2. Audience
My production is aimed at people who enjoy watching traditional horror/slasher films and
have a familiarity with the typical troupes and familiar themes of these films. This
demographic is particularly young with 66% of people in Generation Z saying that they
looked at a horror/slasher film in the last 6 to 12 months with 45% of older age groups
saying they watched a horror/slasher film in the previous 6 to 12 months. (Statista: TV,
Films and Video: October 2022) Also, Horror/Slasher films are the third most popular film
category after comedy and action (Halloween horror: Feeding audiences' appetites for
cheap and bloody thrills, Chris Arkenberg Deloitte Insights, 2022) and much cheaper to
produce with the typical action film costing $100 million to produce and market (Nashville
Film Institute, "How much does it cost to make a movie 2022") compared to $20 million or
less for a typical horror or slasher film. (Alex Huntsberger "Horror films cost very little to
make, and they make a lot of money" OppU March 18, 2021) From 2010 to 2020, thrillers,
crime and horror earned an estimated $120 billion at the box office (Demeter "Which
movie genres earned the most at the box office between 1980 and 2020?") and with the
rise of streaming services and release of films in theatres at the same time as service such
as Netflix, producers need to retain and engage audiences at a cheaper cost. In terms of
return on investment, horror films top the list with 13 of the top 30 most profitable films
since 2010 with the top five films in horror having a ROI of 2000% (every $10 put into the
move would get a $200 profit) compared to 1200% for comedy. (NPR: Planet Money:
Horror is the Best Deal in Hollywood 2015). Horror films and in particular slashers appeal
to a younger audience, usually under 25 as this group seeks to feel scared or a sense of
panic set in a familiar place like a suburb, but in-reality remain safe more so than older
audiences (https://saraevening2media.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/audience-
research.png).
3. Audience
This Generation Z group identify with the difficult situation, fears, and
desire to combat social conformity that is included in typical slasher
films and the characters in these films are also often younger people.
(Prevalence of Individuality and Conformity as Behavioral Traits Among
Generation Z: by Jane Castillo ISSUU Ioer International Multidisciplinary
Research Journal 2021) This under 25 demographic spend most of their
spare time online using the internet 25 hours a week, reading books
and watching films and TV shows online. This group also use social
media as their main past time with 91% of the group using social media
daily (The Modern British Teenagers Life [tv.english.club]). More than
65% of Generation Z use platforms to communicate, build relationships
shop and get information and check on friends and family and 50% of
Generation Z see social media as the only place that they can be
themselves and make their lives appear more exciting than they are (A
magazine: the Impact of Social Media on Generation Z's mental health
by Fernanda Pasetti Bordin October 2022). However social media can
lead to feelings of isolation, cyberbullying, loss of privacy and the
creation of unrealistic expectations or unachievable standards in terms
of beauty, achievement and appearance (Ibid: October 2022)
Generation Z aspire to be socially accepted and to find their social
place increasingly seek escapism and identify with the characters and
themes of the typical Slasher genre. (Generation Z is Extremely Online
by Ellyn Briggs: December 12, 2022) My production will tap into this
group's love and knowledge of the genre and display it as a typical
public service announcement of how to avoid death in a typical Slasher
film.
4. Market and existing
products
Parodies of slasher movie troupes are common in today's films
with movies such as Scary Movie and Freaky all representing a
trend of slasher films presenting the genre as comedy and making
light of the typical conventions. For example, the Scary Movie
franchise parodies Scream with characters killing people while
wearing a Ghostface mask and a reference to I Know What You
Did Last Summer in a scene where Cindy and her crew hit a man
with their car on an isolated road and then throw him from a pier
although he is still alive. (Vulture: Every Movie Spoofed in the
Scary Movie Franchise by Adam K. Raymond 2013). In social
media there are many parodies of the Slasher movie genre such
as the Sensible Horror Film by "Pixelspersecond" which depicts
what happens in a traditional horror movie if smart characters
who make good decisions and have critical thinking are depicted
in these troupes. (Trend Hunter: The Sensible Horror Film is
Realistic by Laura McQuarrie October 2013). It depicts a
cheerleader asking a friend if he wants to join in a trip to an
abandoned mental asylum with a Ouija board and he simply
declines. These parodies are made by film production companies
and independent YouTube content creators and typically portray
gruesome situations in a believable lighthearted way.
