ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I focus on how the use of the diegetic camera affects the viewer’s cognition of stories, events, and characters in films belonging to the charismatic killer category of found footage horror films. In order to show how the killer characters can be recognised as subjects that are worthy of our attention and elicit amoral fascination, I analyse how the narration generates what could be considered a combination of human and ‘inhuman’ aspects of the killer characters. I then analyse the techniques used to reward this amoral fascination, and based on this evidence, I ascertain how these techniques affect allegiance by complicating the moral orientation of the killer characters.
Furthermore, I determine how increased alignment with the killer characters affects viewer’s responses. I demonstrate how the viewer may experience more complex feelings of attraction and repulsion than if a diegetic camera were not utilised. I ascertain if feelings of hatred or fear are lessened due to the empathy and sympathetic allegiance encouraged through the employment of the diegetic camera.
