Space perception in Turkish horror cinema after the 2000s: Spatial analysis of Alper Mestçi's Siccin series movies

In cinema, the concept of space serves as a dynamic background that enhances the storytelling process and it plays an important role in setting the tone, atmosphere and visual appeal of a film and creating a remarkable viewing experience for audience. For this reason, one of the prominent fields regarding the concept of space, which has a very wide field of study, is cinema. This study aims to examine the concept of space through the Siccin series of films of director Alper Mestçi, who left his mark on Turkish horror cinema in the 2000s. In this context, the effects intended to be created on the audience through the space used in horror movies have been tried to be revealed. Six movies in the Siccin series (Siccin 1, Siccin 2, Siccin 3: Cürmü Aşk, Siccin 4, Siccin 5, Siccin 6) constitute the sample of the study. The analysis of the movies is based on Roland Barthes' method of analyzing visual indicators. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the space used in the movies were designed to direct the emotions of the audience. The space in the Siccin series created with various ideological references to support the narrative of the movies. Thus, it is possible to convey the desired effects on the audience through space suitable for the horror genre. By using this method in all the movies of the Siccin series, the message to be emphasized can be conveyed to the audience more easily. In the series based on non-human beings, fear based on religion can be created more strongly by using places different from normal people and ordinary places.