camera moves closer to the phone, the diegetic sound of the phone ringing gets louder and louder. This achieves a tenser, more mysterious tone to the film as it heavily puts emhpasis on this phone, and it makes the audience question why it is ringing and who is calling. 

The film has also been shot and presented in black and white. I think that for this short film, it is appropriate as well as effective. The film only takes place within the characters bedroom, so the fact that is it in black and white the mood of the film gets more mysterious due to this decision. When we first see the character, he is shot from a medium shot and is sitting on the floor, with his head in his arms, looking filled with despair and confusion. This medium shot has been done to introduce us to the character, as well as showing to us his struggles and his brink of insanity due to these phone calls. 

This short film also incorporates elements of neo-noir thriller. This can be seen at 55 seconds into the short film, when a shot of well lighted, white blinds are in the middle of the frame. The character then walks up to them and looks through them, only to be interrupted by the phone ringing. These blinds and this action can represent entrapment, the character is trapped in this room and trapped under the threat of the phone caller. This is similar to how they did in older more traditional neo-noir thriller films. 

Also, I think that the sound design for the person speaking on the phone has been done well. It sounds muffled and quiter, making it sound genuine that someone is speaking on the phone. This adds to the craft of the film and makes it more realistic for the viewers. 

The cinematography in general is very good, using constant shots that make the main character look distressed and weak, and also showcasing his virge on losing his sanity, e.g long shots that show him frantically walking around the room as well as shouting over the telephone. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK-jsIanlGM