5. Market and existing
products
I plan to present my idea as a mock public service announcement. This
fits well with the theme because, in the UK, public service
announcements were produced by the Central Office of Information
(COI) starting in the early 1970s (the same period as the early Slasher
films). These public service films were influenced by horror films and
were made by people who were aspiring horror filmmakers. (Sight and
Sound: The Lost Art of the British Public Information Film by Robert
Hanks 2020). For example, Apache in 1977 a series of school children
met gory ends as victims of accidents on a farm such as being crushed
by a tractor or drowning in pits. (BFI National Film Archive: Apache).
The public service announcements share the characteristics of the
horror films such as gruesome violence, jump scares, lonely settings,
and internal voice monologues. I plan to appeal to todays under 25
age group with the gory troupes of today's slasher film parodies and
to an older demographic who were under 25 in the 1970's, 1980's and
1990's with the nostalgic public service announcements of this
period.
6. Production
I plan to make a short slasher film, but in the style of a Public Service
Announcement film (as made by the Central Office of Information). Both
slasher films and COI public information films began in the 1970s and many of
the people who worked on the COI films were influenced by slasher films and
aspired to make them- there for, putting the two together will hopefully make
for a good combination. The style of the film will be a spoof "How to Survive a
Homicidal Slasher" Information Film. The film will start as if it's a real slasher
film with the victim being hunted by the slasher, Blanc Face. This section of
the film will include the recognisable slasher tropes like; twilight or night-time
setting, isolated house/building, masked assailant, gory kill. I will then use
voice over and screen text in the style of a Public Information Film to tell the
audience not to fall into the traps of a slasher and to instead follow some
simple rules to survive, then presenting a series of scenarios (for example;
NOT splitting up with your friends, NOT going towards a creepy lonely
location where something horrible is happening etc).
7. Production
I need to scout a good location in which to set the action. I
plan to perhaps use a holiday lodge as many slasher films
have been set in "lonely cabins". This will enable me to
get good exterior shots and believable interiors. I aim to
film at dusk as I want the atmosphere of night-time, but I
don’t have a lot of lighting so real night-time filming may
not work. I plan to practice filming in different lighting
scenarios and see which works best. I plan to use a lot of
point of view camera shots as this is a common trope in
slashers where victims are often observed, seemingly by
the murderer, through windows etc. I will also use zoom
shots to revile terror and moving shots during tense chase
scenes. Of course, no slasher is complete without gory
physical effects. I plan to investigate how best to
achieve these in my film by getting advice from college
theatre make up tutors also internet tutorials. One of my
major problems is casting. In order to make use of the
very limited cast I have available to me I will carefully
construct the script so that the fewest actors are needed
and make use of strategies like reverse shots, filming from
behind using offscreen sound effects etc. I have taken
inspiration from the 1949 film Kind Hearts and Coronets,
directed by Robert Hammer. In this film Alec Guinness
plays notable members of the D'Ascoyne family. I plan to
use the same actor in multiple scenarios with a small
supporting cast. I think this will create the tone of the
spoof and add to the humour. To give the film the feeling
of a PSA Public Service Announcement, I will use an
authoritative voice over and on-screen instructive text, I
will also use the slogan "Stay Alert - Don't get Hurt".
8. Topic
I have three questions to research the answers to - which will help me in my project and develop my
idea; what are the horror/slasher stereotypes?, how to make horror visual effects (lighting, make up etc)?,
how will I make my project in the style of COI public safety announcements?
What are the horror/slasher stereotypes?
The Harbinger: Usually an old person who warns the protagonist about a dangerous slasher.
The Pawn: A soon to be victim who accidently starts the night of blood shed.
High School Jock: Always one of the first to die.
The Sceptic: A victim who tries to find rational explanations for the scary things going on and only accept
the reality of the slasher when they are about to die.
The Token: Usually a person of colour or ethnic minority who usually dies first (horror/slasher films have
long been seen as racist for this trope).
Smart Kid: Always getting picked by the group and also one of the first to die.
Bad Girl: Rebellious and sexually active, often the killer's number one victim.
The Authority Figure: Characters range from the Hunter who spent a long time wanting to kill the slasher
because they wronged them in the past or the Cop who usually dies shortly after they arrive at the
slaughter site or shows up too late.
