Genre: Horror
WHAT ARE THE CONVENTIONS OF HORROR?
- SETTINGS
Small communities or isolated places. Urban environments, dark streets and narrow alleyways. Large cities or run down ghost towns or being alone.
These type of locations are usually associated with zombie apocalypse type movies and sometimes serial killer movies.
The dark alleyway provides a sense of vulnerability so this is mostly where the victim gets attacked. A prime example of that is in the movie sin city. Sin city is an action fantasy film but the only reason I chose it as my best example because of all the dark scenes.
Often sometimes would have a very dark history like houses that anew family moves in to, abandoned houses that people go an investigate, hotels and insane asylums. The top 2 movies that come to mind when thinking of houses with history are:
The dark alleyway provides a sense of vulnerability so this is mostly where the victim gets attacked. A prime example of that is in the movie sin city. Sin city is an action fantasy film but the only reason I chose it as my best example because of all the dark scenes.
Often sometimes would have a very dark history like houses that anew family moves in to, abandoned houses that people go an investigate, hotels and insane asylums. The top 2 movies that come to mind when thinking of houses with history are:
1. Woman in Black
2. The Conjuring
The Conjuring is a typical example
of a house which is haunted by past experiences and a new family moves into the house and is tormented by the demonic movements. Compared to the Woman in black the house in The Conjuring is much more cleaner and well kept but still has the eerie atmosphere.
The woman in black is an example of a movie about an abandoned house and has been taken over by ghosts and someone goes into explore what is going on. Whereas the house in The Woman in the black is dirty and the audience can clearly tell that no one has lived there for many years.
TECHNICAL CODES
The camera work is very expressive and unnatural. High and low angles can connote fear and nightmare. POV shots are important because they allow the audience to see the characters world through their eyes. This effects the audience by making feel scared and vulnerable just like the victim. Handheld shots make it difficult for the audience to make out what is happening this way the audience would be more intrigued to carry on watching. Disturbing sounds are very important in horror movies. Ambient diegetic sounds cause a sense of reality for example footsteps and doors creaking.
ICONOGRAPHY
Visual style: Often dark colours like red and black which links to evil, blood, danger etc.
Lighting is expressive and non naturalistic. Low key lighting can create dark shadows and unfamiliar shapes in blackness. Lighting can be motivated naturally for example fire, torches. Props can help us to further identify the horror genre. Specific props can be identified with a certain villain or character. i.e. Chainsaws, machetes, knifes , claw , gauntlets, house appliances. Common objects include: weapons, masks, icons supernatural, religious icons.
CHARACTER TYPES
The protagonist is usually the victim and the hero of the movie. the villain is often a monster mutated freak, alien serial killer and most of the time possessed person.The stupid/ immoral teenagers that always get killed. Creepy child. Police officers that can either be good or bad.
Many more: Ghosts, zombies, demons, psychopaths, stalker, weirdo werewolf.
The protagonist is usually the victim and the hero of the movie. the villain is often a monster mutated freak, alien serial killer and most of the time possessed person.The stupid/ immoral teenagers that always get killed. Creepy child. Police officers that can either be good or bad.
Many more: Ghosts, zombies, demons, psychopaths, stalker, weirdo werewolf.
THEMES
Good vs Evil
Religion
Childhood issues
Revenge
Supernatural
Beyond death
Science gone bad
Zombie apocalypse
Nightmares
Madness
Insanity
Lust
Self consciousness
Envy
Suicide
Post done by Celyn Ofori
Post done by Celyn Ofori
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