narrative structure of a horror movie - 5 narrative stages

stage 1:

a situation of equilibrium is clear

within our film there is only a short period of equilibrium and this is before the film begins, there is a shot from behind some bushes of the characters in the film walking together and unharmed, although the shot choice being from behind a bush may give a sinister feeling to the film we still feel as though all is well.

stage 2:

disruption to the equilibrium by something negative

there is a disequilibrium within our film, where there is a zoom shot first of all focusing on one body then opening up to see a large number of bodies laying dead in a Field, this is where the equilibrium begins to become disjointed.

stage 3:

an anagnorisis of sorts, trying to resolve the problem

a realisation of the disequilibrium comes when we see the remaining two characters seemingly running away from something, screaming, they seem to be every disturbed.

stage 4:

attempt to fix the disruption, overcoming hurdles in order to do so

an attempt to repair the damage caused by the disequilibrium is during the dream sequence, where the audience is not entirely sure what is going on. the disturbed and frantic screaming crossed with the happy, peaceful dream sequence attempts to repair the damage.

stage 5:

reaching a conclusion, fixing the issue and returning to a new equilibrium.

the damage is not repaired as such, however we reach some sort of a conclusion in the fact that the two remaining characters escape from the maze they were running through, it is a metaphorical device for them escaping and a sense of equilibrium is restored.