The Final Girl: The most iconic of the victims is the well behaved virgin of the group who gains masculine
traits after going through a traumatic experience and fights the killer, surviving to the end.
The Slasher: Usually wears a scary mask and wields a melee weapon where they spend the majority of the
movie stalking the sexually active teens, killing them off one by one.
9. Topic
How to make horror visual effects (lighting, make up etc)
Darker lighting will help with creating an atmosphere of terror and suspense. The antagonist,
in particular, must be presented in dark lighting to show their menace. The victims and final
girl etc, can be presented in brighter light to show they are the "good" characters. Costume
can also help with this – the antagonist should be presented in dark clothes, with a mask so
the audience sees the killer as emotionless and allows them to use their imagination and
project their worst fears onto his potential appearance. The "good characters" can be
presented in lighter coloured, more everyday clothes to make the audience identify with
them.
There are several ideas for the making of gory effects – you can make fake blood with corn
syrup, make fake wounds with glue and toilet paper, make severed limbs by putting a
silicone cast over one of your limbs and painting it red and you can make exploding heads by
using a green screen and a balloon filled with lots of fake blood. I plan to ask the Stage Make
Up course tutors at York College for help with this.
What is then style of COI Public Service Announcements
The Central Office of Information started making a range of public service films to be shown
in schools in the 1970s. They were very well funded, but did not have to adhere to film
classification restrictions. The film makers at the COI were very influenced by horror films
and many aspired to be horror film makers. As a result of this, the films were very gruesome,
featuring many injuries and deaths. The films usually feature a voice over narration, often by
the film's protagonists, telling their story and pointing out where they have gone wrong and
how the audience can avoid their mistakes. The films often feature slow, monotonous
keyboard music and they use on screen text, giving statistics and also a slogan (as a take
away for the audience).
10. Friday
the 13th
Cinematograph
y
The film used the novel
killer point of view shot
to create tension. The
audience never knows if
it’s the killers' point of
view or someone else's.
The feeling of safety is
gone as the killer could
be anywhere.
Lighting
The film uses the
contrast between the
inside and the outside,
opening with a shot of
the moon. The inside is
brightly lit and the
outside is dark with
prominent and
projected shadows. The
terror is increased by
using uplighting,
underexposure and
shooting through
objects to create a
sense of being watched.
Editing
The film uses sudden transition between
shots from the killer to the terrified
victim to create tension and a sense of
panic.
Costume, Props and
Makeup
The use of the mask disguises the
facial expression of Jason which
makes him seem cold and
emotionless which increases the
terror. Also the use of a machete
and chainsaw displays extreme
violence.
Music and Sound
Henry Manfredini used the sound ki
ki ki ma ma ma repeated by Jason in
the film which stands for kill her
mama by speaking the words into a
microphone harshly and
rhythmically using an echo
reverberation machine. This creates
a feeling of terror and apprehension
before horrific murders. Also, the
use of disturbing music with harsh
sounds creates a feeling of dread.
Setting
The film is set in an isolated
campground called Camp
Crystal Lake. Jason was to
have drowned in the lake as
a boy while camp staff did
not pay attention. The
isolated setting and drive
for revenge by Jason adds to
the sense of menace and
horror.
Case Studies
11. SCREA
M
Cinematograph
y
The Scream movie uses
extreme close-up shots to
show the terror of the
victim on the phone. The
movie uses a technique
called the Dutch angle
which is a 360-degree
shot to create unease and
disorient the viewer such
as when Sydney escapes
the cop car and runs to
the house. Also tracking
shots showing the victim
walking in terror around
the house. These
techniques create
extreme apprehension of
Lighting
The film uses lighting in
the opening scene
where Casey is phoned
by the killer contrasting
the dark outside of the
house with bright light
inside the house as
danger and safety. The
use of the colour blue
associated with
calmness is used with
Casey safe near the TV
and at the pool outside
contrasted with low key
red lighting when the
killer is moving in the
house.
Editing
The film is very fast paced with multiple
quick cuts and many jump scares such as
when the killer sees Casey through the
window hiding in the bushes. The use of
this technique creates a feeling of chaos,
panic and unease.
Costume, Props and
Makeup
The ghost face mask in the film
creates a sense of dread by
concealing all the killer's emotion.
