**Note**
This article is not quite complete! I will be writing a bit more, and editing what is already written. I will also be sharing more media, including:
-Music from the OST
-A custom trailer that I will create myself
Please understand, it is my first post to the site and I am still in a "testing" phase, but I hope you will enjoy what is currently available.
**End Note**
"My ears hear what others cannot hear. Small faraway things people cannot normally see are visible to me." India Stoker's opening words set the tone for her character and the mood for the rest of the film. What she describes, and portrays through her later actions, is eerily similar to a phenomenon known as ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response). If you are not familiar with ASMR, it can be quickly (and inadequately) described as a "tingling" sensation, usually felt in the back of the head and traveling down the spine. This sensation is "triggered" by certain visual or auditory stimuli. These triggers tend to be fairly universal among those "affected" by ASMR, but do vary in effectiveness from person to person.
Stoker's style is very well suited to the inclusion of such a delicate element. If you have seen any of director Park Chan-Wook's films, you know what to expect. If not, you are in for a defining experience of unparalleled camera work, including Park's signature immaculate framing. His care for every detail on-screen allows the film to be frozen at any point and appear as a viable photograph rather than a movie still. Every frame is a work of art.
To compliment the precision of the filmography, audio direction is absolutely euphonious. Such a perfect combination makes the whole film an engrossing experience, but certain moments stand out as purely ASMR-centric. When India cracks an egg on the table and lowers her ear to listen, or drinks from a wineglass with the sound of her breath purposely placed into focus, one has to wonder if these scenes were intentionally designed to be ASMR triggers.
Such an intense focus on subtleties is what makes Stoker work as a slow-burn suspense with an air of mystery. For a significant portion of the film, nothing really "happens". Instead, there is a constant feeling that something is "off", but you may not quite decipher why. Simple objects hold great significance, as does every line of dialogue. Even casual comments are often metaphors which, in the context of the story, hold a darker meaning. The pacing is impeccable; there is a constant, unwavering tension.
The core of the film's plot, and the source of most of the tension, is the tenuous relationship balance between India, her mother and her enigmatic uncle Charlie. Straight from the beginning, Charlie's behavior exudes delicate and discreet control. He is charming and helpful to the point of being suspiciously manipulative; it is obvious from the earliest moments that he has ulterior motives. The puzzle is to discover his secret.
This article is not quite complete! I will be writing a bit more, and editing what is already written. I will also be sharing more media, including:
-Music from the OST
-A custom trailer that I will create myself
Please understand, it is my first post to the site and I am still in a "testing" phase, but I hope you will enjoy what is currently available.
**End Note**
"My ears hear what others cannot hear. Small faraway things people cannot normally see are visible to me." India Stoker's opening words set the tone for her character and the mood for the rest of the film. What she describes, and portrays through her later actions, is eerily similar to a phenomenon known as ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response). If you are not familiar with ASMR, it can be quickly (and inadequately) described as a "tingling" sensation, usually felt in the back of the head and traveling down the spine. This sensation is "triggered" by certain visual or auditory stimuli. These triggers tend to be fairly universal among those "affected" by ASMR, but do vary in effectiveness from person to person.
Stoker's style is very well suited to the inclusion of such a delicate element. If you have seen any of director Park Chan-Wook's films, you know what to expect. If not, you are in for a defining experience of unparalleled camera work, including Park's signature immaculate framing. His care for every detail on-screen allows the film to be frozen at any point and appear as a viable photograph rather than a movie still. Every frame is a work of art.
To compliment the precision of the filmography, audio direction is absolutely euphonious. Such a perfect combination makes the whole film an engrossing experience, but certain moments stand out as purely ASMR-centric. When India cracks an egg on the table and lowers her ear to listen, or drinks from a wineglass with the sound of her breath purposely placed into focus, one has to wonder if these scenes were intentionally designed to be ASMR triggers.
Such an intense focus on subtleties is what makes Stoker work as a slow-burn suspense with an air of mystery. For a significant portion of the film, nothing really "happens". Instead, there is a constant feeling that something is "off", but you may not quite decipher why. Simple objects hold great significance, as does every line of dialogue. Even casual comments are often metaphors which, in the context of the story, hold a darker meaning. The pacing is impeccable; there is a constant, unwavering tension.
The core of the film's plot, and the source of most of the tension, is the tenuous relationship balance between India, her mother and her enigmatic uncle Charlie. Straight from the beginning, Charlie's behavior exudes delicate and discreet control. He is charming and helpful to the point of being suspiciously manipulative; it is obvious from the earliest moments that he has ulterior motives. The puzzle is to discover his secret.
Pictured above are two prime examples of Stoker's ability to build tension through simple interactions. On the left, Charlie offers India an umbrella, smugly stating: "It's going to rain". While on the surface such an offer would be considered a kindness, the umbrella is intentionally yellow, a color that can be associated with anger and frustration - a symbol of Charlie's antagonizing presence.
On the right, he is simply going out to trim the hedges. It's a routine chore, but his subtly awkward enthusiasm combined with claustrophobic camera angles creates an inescapable sense of unease.
In addition to its suspense, thriller, and mystery components Stoker is, at its heart, a sort of (dark and unsettling) coming of age story. There is a fair amount of focus on India's childhood which is important to understanding who she is and who she will be. Like most of us, she is searching for her personal identity. This progression is repeatedly visually represented by her shoes. At one point she lies on her bed and surrounds herself with pairs of shoes from every previous year of her life while an audio track of footsteps plays, starting with the quick, light taps of little feet and ending with the slower, deeper footfalls of her older self.
When it comes to creative visual and audio transitions such as this, Stoker is plentiful. From an incredibly smooth transition involving hair brushing to a scene where India's footsteps, the metronome on the piano, and the overlying musical score are all in sync, it is clear the editors possessed the talent to fully do justice to the sights and sounds at their disposal - not one clip seems forced or added with haste.
On the right, he is simply going out to trim the hedges. It's a routine chore, but his subtly awkward enthusiasm combined with claustrophobic camera angles creates an inescapable sense of unease.
In addition to its suspense, thriller, and mystery components Stoker is, at its heart, a sort of (dark and unsettling) coming of age story. There is a fair amount of focus on India's childhood which is important to understanding who she is and who she will be. Like most of us, she is searching for her personal identity. This progression is repeatedly visually represented by her shoes. At one point she lies on her bed and surrounds herself with pairs of shoes from every previous year of her life while an audio track of footsteps plays, starting with the quick, light taps of little feet and ending with the slower, deeper footfalls of her older self.
When it comes to creative visual and audio transitions such as this, Stoker is plentiful. From an incredibly smooth transition involving hair brushing to a scene where India's footsteps, the metronome on the piano, and the overlying musical score are all in sync, it is clear the editors possessed the talent to fully do justice to the sights and sounds at their disposal - not one clip seems forced or added with haste.
If you were not previously familiar with Stoker, I hope I have helped you discover something new that you will like! Please let me know if you enjoy it, and how you feel about my analysis. While the movie as a whole is not relaxing, I would still like to hear your thoughts on the ASMR elements too.
Thank you for reading. :)
-Жанна <3
Thank you for reading. :)
-Жанна <3