The Stylistic Elements and Narratives in Nigeria’s Night of Deaths Movie

The Night of Deaths [video] was produced in 2022 and directed by Ikechukwu Nweke, Ebele Okaro, and Mercy Kenneth. The movie belongs to the horror-drama genre because the producers combine horrific and dramatic elements to establish narratives around the common saying “what you sow is what you reap” among Africans when someone is being maltreated.

The movie started with a lady as the horrific character in a hair wig and a dark face, as well as an environment that demonstrates her as revengeful. The black background is blended with the yellow landscape, which shows the presence of low-key lighting. Sound effects are a mix of sorrowful and sonorous approaches that connote the idea of a complex situation in the scene. A close-up shot was used to establish the windstorm affecting some trees outside the building the horrific character is in.

The storm is portrayed as a supportive, digestic sound that complements her readiness for revenge. This primarily creates an atmosphere of fear for potential victims. The fear is increased intermittently with the introduction of a mix of low and high dark key lights and consistent thunder strikes around the trees. Thereafter, the room scene is established with a close-up shot and low-key dark light.

Again, frightening special sound effects, such as the dancing of tins inside the wardrobe with the consistent revengeful leitmotifs, were introduced to enhance the creation of a fear ambience. Gradually, a semi-scene is introduced with the cloaking of wardrobes’ doors and the falling of materials inside the wardrobe, making frightening sounds.

In this context, medium-close-up and point-of-view shots were constantly used gradually to establish the fear ambience. The light remains low-key dark, fading and dissolving into the actual frightful scene, where high-key dark light was introduced with the leitmotifs associated with character. A medium-close-up shot was introduced to establish the long-take movement of the character into a scene where children sleep. The camera only captured this through a stand mirror, another iconographic object.

In between establishing the children’s sleeping setting and the long-take movement of the character, jump cuts or ellipses editing were used. The character eventually walked to the kitchen and picked up a pestle for possible revenge. And the close-up and point-of-view shots, as well as long-take movement with a mix of low and high-key dark lightning, were introduced again towards the continuous creation of a fear ambience.

Medium-close-up and point-of-view shots were introduced to establish the fearfulness of the oldest child, who ran out of their room to their parents’ room in a frightful voice. In an extreme close-up shot, the horrific character eventually punched the youngest child until she died. The oldest child found her parents dead and ran back to their room. Along the way, the horrific character appeared, punched her, and made a frightful sound, showing she was being killed.

Elements and a representation of the genre conventions to which the film belongs

The use of a black background, low-key lighting, and a blend of dark and yellow landscape aligns with the genre’s preference for visually ominous and mysterious settings. This sets the tone for a foreboding atmosphere. The lady in a hair wig with a dark face serves as a visual symbol of horror. The contrast between her appearance and the environment reflects the genre’s tendency to use symbolism to convey fear.

The mix of sorrowful and sonorous sound effects contributes to the emotional weight and tension in the scenes. Horror films often use sound to evoke a range of emotions and intensify the audience’s fear. The integration of the windstorm as supportive diegetic sound and consistent thunder strikes aligns with the genre’s use of natural elements to enhance suspense and foreshadow terrifying events. The frequent use of close-up shots intensifies the focus on characters’ expressions and actions, heightening the audience’s connection to the horror.

Close-ups are a common technique in horror to emphasize emotional reactions and build tension. The inclusion of objects like a stand mirror serves as an iconographic element often seen in horror films. Mirrors can symbolize the unknown and are commonly used for visual scares. The narrative unfolds gradually, building tension with each scene. This pacing is a characteristic feature of horror, allowing the suspense to mount before reaching climactic and terrifying moments.

The theme of revenge is a recurring motif in horror, contributing to the emotional intensity of the narrative. Revenge often adds a personal and visceral element to horror stories. The use of jump cuts and ellipses in editing contributes to a sense of disorientation and unpredictability. These techniques are common in horror to create a jarring effect, keeping the audience on edge.