1. GenreResearch:Horror
Mise-en-Scene
While discussing the mise-en-scene of horror films I will be going over the setting, lighting,
props, costumes, and how these are used to make horror films appealing to the audience.
Usually horror films are set locations such as abandoned houses and buildings, cabins, forests,
or just isolated locations in general. Locations with wide spaces such as forests create an
anxious atmosphere and evoke the feeling of uneasiness in the audience as they have no clue
of what and from where the characters could get attacked from. Enclosed locations such as
abandoned houses, buildings, and cabins create the feeling of hopelessness and suffocation as
the character is trapped and has nowhere to escape to. Horror films tend to be mostly set in
the dark and night time, the characters have restricted vision which creates suspense and it also
allows the directors to use jump scares to terrorize the audience. The key here is to create a
tense and fearsome atmosphere, since these settings are located away from public and help is
nowhere near, and there is no place for the protagonist to escape to.
(The Ritual,2017)
Low-key lighting is the most prominent type of lighting used in horror films. Low-key lighting is
used to create a dark and effective atmosphere as the fear of dark is a common fear among
people i.e., the audience, the viewer will not be anxious if he sees a character walk down the
stairs in the morning with the sun shining through the windows, but he will be if the character
walks down the same stairs at midnight with no lights as the mind of the viewer is constantly
worried about something or someone hiding in the dark. This type of lighting allows to create
effects such as shadows and dim hue create a mysterious and dread filled atmosphere and set
the tone of the films. Silhouettes made with the help of low-key lighting are used to twist
reality as they hide the appearance of characters. The human mind thinks of what is the most
frightening to them as it confronts shadows and silhouettes which is a much more effective
technique rather than straight up revealing the ghost or monster as it may not be scary to
everyone in the audience. Some horror movies also start with high-key lighting shots but as the
movie progresses the scenes start taking place in the dark representing the evil that is taking
over.
2. (LightsOut,2017)
Props and costumes are one way of invoking fear in the hearts of the audience. Props such as a
rocking chair, balloons, creepy paintings, and dolls are used to create an uncomfortable
atmosphere necessary for a horror film. In the slasher sub-genre of horror films involved with
killers, the murder weapons are the most common prop be it an axe, chainsaw, dagger or gun.
Costume and makeup are the most important things in making the villain appear terrifying,
Pennywise from IT being a good example, the face paint does a good job not only giving people
who are already afraid of clowns nightmares for the rest of their week but also in making
people who are not usually scared of clowns, creep out.
(The Nun,2018)
Camera Angles and Shots
Wide shots, long shots and extremely long shots in horror films are used to establish the
location at which the “horror” is to take place and set the mysterious, and anxious tone of the
film so the audience realizes that something is not right and knows what to expect. Close up
shots of the characters are used to evoke the emotions that the character is feeling in the
audience themselves such as terror and helplessness. An extreme close up shot of for example
the characters eyes whilst he cries can be used to intensify the emotions. A tracking shot, or
shooting the character through an object, let’s say a window makes the audience think as if the
character is being watched by an entity, this creates a feeling of uneasiness. Hand held shaky
camera and P.O.V shots are used to make the audience experience the events through the
characters eyes and further intensify emotions such as terror.
3. Low-angle shots are used to make the audience feel inferior to the villain, and also how the
character is powerless and can do nothing against the villain. High-angle shots are used to make
the villain appear powerful and make the character appear defenseless against the villain.
(GetOut, 2017)
Sound
Horror films use both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds to scare the audience and create the
perfect atmosphere needed in a horror film. Diegetic sounds such as doors creaking, falling of
objects from the shelve, the sound of a swinging chair, or even a musical instrument playing by
itself, are used to alert both the viewer and the character in the story that something is not
right, it also makes the audience aware of the presence of something supernatural. Other
diegetic sounds such as strong winds blowing through trees, heavy rain, and thunder may also
be used to create the isolated and tense atmosphere needed in a horror film. Diegetic sounds
make the viewer aware of the fact that the danger is indeed real, as real as these sounds. Non-
diegetic sounds include the movies soundtrack which is used to create an intense and
unnerving atmosphere. Slowly increasing the soundtracks volume or pitch as a scene
progresses prepares the audience for a potential jump scare and gets their hearts racing.
Editing
The editor can make the audience feel whatever he wants by using various editing techniques.
Cross cutting is used by the editor to show what circumstance two different characters are
facing in the same scene, usually one character is under danger while the other watches and is
comparatively safe. The editor constantly cuts from one character to another which makes the
audience feel unsafe, uneasy and afraid as they are powerless and do not know what might
appear on the screen when the next cut happens. Similarly, a long take can also make the
audience feel uneasy. The director might show glimpses of the villain or danger approaching,
but then show the audience another scene with the character (who is in danger) for an
uncomfortably long period of time. So now the audience knows what’s coming but they do not
know when. Jump cuts can be used to make the villain appear more menacing and scary by
quickly cutting between shots which show us the villain from different angles. Jump cuts are
4. also used to give us an insight of the character’s mind and how they are confused, helpless and
clueless about what they should do.
