Short film research: (The Neighbor/urban thriller)

  For our short film, we're exploring the urban thriller genre, and after watching The Neighbor (2017), I’ve gathered valuable insights that will influence our approach. The film uses tight shots and shaky camera movements to create a feeling of unease and to immerse the audience in the protagonist’s perspective. This is accompanied by a minimalistic soundtrack that features eerie ambient sounds, like footsteps or creaking doors, which amplify the tension as the protagonist’s paranoia grows. The mise-en-scène in The Neighbor uses dim lighting, with dark rooms and limited visibility, enhancing the sense of claustrophobia and danger. The setting itself—an isolated apartment complex—becomes almost as much of a character as the people in it. Editing is quick, especially during moments of suspense, with jump cuts that make the audience feel just as disoriented as the main character. What I enjoy most about the urban thriller genre, as demonstrated in The Neighbor, is how it uses the environment and the psychology of the characters to create a gripping, suspense-filled atmosphere. However, the genre’s tendency to focus on isolated or overly paranoid characters sometimes makes it hard to emotionally connect with the protagonist, as they can feel distant or cold. Watching The Neighbor has given me a clearer sense of how to build a sense of suspense through environment and camera work, and how to develop characters whose psychological complexity drives the tension.