First-time DP: Emotional Spine vs. Manifesto Rules - Which Pitfall is Worse?

Hey DPs, I'm a camera op, typically running an ALEXA Mini or a V-RAPTOR XL for commercials and narratives. I'm stepping up to DP my first short film for a friend, a pretty intense drama. We're trying to push the emotional narrative through some unconventional visual choices. I'm finding myself torn between two approaches, and I'm worried I'll fall into a common first-timer's trap.

On one hand, I’m trying to ensure every shot reinforces the emotional journey, what I'm calling 'overloading the emotional spine.' On the other, I've got this visual philosophy document for the film, full of broad ideas like 'visual claustrophobia' or 'the unseen burden,' which could easily become vague, unquantifiable manifesto rules.

For those who've made this leap, what's been the more insidious pitfall in your experience? Overdoing the emotional emphasis until it feels forced, or relying too much on abstract, hard-to-execute visual 'rules'?