Film Appreciation

 Hailey Spencer   Film Appreciation  FILM 115-IN1 Professor Trevor  November 10th, 2025       When I was in the 8th grade, I read the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I remember being absolutely obsessed with it, taking every opportunity I had to read more. This was a book I struggled to put down, and I have nothing but fond memories of reading it. There were even times I got emotional after reading certain chapters, especially after Pi's family drowned on the sinking ship. Not long after finishing the book, I immediately rented the film and watched it with my family. After watching it, I was beyond impressed. It managed to bring the book to life in a way I never could have imagined. In addition to the story and special effects, the production design itself was nothing short of incredible.      One example of the amazing production design utilized in this film was the creation of the massive, custom-built wave tank. After w...

  Hailey Spencer   Film Appreciation  FILM 115-IN1 Professor Trevor  October 27th, 2025      Although I'm not a massive fan of the horror film genre, I found it  incredibly interesting to compare a horror film produced before the 1970s to one made after. The two films I chose are  Piranha , which was released in 1995, and The Devil Bat , released in 1940. Although these films were released during different eras, there is one element they have in common as both of these movies prey upon phobias and society's beliefs and associations with certain animals. Piranhas and bats are often associated with death, evil, and bloodlust, especially vampire bats. However, despite both films possessing plots about creatures killing people, there are some noticeable differences between them and the techniques implemented to build tension, create a disturbing atmosphere, and frighten the audience.       One difference between these fil...

   Hailey Spencer   Film Appreciation  FILM 115-IN1 Professor Trevor  October 13th, 2025       One of my favorite Halloween movies to this day is Disney's Hocus Pocus . I will never forget how much I enjoy the Sanderson sisters and their performance by actors Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. Their scenes are some of my favorites in the film especially when they perform "I Put a Spell on You" to hypnotize and distract the adults at the Halloween party. Despite watching this film numerous times, I didn't know much about the various special effects it utilizes. I was familiar with the use of some effects like computer generated imagery, but I knew little about the process of creating them as well as some of the practical effects. After watching an episode of VFX Geek, reading an article, and watching a behind the scenes video about the making of the film, I learned more about some of the special effects present in the f...

Hailey Spencer   Film Appreciation  FILM 115-IN1 Professor Trevor  September 29th, 2025       Editing is an interesting and incredibly important aspect of film. It not only influences the audience's emotions, but helps guide and immerse them in the world the film's writers and directors have created. Two films I watched that utilize various effective editing techniques are Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) . These movies are from  two completely different genres of film, and this is reflected in the editing present in both. Since Bride of Frankenstein  is a sci-fi/horror film, its editing is meant to create a creepy and disturbing atmosphere while  The Adventures of Robin Hood is an action oriented film that employs fast-paced editing to create a vibrant and exhilarating environment.      In Bride of Frankenstein , the film's  pacing is slow and methodical as it's meant to cr...

  Hailey Spencer   Film Appreciation  FILM 115-IN1 Professor Trevor  September 14th, 2025       As someone who enjoys films and TV shows that take place in Korea such as Train to Busan ,  Squid Game and more recently, Kpop Demon Hunters , S ympathy for Mr. Vengeance immediately piqued my interest not long after watching the trailer. The frequent cuts and use of fade ins and fade outs created this sense of terror and unease. After watching  Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance , I noticed it employs various effective cinematography techniques. This film's cinematographer, Kim Byeong-il, who has also worked on films such as Hitchhiker, Untold Scandal , and Addicted,  is known for having a distinct style of cinematography. He is very talented and often uses balanced cuts and wide-shots to create a sense of tension between the characters and their environment.         One example of Byeong-il's effective use of cin...

Hailey Spencer   Film Appreciation  FILM 115-IN1 Professor Trevor  August 31st, 2025                                                                           Sleep paralysis is a bizarre phenomenon I am incredibly fascinated with. The idea of someone being half awake and asleep at the same time never ceases to amaze or disturb me. I understand the human body is extremely complex, so I'm not surprised it occasionally makes mistakes. Despite being someone who has experienced sleep paralysis before, I cannot imagine what it must be like for those who suffer from it every night. The documentary, The Nightmare follows eight different people who experience sleep paralysis and the emotional toll it often takes on them.         After watching the ...