Short Story Summary With Narrative Twist

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SHADOWS IN THE DARK

There’s rumours going around in town stating that there was strange appearances of figures within the old abandoned woods. They say that these figures stalk out of the woods at the midnight hour to pray on those lost in town to feast on; which is why they all go missing.

On day a young teen named Alex decided to decided to go out and explore, by patiently waiting until 12am to go to these woods and encounter this figure herself. Further, as she approaches the edge of the woods, the temperature of her surroundings began to drop significantly. Her shaky hands rub up and down her arms in attempt to keep herself warm, whilst the air in front of her is appearing like thick smoke. Further on, whilst still trying to keep herself warm, she suddenly spots a looming shadowy figure within the woods, in between the distant trees directly watching her.

Trepidation strikes her violently. She froze up completely and just observed the shadowy complexion stalk closer and closer to her. Her heartbeat was deafening, each beat muting the faint cries of his mother. As the figure approaches, its form started shifting. Sometimes there was a snarly mouth, sometimes there was only two glowing pins where the eyes should be. 

The figure was almost near the front of the forest line. Pausing just before the shadows ended. 

It was waiting. 

Alex was disoriented. However, as she was about to move forward she was pulled back sharply.
 
"Alex? where do you think you're going this time at night?" her mother yelled in a hushed whisper, in attempt of not waking up any neighbours.
 

Alex's eyes snapped to hers, whilst her ecstatic heartbeat is calming down. Her mother saved her from what she thought would be her doom.

"But- uh- the shadow...in the forest.." Alex stutters, unable to unerringly form her speech and thoughts; "But the rumours?.."

Alex's mother sighed, weary of her antics. She turned around and pointed: "look Alex, there's nothing there, you're ok"

Alex looked over in perplexity, the figure dissipated into the shadows. Alex was certain that something was emerging in the forest, however her mother convinced her that it was a form of hallucination. Later on, they both went home after that. Although the conception of a figure being in the shadows in the dark would oppress her thoughts for the rest of her life. 


ANALYSIS

How would the twist of 'Shadows In The Dark' be influenced by other films?


One way in which the twist of the film would be influenced is through the similar narrative structure to La Jetee.  In the science fiction short film, we perceive the main character looking at a man pass away through his perspective only to discover that he was glancing at the death of his future self towards the end of the film. Similarly in 'Shadows In The Dark', Alex throughout the whole story is convinced in her conscience that she detected a dark figure within the forest. However, towards the end, it turned out to be an imagery within her thoughts and not reality. Both films emphasise loss of sense of time and space revealed through the protagonists of the film, whilst conveying a sense of ambiguity towards the audience. I would use point-of-view shots similar to the ones in La Jetee in order to capture the character's experiences and somehow manipulate the audience into believing what she's perceiving is real. Moreover, scenes like these with unexpected plot twists raise enigmas through the audience such as 'how was it so realistic?'. Moreover, I would also use similar camera shots and symbolism in the opening and ending, in order to make the final scene inescapable and unforeseen. 

Another way the twist would be influenced is through the similar mis-en-scene 'Shadows In The Dark' has to Pitch Black Heist. Both narratives were set in a morose environment, which projects the character's current emotions in the scene. Pitch Black Heist for the majority was displayed through darkness, similar to the short narrative Alex was in darkness within the bounds of the trees.  

 

 

 


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