Genre research (Horror)
Setting
The setting
of a film is crucial because it straight away sets the scene and hints the
genre. If a film is set in a dark forest then you would expect the film to be a
horror.
Typical
locations used in horror films are:
·
Suburban
houses- more conventional in modern horror films as the audience can relate
more to the film. (Paranormal Activity and Sinister)
·
Graveyards-
has connotations of death, ghosts and isolation.
·
Rural
locations- reinforces the theme of urbanoia in an unfamiliar environment away
from civilization, unable/difficult to escape from. (The Descent, The Forest
and Eden Lake)
Technical
Codes
In horror
films, the camera work is often used unnaturally with canted angles to signify
that something is wrong, point of view shots to put the audience in the
characters shoes and empathise for them and close-ups for dramatic effect and
detail.
·
The
Blair Witch Project- point of view shots (POV) used for found footage effect
and makes audience feel like they’re in the film.
·
28
Days Later- extreme long shots to emphasise the theme of isolation in a once
busy environment.
·
Psycho-
Close-ups/Extreme close-ups to accentuate the fear and emotions in the
character.
Iconography
Things such
as props in the film (weapons), colours (typically red in horror) which
signifies the genre through the mise en scene. Weapons connote to violence/harm
and the colour red connote to danger.
·
Texas
Chainsaw Massacre- includes bladed weapons (chainsaw) which implies that it’s a
graphic film.
Narrative
structure
·
Horror
films usually have an open ending for a cliff-hanger to leave the audience
intrigued.
·
Usually
has a final girl who survives at the end of the film
Fears
Top Ten
Horror Movies Based on Common Phobias: Horror films use primitive fears to
target audiences who fear different things.
1. Death
2. Clowns
3. Dolls & Ventriloquist Dummies
4. Tight spaces
5. Spiders & insects
6. Animals
7. Being watched
8. Flying
9. Zombies
10. Being abducted
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