Costume

Now the group had devised a concrete idea for the hybrid psychological/thriller, we needed to carefully deliberate what type of costume would mirror our antagonist, as well as the resounding themes and messages we are trying to convey.

Now that the group have discarded the female antagonist notion, I have begun to contemplate as to what form of attire the character would suit. Considering the storyline, it appears that deceiving normality is one of the most prominent themes. Therefore, the predictable white shirt, black tie and formal trousers seem the best proposal. This would universally create the illusion that this man is just another face within a sea of commuters, eagerly awaiting to reunite with his ‘superposed nuclear family’. He will be wearing fairly presentable glasses, with a watch to suggest that he is a typical mediocre man, with natural blemishes and insecurities in life, despite the fact he inflicts severe pain upon victims, with supposedly no reasoning.

Fundamentally, our influence draws towards Michael Douglas’ fictional character in Falling Down. Evaluating both our character and his, you can draw together assumptions merely through their form of attire. Pre-conceived notions connote that they are both middle-class office employees who seem rundown from the stranglehold of their business. The shirt and trouser combination almost suggests that they are not a full package; opposed to the conventional ‘bigwig’ you would see in a full piece suit. This could suggest they are not essentially fulfilled in life, and therefore take it out on the world around them.

An important factor to note in terms of clothing is the degeneration during his journey. This is a key micro feature that entwines with Mise en Scene, as the stripping of clothing e.g. glasses, rolled sleeves etc should anchor the growing correlation of isolation. This should fundamentally convey the true man behind the supposedly pristine white shirt and tie that the audience initially see.

Another influence I personally took from devising such character is once again Jack Torrance from the Shining. Initially he is perceived as a perfectly normal man, which is essentially highlighted through his janitor/everyday attire. However, as the hotel begins to indoctrinate him (life knocks our protagonist down) he snaps, and progressively breaks down. This results in the frenetic man we see towards the end of the film, however, he is still shot in perfectly standard clothing (red jumper and jeans). However, behind the jacket lies evil, making the scene even more profound and breaking conventional stereotypes.

When finally analysing the social grades (target audience), I also feel our antagonists attire would be something they could relate to. Going to school myself, I know being confined behind a stuffy shirt, tie and trousers isn’t something I exactly admire. Therefore, somebody placed in a lower middle class status, who may not exactly revel in the idea of working at an office all day, may be able to relate to an embodiment who breaks away from the conventions and the stereotypes that naturally come with such a profession.