Every genre has its own style of delivery and execution of a certain message and warning, but the main focus remains within the storyline and the flow of the plot that shapes the narrative as the movie goes on and the story takes other themes within the specific genre. Without symbols and an eye for small details that illustrate the story without the use of words and vocal, productions will have a visible missing element that would not be easily covered by any means of communication and dialogue. It’s a balance between creating an effect of reality while also giving full attention to the details of the specifics and hidden meanings of the story. It’s the moral of every plot, and without it, no story will ever be complete.
With a wide variety of horror titles and audience members who obsess over this category for the whole year, an eye for details can never be missed by any production team, especially when the story is something that raises goosebumps and makes one wonder whether they’re living in an imaginary life, or a hidden reality. This is the kind of horror that audience members love and want more of. But with horror movies, the symbolism aspect of a story is categorized into different sects that is directed into multiple genres and entertainment dimensions. However, the ritualistic killings and cult-based motives are the two major factors and themes that contribute into the success of the horror genre as a whole. This success is not only based on the enjoyment nature of horror and slasher scenes, it’s more about knowing and investigating the unknown.
Cults and the stories behind them are not only theories and tales meant to be enjoyed through the screen and at bonfire gatherings trying to creep one another. Cults are a form of a social construct and network that are designed based on solidarity and mutual understanding of the network’s ethos for decades that have gone and others to come. Cult-based documentaries and crimes have been and continue to be produced due to the horrific violence committed within. It’s not a creepy horror story to keep one stay the night, but it’s a story of survival and awareness.
The formation of a cult and the backstory of those groups who are highly connected to a higher influence and motivation are not widely accepted among the community, especially when the specifics of harm and violence are the major and main aspect of it. Yet, viewing such productions, one would definitely notice the emphasis on solidarity within the group as they keep to themselves by having less contact with the outside world and other curious individuals who would never stop trespassing just to have a glimpse of what’s really going on. A solid connection based on solidarity and understanding is a key factor for a cult’s success and secrecy, and the emphasis of shunning themselves tells the story of how they are beyond reach and recognition of anyone’s understanding and existence.
Not only that, but cults in entertainment productions realistically portray the characteristic of the group’s beliefs through their actions, performances and how they dress, which is all modest due to their beliefs. However, this notion of modesty and appearance through behavioral changes and psychology tells a deeper story of why than any other legend and folklore would explain. But through those changes and psychological factors of innocence and well-behaved individuals who mostly speak polite, is an entity that known nothing about purity. The tendency of protecting the group and the mind from any outside influence evolved to uncontrolled behavior of killings and harm towards others. Audience members of true crime documentaries and podcasts have seen and listened to the stories being told about the The Manson Family , People’s Family , Shakahola Cult , and more, as their actions were all influenced by a powerful entity that can be felt through their soul, but can never be seen or heard. This plot of belief continues to be the moving fuel to conduct those actions without feeling a slight of guilt or misconduct.
But not all killings are a form of protection, some are sacrificial and are presented as a great honor to the entity of their belief. Through the lens of entertainment productions, scenes of violence that are based on human sacrifice or any other living creature is a reminder of the real tragedy of what’s going on behind the scenes of our reality. Not only are the stories and portrayal accurate, but when focusing on details and the story of the events, the connection between the scene and the real life event is accurately identical.
Through the darkness of the coloring scheme, costumes, and the way everything of the course of reality has been portrayed, the element of awareness could easily be traced and shared. Ritualistic killings are always presented through dark lenses and shadows, not only does it make the viewer feel the intensity and fear, but it allows the viewer to imagine how it would feel when those are acted on in real life, connecting their own emotion of enjoyment and fear with the real victims who survived and others who have not.
Costumes are also essential in making the most of the scenes and engaging audience members with the true experience which is mainly done behind closed doors and properties of severe violence and intimidation. Robes and masks and two basic things that are always presented to accumulate the spiritual tendency of the act. Robes symbolize power and authority, it’s a cape that resembles the sovereignty that one has over the others. And while robes have a say through their movements and colors on every character and it’s part of the ritual, masks are other aspects that carry a heavier weight on the surface of the situation.
Masks are not shields meant to protect and serve. They personify the freedom of one’s mind and body, and through that freedom of rationality, one intakes the part of the mask they are resembling and act on it. It’s a way of justifying one’s actions through the most basic sense of the self, and that’s by the definition of portraying the other and acting on their behalf. Taking an example of, The Wicker Man (1973), The Believers (1987), Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019) and much more. All of those productions carry a sense of familiarity with the reality of the situation that have been set in a specific scene and plot. Something that is based on learning and knowing while also being able to recognize the reality of what to believe and what not to.
In cases of real-life ritualistic killings that have also influenced movies such as The Kill List (2011), Apostle (2018) and others, the justification for this kind of behavior and acts tend to be more passive and psychological. It’s like trying to solve a mind game of who did it and why?. But the answer would always be that they were not the ones who did it, it’s them, he, she, they. And that’s when viewers ask, who are they?, who is he?. Yet, the reflection of an unanswered question have always been clear, it’s a reference to the masks and the embodiment of the characters they portrayed and lived through all along the ritual.
This scenario is a complicated reality when it goes through legal documented investigation by the police due to the psychological disconnection that has been formed. Disconnecting from reality and embodying another powerful entity plays a major role in the situation, as it leads to further closed doors of who did it? and why? without finding a key answer to any. Through the mask and the disconnection of reality, not only do they disclose their behavior through those entities, but their minds tend to cooperate and believe that they are really them. Which leads to a sense of belonging to them, and acting for them, without weighting the rationality of their actions and the harm it will cause the society as a whole.
Every ritualistic aspect of violence in entertainment productions are real-life situations that happened before and continues to happen until this day. It might be as far as another continent or as close as the neighbor next door. No one knows, and that’s why those productions are here, to set a dilemma of awareness for the audience. It’s an experiment of being entertained while also making the viewer acknowledge the reality of what’s happening behind closed doors.
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