The style of Venison Eaters is very unique and critical to the story. Every technical aspect of the film, from cinematography and editing to sound design and music have been carefully considered and meticulously planned. The style of our film takes inspiration from a variety of different genres and filmmaking aesthetics beginning with retro horror/thriller films. VENISON EATERS is more akin to the “slow burn” horror from the 70’s or 80’s where the suspense builds until the film reaches its peak intensity at the very end. Roman Polanski’s ROSEMARY’S BABY and Stanley Kubrick’s THE SHINING serve as excellent examples.

Music will also play a critical role. A variety of different genres and styles will be used including a modern tonal synth score to give the film a retro 70’s/80’s horror vibe while still remaining progressive for new audiences. Dark classical music akin to Krzysztof Penderecki will add to the film’s eerie mood and atmosphere and moments of upbeat pop music will be used to juxtapose the grim tone of the film (a technique widely used by Quentin Tarantino in all his films). 

Visually, VENISON EATERS will have a deliberate yet effective style featuring static wide shots to capture the natural beauty of the rural Appalachian setting, intense tracking shots to give the audience the feeling that they are with the characters on their journey, and high speed slow motion photography to manipulate the sense of time during critical turning points. The film will also feature psychedelic, hallucinogenic visuals (similar to sequences in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and Ken Russell’s ALTERED STATES) to convey the sense of confusion and madness within the characters as they travel deeper and deeper into the depths of the woods and the horror they encounter.

Various techniques and styles will be borrowed, manipulated, and turned into something all together new to create the aesthetic of VENISON EATERS. I would encourage one to view the VENISON EATERS short film to see how these stylisitc choices come together to create this unique aesthetic. Contact nick@rungunfilms.com to request a link.