Horror conventions

Horror Conventions

• Setting - secluded location; barns/farms, hotel, cabins, abandoned houses, graveyards, basements, forests. Bad weather.
• Themes - death, good vs evil, revenge, supernatural, insanity, lust,
• Characterization
• Iconography
• Clear binary opposition
• Cinematography - low key lighting
• Low angle shots and point of view shots
• Effective music and sfx
• Start with equilibrium
• Costume and props

Psycho analysis

History of horror

 

Camera angles and shots

Close up - this is a shot that highlights/ frames something in particular (a person or an object), it focuses on one thing and displays the most detail that the audience needs to be looking at, it does not include the broader scene around. This shot is used so the audiences attention is on one thing only that is of significance at that moment in the film.

Tracking shot - this is when the camera follows the action, the camera doesn't stay still but the angle is often the same. This shot is used a lot in horror films as a POV shot of the villain. It is used to draw the audience in so that the feel as though there are in the movement.

Panning shot - this is when the camera stays in one place but spins round to view mostly the setting. Panning shots are used to track movement horizontally or to suggest fast motion.

Shot reverse (reaction) shot - this shot is when you focus on a character, switch quickly to what they are looking at, and then back to the character to get their reaction.This editing technique is often used to express dialogue and continuity.

Low angle shot - this is similar to a worms eye view shot, however the camera is not angled straight up, it can differ from any angle that gives the idea of looking up. This shot is used generally to connote power and authority over whatever is in the shot.

Two shot - a two shot is a simple camera technique where there are two characters in view of the camera. This shot is good for establishing relationships between characters and introducing people into the scene. It's also a good way to follow the interaction between two characters without getting distracted by surroundings.





Establishing shot, long shot, wide shot - an establishing shot shows the scene and tells you the setting of the film. A long shot is a deep shot that looks down the area. A wide shot is when the camera angle is wide and a lot of the scene is visible. One of these shots is normally the opening of a film to set the scene of where the film takes place.

Mid shot - this shot is when the camera only gets in the top part of the character, from the waist up. This is a good way of establishing a character as you see the majority of them enabling the audience to make a judgement on them based on their overall appearance. It enables the character to develop themselves whilst the audience is viewing them.

Zooming - this is when the camera either focuses in on something (zooming in) or comes back to show more of the setting (zooming out). This is used to give a different perspective of the scene.

High angle shot - this is similar to a birds eye view shot, however the difference is that the camera is not angled straight down, it is any angle in between that and head on from above. This is used to show an isolated character that has no control over their surroundings.

 


180 degree rule - this is when the camera stays on one side of a conversation. Imagine a semi circle on one side of the two characters, the camera stays on the line of that semi circle. This is important because a break in the continuity and the disconcerting effect it may have on the audience would upset the illusion of reality and cause the viewer to break away from the reality of the film.

Match on action shot - is an editing technique for when one shot cuts to another shot portraying the action of the subject in the first shot. This is done to create a sense of continuity, the action carried through creates a visual bridge. This shot creates continuity by creating a 'visual bridge'to draw the viewers attention away from the editing.

Suspense

 

What is suspense????

It is the state of being doubtful or uncertain, yet excited and nervous at the same time. It is a key feature to horror films as it puts the audience on edge as they await the next happening. It makes the audience feel all sorts of emotions at once such as; tension, apprehension, excitement, nervousness, mystery and provides them with a thrill or sense of pleasure.

Film Genres

Romantic films are based on love stories generally including the main characters of the film, mostly focusing on the theme of 'love at first sight'. It journeys on their strong, true and pure love. There is normally a big obstacle that the couple have to over come to be together; finance, illness, discrimination etc. 

Comedy films are based around the theme of humour. The idea is to entertain and amuse the audience throughout the entire film. This is often achieved by over exaggerating characteristics of real life and adding dramatic events with consequences for the characters that the audience will laugh at. Comedy was one of the first genres of film to be created.

Musicals are designed to bring the theatrical side of entertainment into film. They always include a number of songs, often sung by the protagonist, and accompanied by dancing of everyone in the scene. The songs used usually help with the plot of the film and develop some of the characters for the purpose of the audience having a better understanding.

Action films are aimed at boys and men above the age of 15, due to the violence and possibly language. They entertain those with a passion for fighting and the idea of binary opposites, with the usual happy ending of good overcoming evil. Also these generally include a romanitic part where the main character has a lover and the fighting sometimes is based around them.

Dramatic films are often based on the idea of the possibility of the story being real. The events included are usually bad things such as gang violence and drug dealing, these things happen everyday in real life and can touch some people personally which adds to the drama and emotion intended.

 

Adventure films are for those that enjoy travelling and discovering. These films really make the audience feel that they are part of the film, and they connect with the characters so much better. Adventure films always have tension and excitement as the main themes and emotions because these are attention grabbing. There often includes a romance side which then makes the film appeal to both sexs.

Crime films are for those that enjoy danger and threat, some people get a thrill of watching people go against the law. These films build tension as the plot of exposure of the crime is portrayed in the film, you are drawn in to find out if the crime works and if the criminal will get caught.

Frankenstein Shots



This shot is of a man introducing the film as Frankenstein was one of the first horror films to be shown. The black and white is not an effect but it adds to the theme of the film and makes it more scary due to the dark lighting. The curtain behind gives a sence of mystery so you are intrigued to watch the screen that is currently hidden.

This is a shot of one of the first parts of the film, introducing the title and the producers. Music is included now to spruce up the credits, the music is rather creepy as the violins are screeching in the background and the overqal sound is that of playing on a record player which naturally gives a more old fashioned tone to the music.

This shot shows the main list of characters and actors, this is for the audience to know who is going to be in the film and so if there is an actor/actress you like then you are hooked into wanting to watch the film. The background is of eyes which is freaky as you feel as though you are being watched as you stare at the screen.

 

 

This is one of the first shots of characters in Frankenstein, a midshot of a child and a woman crying at a burial. The setting is at a cemetary/grave yard and the sky is rather musky and dirty to create the sense of 'doom and gloom' in the atmosphere. The sounds present are only that of people crying and the ringing of the bell.



 



This is a shot of a figurine in the grave yard, this appears during the paning shot as the characters and scenery are shown to the audience. The skeleton obviously represents the death in the graveyard and the closed position could be the 'ending' of something and it being closed up. This highlights the idea od horror and the themes involved.

 

This shot is a close up of Dr Frankensteins associate looking rather scary hiding behind the fence. Frankenstein is behind him clearly tell him what to do (get down). The facial expression shown by the associate is a stern, sharp stare which shows there is something they have their eye on (the coffin). 

This shot is a close up of Frankenstein with his hands on the coffin he has just dug up, his face is close to it showing a sort of relationship between him and the body inside. There is no music in the background which makes us focus on the action and speech going on in the scene.

This is a high angle shot of Frankenstein and his associate moving the body inside the coffin along a cart to their lab. The shot is taken from behind rocks to show the secrecy of what they are doing and to highlight the body.