For years I had been recommended to watch Hannibal, I did actually start it a few years ago but got distracted and didn’t return to it. I watched the full three seasons in the last fortnight, and It has opened my mind up to directions I can take this experimentation. Hannibal is executed to subtly at times, but also very avant-garde in other aspects. The show is very much a thriller, but it incorporates heavy themes of grotesque body horror, and psychological horror. Body horror is very closely related to cosmic horror, the two often being used together (The Thing, Event Horizon, Alien, etc). I found it incredibly interesting how Hannibal substituted some killing scenes for Hannibal cooking organs, and then serving it to people. I feel that is was arguably more shocking and effective in portraying horror. The juxtaposition of seeing something so simple as preparing a meal, with the knowledge that the organs are human was very chilling. I feel that juxtaposition will be key in trying to achieve any semblance of horror that I am trying to illicit. Hannibal also has points where the editing gets really strange, often unlike anything else I’ve seen in television. In the third season there is a sex scene, but the audience see’s it through a kaleidoscopic vision, often making it appear as though the two people are conjoined into one being. It’s probably the best use of this effect I’ve seen. I’ve played with the kaleidoscope effect in the past, but it wasn’t used with any ‘intent’ other than to try and make an image appear more interesting. I think I will use it in a similar way to Hannibal, to try and depict conjunction or separation in a way besides an decrease/increase of distance. Hannibal also uses silence as a way to build up tension, with very slow scenes. It isn’t afraid to linger on a shot, or direct and edit actors actions at an incredibly slow pace. I think this leaves more room for the audience to analyse what is being said and seen, effectively making it so the horror isn’t just built up on screen, but also in the minds of the audience. Most of the videos I make are very energetic, as it is aesthetically appealing to me, but I think I will experiment with slowing down footage, with little non-diegetic noise in the background.

I’ve found myself watching less and less during lock down, I fear it is a byproduct of my focus to try and not allow my anxiety get the better of me through this. I am glad I pushed through Hannibal though, I think it was very educational on how Horror can be more than just what we see on screen, thinking about it now it is very reminiscent of Se7en in a way.