Am I communicating a feeling of depression?

Using photoshop and after effects, I created a rough animatic for the alleyway section of my experience to see if it the shadows that consume the buildings create a feeling of depression within the user.

The exported QuickTime file was converted into a split screen using a HMD Converter so the user could view it using a mobile headset, much like the final version of the project I plan to make.

Focusing this animatic on the backstreet section of my VR experience, I wanted to see if the moving shadows that appear on the buildings illustrate the theme of depression that I am trying to represent. In order to test this theory, I showed this animatic to friends and family to receive feedback.

The feedback I received is as follows:

POSITIVE:

- The shadows do illustrate the idea of depression

- It feels as though it is drawing the user into the scene

- Very sudden catches you off guard 

IMPROVEMENT:

- Slow down the shadow animation

- Make the animation more gradual

- The end scene isn't clear (sudden blackness is confusing)