The depiction of the curved knife
creates a sense of impending
violence and pain. The film also
uses the phone and fear of the
phone ringing to create suspense
and the popping of popcorn to
scare the audience.
Music and Sound
The Scream film has an entire score
written by Marco Beltrami including
Trouble in Woodsboro and Sidney's
Lament which create intense terror
and emotion. Also, the use of the
menacing phone voice of the killer
and famous line "What's your
favourite scary movie?" Is a parody
of the typical horror film but equally
menacing.
Setting
The film is set in fictional
Woodsboro, California
which is a typical American
suburb. The setting of
a middle-class home at
night with the person
isolated and alone, the
terror of being stalked by
an angry and unknown
caller creates feelings of
terror.
Case Studies
12. Apaches
Cinematography
Long shots, both in distance and duration where
children run into shot and out of it allowing the
audience to observe their innocent games, making
their sudden deaths very shocking. Use of POV
shots places the audience within the children's
game, making us identify with them, adding to the
horror of their deaths. The close-ups of the
screaming faces, contrasts with the long shots of
the group adding to the shock and emphasising the
horror. The extremely gory deaths of young children
shown would have been terrifying for the young
audience of the time.
Lighting
The action takes place
in bright daylight, which
adds to the shock then
the horrifying deaths
occur and shows the
audience that terrible
things can happen on
the most normal of
days.
Editing
The film cuts between the play-to-death sequences and adults getting ready for what
the voice over calls a "party". At the end of the film, we realise the "party" is a
funeral for one of the boys. This twist helps to drive the message of the film home as
realising we are watching a funeral is horrible. The film cuts to scenes of each newly
dead child's school desk being cleaned out or their name being taken off their school
coat peg- showing the finality of death for the school child audience. In place of any
credits is a list of all the children who have died in farm accidents rolling up the
screen while the mostly silent funeral takes place.
Costume, Props and
Makeup
Innocent children's toys- cowboy
and Indian costumes, guns, etc.
Contrast with the use of very gory
props like dripping blood etc.
Music and Sound
The film opens with menacing wind sounds, ominously
signalling the bad things about to happen. There is also a
drum beat that adds to this ominous feeling. The drum beat
always returns when a death is about to occur creating
tension and a sense of dread in the audience. One death
occurs off-screen but we hear a poisoned child screaming
“mummy” hysterically- over and over again, this is terrifyingly
horrific. A child's voiceover narrates the action, which is the
style of a PSA. This child is also an unreliable narrator- telling
us "mum and dad" are getting ready for a "party" making the
twist (that it is actually his funeral) very shocking.
Setting
A working farm
Case Studies
13. Lonely Water
Cinematography
Long panning shots of quite a swampy, misty body
of water with hand-held camera coming to rest with
a medium shot of the cloaked-like figure. This gives
a sense of foreboding and is very frightening,
especially for the children the PSA is aimed at. The
long shots of the water contrast with the close-up
sequences of children playing in dangerous areas-
showing the everyday nature of the dangers and
making us identify with the children. There is a very
fast zoom in on the cloaked, death-like figure, which
is very shocking and scary.
Lighting
The opening panning
shot of the water is
darkly lit, suggesting
mistiness. This
emphasises the
nightmarish, horror
theme. When the film
transitions to the
children playing, the
light is very bright and
natural, showing it to
be an 'ordinary'
situation that we are all
in and that can quickly
turn bad.
Editing
The long panning shots of water, transition to quick cuts of children playing.
The length of the shots of water makes it feel dreamlike and other worldly,
whereas the quick cuts of the children playing reflects the rough and tumble
of games and emphasizes how quickly tragedy can strike.
Costume, Props and Makeup
The hooded death-like figure is present whenever
death occurs. The audience sees no face and the
character represents the grim reader. When
'sensible' children use a big stick to rescue a boy,
the death figure evaporates leaving only a cloak.
This is all very frightening and give a sense of the
paranormal.
Music and Sound
There is a voice-over throughout of the 'death' character by
Donald Pleasance who was an actor associated with the
horror films of the 70s (Hammer House of Horror). The voice
is calm but menacing. At the end of the voice goes into echo
saying "I'll be back, back, back..." which would have been very
scary for the children of the time.
Setting
Rivers, lakes and quarries
Case Studies
