Black Box TV - Youtube Horror
Who says you need a huge budget, tonnes of special effect and a star studded cast to make genuinely terrifying horror films. This Youtube based production company has dragged classic thriller-style videos into the 21st century and has brought the viewer closer than ever to the action.
They are BlackBoxTV and they have revolutionised the way people experience the horror genre through modern technology. A small but quickly expanding company founded by Tony E. Valenzuela and created in 2010, BlackBox have developed a rapidly increasing and dedicated fanbase with their horror and sci-fi based short films.
The Hollywood based company are known for their professional quality videos, of which they have produced over 250, ranging from short horror films and mind-bending sci-fi flicks to terrifying prank videos and interactive series’. Last year the Youtube channel, home to over 670,000 subscribers, gained huge recognition online thanks to it’s eight-part series ‘Fight of The Living Dead’. The series is essentially a live action video game in which a series of Youtube personalities have to make their way through a zombie-infested location trying to figure out clues and make their way to the end without being eaten alive. The amazingly well produced series manages to intertwine two mediums in a way that appeals to gamers and TV lovers alike, while providing a fresh take on the hugely saturated zombie genre. This unique horror series is just one example of BlackBoxTV’s ability to produce creative and original content, and is responsible for their winning of a 2015 Streamys Drama Award.
Since the success of their 'Fight of The Living Dead' series, and their countless number of stunning short films, BlackBox have continued to push the boundaries of horror with more original interactive videos that combine classic thriller with modern technology. Another great example of this is their latest series, released last year, ‘The Fourth Door’. This is an interactive series in which the viewer is put in charge of how the story unfolds. If you've ever read a choose-your-own adventure book, then imagine that in the form of a video. But instead of turning to a specific page, you simply utilise Youtube’s handy annotation feature and click a button which will take you to the next video and further into the story. The Fourth Door is a well directed series with a great cast consisting of would-be victims and potential survivors (depending on the decisions you make). The viewer can decide which of the three protagonists they wish to step into the shoes of, a bubbly cheerleader, an unsuspecting librarian’s assistant, or a very confused Youtube star. Throughout the series of short films the viewer decides how the story unfolds and the choices they make ultimately decide whether their character lives or dies. The interactive nature of this series, along with an eerily intriguing storyline and a score that would give John Carpenter the creeps, results in a unique and immersive experience that would leave anyone wanting more. And if you do, you can simply replay from the beginning in order to create a whole new storyline. The Fourth Floor is not only a beautifully shot piece of film, but it is a perfect example of how modern media platforms can be used to create a totally fresh approach to an age old genre.
The act of integrating technology into their productions is something that BlackBox love to do, and they always seem to be innovating. They posted a new video a few months ago named ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ that utilises such a simple concept and turns it into something totally brilliant with the use of a 3D camera. I’m sure most of you reading this have seen footage filmed on these new cameras and were probably amazed (as was I) at the fact that as a viewer you are no longer restricted to just one angle but instead you have a full 360 degree view. Black box utilise this perfectly in the Five Nights video by having multiple cameras placed throughout a house, giving the viewer the challenge of finding Freddy before he finds them. As you move through the house you are able to look around and see everything there is to see, and it becomes clear pretty quickly that something is not right in this house. An eerily tense soundtrack on top of this makes for a genuinely chilling and immersive experience.