Movie Still: Antichrist.

This is a still from the 2009 Lars Von Trier film, Antichrist. As in this shot, the whole movie uses dark, cool tones to create an ominous atmosphere. Primarily monochromatic, the greens combined with gray-blues allow the eyes to sweep over the scene without interruption. Using colors within the same family created subtle gradients throughout the atonal leaf patterns.

As a design-minded person, I take a lot from the look of films. Since sight is the most immediate of the senses, I am often taken aback by the creativity of cinematographers. This film won multiple awards for cinematography-- the team led by Anthony Dod Mantle. In my opinion, the palate choice for this film had as equal an effect as its content. I was immediately drawn in by the dreamy quality of the dark pastels paired with lighter, smoky tones. Most of the film takes place in the forest, so there is a lot of  opportunity for dramatic choices. The movie was disturbing and provocative, and paired with sophisticated color palates  proved to be a work of art.