The Lewton Bus

First used by Val Lewton's production team in Cat People (1942), the "Lewton Bus" is a genre specific device used to build then dissipate tension in horror movies. As Alice is pursued by Irena, who the audience expects to turn into a panther at any moment, the tension builds to a crescendo. Alone in a dark street Alice embodies our fear. At the height of the tension the scene is shattered by a loud hiss, a dark shape enters the screen. We expect the monster, but it is a bus pulling up, hence the Lewton Bus. This device has been employed many times since and itself is genre defining.

This exhibition features 2D and 3D work developed with the curator in response to the cinematic proposition.