WoW Moviewatch: Idea
by Michael Gray 
Apr 7th 2010 at 12:00PM
Idea is one of the most marvelously creepy videos I've seen, especially when you consider the relatively simple plot frame Paus created. The narration and voice acting goes leagues to sell the plot. The quick, distorting cuts from scene to scene immediately relay the sense that something is horribly wrong in this situation. Paus's eye for setting and angles conveys unease and wrongness about the character and story. It's just all magnificent.
The video ends with a few seconds of unicorn pictures, because of the graphic nature of Idea's ending. I found that technique actually made the climax more disturbing, as it's left to my imagination to figure out what must be going on. My hat's off to Paus; Idea was awesome.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ilunc Apr 7th 2010 12:16PM
WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!
Tomatketchup Apr 7th 2010 2:35PM
The most disturbing part about this movie was that I found it comical and not disturbing at all. I am weird.
Maybe I should grab my insides myself and tear them out my throa-*RANDOM UNICORN PICTURES*
Lumi Apr 7th 2010 9:45PM
^
Not weird. I lolled very, very hard at the unicorns. Like, so very much.
Vilhelm Apr 7th 2010 12:20PM
Meh. Torture porn derivative, relying on loud noises and strobing lights for any visceral effect. Aside from the fact that some guy decided to make this with WoW graphics instead of just shooting his buddies sitting around the house, what does this have to do with WoW? Nothing?
Also, the physics of what he is proposing to do...I mean, yeah, you could probably damage your throat quite a bit, assuming you could get past your gag reflex. But don't expect any entrails to appear any time soon. So preposterous as to make this comedic rather than horrific.
Yumathewhite Apr 7th 2010 12:27PM
Criticism that misses every point. A++ for ignorance campaigning as intellectualism.
Yumathewhite Apr 7th 2010 12:47PM
To clarify my earlier comment, your criticism misses the mark in analyzing only the physical elements of this video, and no they're psychological implications.
Psychological elements to consider:
The insanity of the mans idea
The insanity inherent in the people around him- bird people with blades for arms
The sudden and violent changes in scene- indicates tearing and visceral, yes, but also perhaps the tearing of the man psychologically, "split mind"
Look closer at the man's clothing- specifically the spaulders. Blinded, screaming faces.
The animation of the man's idea- nothing about it is fluid or realistic, so don't interpret it as such. The animation suggests demented and unrealistic.
And on and such. There are greater elements at work here than those you listed in your criticism, revealing that you failed to fully analyze the video.
cendrekai Apr 7th 2010 1:19PM
Do not forget the artwork on the wall. The painting The Scream by Edvard Munch. At 0:18 the painting of what looks like a head spewing something. Then the picture to the left of the Scream which is equally creepy.
I would be quite happy if anyone recognized those paintings and could tell me what they are.
And yea the bird people.
Redpostit Apr 8th 2010 3:06PM
Funny that you both missed the fact that there is a giant cockroach on his "plate".
For some reason it was kind of hard to notice that it was there.
Vilhelm Apr 9th 2010 5:18AM
Look, I'm not saying that the guy who made this didn't put a lot of effort into it, and the voice acting was certainly great. But once you start assaulting me with flashing lights and tearing sounds, you've lost me as a serious film maker. You're more "Saw 4" than "Vertigo".
@Yumathewhite: just because I didn't list everything that happened in the movie, doesn't mean I didn't watch it. And on the topic of analyzing the video: the bird people have bird wings, not blades for arms. Finally, please, lay off calling me ignorant until you take at least a dozen typos out of your post.
I'll reiterate my earlier point: aside from the fact that this movie was made primarily (but certainly not entirely) using footage from WoW, what does it have to do with WoW? If WoW.com says, "you gotta watch this," I generally expect something more than a random horror short that happens to use some Blizzard graphics.
Bedvyr Apr 7th 2010 12:20PM
Creepy. I really enjoyed this.
BoB Apr 7th 2010 12:25PM
THIS is disturbing!!!!!
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTxfWt55oH0 )
This video is disturbing...
Skyburnone Apr 7th 2010 12:29PM
what's up with the REAL creepy birds... men... bird-men? They're everywhere!
cendrekai Apr 7th 2010 1:15PM
For real. WTF were those?
mmetucker Apr 7th 2010 12:53PM
If anyone needs me, I'll be rocking back and forth in this corner over here.
Nandini Apr 7th 2010 12:57PM
This felt like Monty Python meets Saw V.
I had the most unfamiliar sensation; I wasn't sure if I was about to laugh or vomit.
Thankfully, it was just uncomfortable laughter.
Snark Apr 7th 2010 1:02PM
Well, that was dumb.
Khremloc Apr 7th 2010 1:12PM
Fantastic voice acting. The voice reminds me of the one in the HL2 mod Dear Esther.
Probably one of the better creepy machinima I've seen. :>
EaterOfBirds Apr 7th 2010 1:15PM
for a machinima, pretty disturbing.
Faewath Apr 7th 2010 1:39PM
Made me turn down the volume and change from full to small size window while watching. Nothing every average wowmovie can do.
ColbyWolf Apr 7th 2010 1:22PM
y'know.... no. This has... potential... but there's something over all off about it. not for the creepy factor... but it feels like someone read a book on how to make a short film seem creepy, then followed the directions... to the word. It's technically acceptable and offers a bit of disettlement, but at the same time, it's missing a basic oomph.
I'm not sure how to fix it. I think it needs an additional line or two. Something to extend the movie for a few more moments and perhaps offer a bit more confusing backstory, or how he came to this grand idea....
Also, a moment or two of 'black' at the end of the movie, just a fade out after the unicorn images. Perhaps the word 'end' written in red with no voice over (as the other two words redded were "idea" and "died' one at the start, one near the middle, one at the end would have offered conclusion.)
Actually on that note... Doing more with the text would have been nice. Right now, they have two effects: red letters and caplocks. They could have come up with another way to make the subtitles more visually interesting. Perhaps displaying single words or short phrases in quick succession, rather then full lines. Also, more accurate punctuation would have been nice. Not every line needed to start with a capital or have a period. ("died. As if introduced to a vacuum My idea was to reach down my throat, With my fingers. Grab hold of my insides... And PULL THEM.")
This was an interesting and creative idea... but the artist needs to spend more time working his craft to get the desired effect.
I like that he used machinama to do this. It was a tool he used effectively enough and it did not add or detract from the animation, in my opinion. would it have been better live action? possibly, but I doubt it. Animated traditional? almost certaintly, but that takes an incredible amount of effort.