Horror Film
Convention Research
In a typical horror film many camera angles are used for
different effects and some are used because the director wants us to feel a
certain way towards the character in the film. There are a few camera angles
that are always used in most horrors such as point of view angle (POV), high and
low angle, extreme close up angle (ECU), close up, medium long shot and tilted
angle. All of these camera angles are common in a horror film. POV angle is
used because it allows the audience to see the world from the specific
characters point of view. High and low can connote fear and nightmare, when the
camera is at a high angle it makes the characters look weak and as the audience
we feel frightful for the character this is the same connotation for the low
angle shot. ECU shots are used usually as the establishing shot at the start of
a movie just to set the scene and to make the audience familiar with the
setting. Close up shots allow us to see the characters emotions or to get a
closer view of the subject being shown. When using medium long shot the setting
and subject are at an equal proportion on screen which allows the audience to
see the characters fully and how they are acting at the setting. The tilted
camera angle creates a disorientated view which I think is vital in a horror
film as it makes the audience feel discomfort.
The sounds used in a horror film have to be chosen wisely because a small sound can determine the whole mood of the film. In horror films it is typical to hear ambient diegetic sounds which are basically the background noise or the atmosphere. It provides sounds between shots; it prevents an unnatural silence where there is no other sound and it creates or reinforces a mood an example of this is a footsteps. Non-diegetic sound is also used in horror films this is sound that isn’t present in the action such as a heartbeat. A major part of horror is the disgusting sounds used to emphasise something gory happening in the film such as a bloody murder they are important because they create an uncomfortable atmosphere while still being scary.
Here is a link with sounds that are usually associated with horror:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXOs3xQYBlM&safe=active
In a horror the characters are very typical and depending on which character type there is in a horror the costumes will vary. For example if the character was a young teenage girl who was the victim in the movie she’d probably be wearing light colors, blonde hair, no makeup fresh face to show her characters innocence but I think it is also to show the audience that she is a victim. Whereas the character who was committing the murders would probably be wearing dark colored clothing, have dark makeup on, dark hair to show her dark and evil persona and also to just frighten the audience.
Horror movie settings are usually done in creepy locations the typical ones being abandoned houses, dark alleyways, isolated placed, haunted houses, forests, farms, attics and basements. Anywhere that connotes isolation or being alone. I think the location that connotes this the best is a house because every person feels that their house is the safest place ever so when you watch a horror film and you see a house being used as the main setting you automatically know that the character is not safe and is probably going to die.
There are always different characters used in horror movies the most innocent being children yet they are the scariest of all and then you have the evils being the killers, psychopaths, demons, serial killers, monsters etc. There is always a stupid victim in horror movies that gets killed and the stereotype for them is a young teenage blonde girl. I also think that families are also becoming victims in horror movies nowadays and in the family there is always that one cute innocent looking daughter or child who turns out to be the most frightening human being.
Here is an example of the type of horror:
No comments:
Post a Comment