2. High Angle Shot
• A shot whereby the camera is
positioned at an angle above
the object or character. This
shot is to belittle the character
and to make them look
insignificant.
• In the American slasher film
‘The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre’ a high angle shot
is used when the character
‘Erin’ enters an unknown
location, the shot signifies
her vulnerability in this
scene.
3. Low Angle Shot
• A shot whereby the camera is positioned at an angle below
the object. This shot is used to make the audience seem
powerless and to make the character in the shot look heroic
or intimidating.
• A low angle shot of the villain used in the film ‘I Know What
You Did Last Summer’ to make the character look dominant
and powerful.
4. Establishing Shot
• A wide shot of a location that establishes a sense of
environment and surroundings. It is usually the first shot of a
new scene and is designed to give the audience and
impression of where the action will be taking place.
• In ‘Halloween’ an establishing shot of the interior of a house
let’s the audience know that this is where the action will take
place.
5. Extreme Long Shot (XLS)
• A wide shot that places a person or object a long distance
away from the camera. This shot emphasizes the size of the
character compared to the landscape such as skyscrapers.
• In ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ extreme long shots emphasize the
scale of the desert the characters are stranded in, this
generates a feeling of isolation and helplessness.
6. Long Shot (LS)
• A shot in which a person can be seen from head to toe. The
character in the shot takes up almost the full frame height.
The long shot is also used to determine the surrounding
environment in the scene.
• In the film ‘Cabin In The Woods’ a long shot is used as the
characters approach the cabin, this is to show the audience
where the scenes environment is based.
7. Medium Long Shot (MLS)
• A shot in which a person
can be seen from the
knees upwards. A
medium long shot shows
the subject in relation to
the surroundings.
• In the Horror/ Slasher
genre the films villain is
typically revealed in a
medium longshot or
longshot for towards the
end of a to show off the
character in full form in
all its glory.
8. Medium Shot (MS)
• A shot in which a person can be
seen from head to waist. Medium
shots are to show the characters
body language in the context of
their facial expression.
• In ‘Halloween’ this medium shot is
used to make the audience feel
uncomfortable, his body language
and facial is emotionless and his
face is covered by a gritty mask
which gives the character a sinister
and menacing front.
9. Medium Close Up (MCU)
• A shot in which a person can be seen from head to shoulders/
upper body. This shot is commonly used when characters are
having conversations
• In ‘Black Christmas’ this medium close up is used to build
tension as the audience are unaware to what the character is
reacting to.
10. Close Up (CU)
• Close ups are shots usually of the characters face used to
show emotion or activity they are doing with their hands.
Close ups allow the audience to connect emotionally to the
character.
• This close up from ‘My Bloody Valentine’ shows a scared and
confused expression on the characters face which makes the
audience anticipate seeing what she can see.
11. Extreme Close Up (XCU)
• A shot which captures a specific feature or reaction on a
person’s face. The shot is usually so tight that only certain
details such as someone's eyes or mouth can be seen.
• In ‘The Strangers’ extreme close up shots are used to show
emotions such as fear on the characters faces.
12. Point-of-view-Shot (POV)
• A point of view is a shot which shows what a character is
looking at. It is usually established by being positioned
between a shot of a character looking at something, and a
shot showing the character's reaction. The POV shot is
commonly used in the horror genre as it builds tension.
• This POV shot has been used in ‘Scream’ to make the
audience feel empathetic towards the victim. It is also
hauntingly effective as the ghost faced villain is the last thing
that the victim will see.
13. Two Shot
• Two-shots are good for establishing a relationship between
subjects. The characters have equal prominence in the frame
meaning that they provide equal input. The two-shot is a
common way to introduce two people.
• In the film ‘Urban Legends’ a two shot is used to show the
relationship between the two characters, the female is scared
whereas the villain shows dominant body language. They are
both divided by a pane of glass.
14. Over-the-shoulder Shot
• A shot of someone or something
taken from the perspective or camera
angle from the shoulder of another
person. The back of the shoulder and
head of this person is used to frame
the image of whomever the camera is
pointing toward.
• An over-the-shoulder shot is
used in ‘A Nightmare On Elm
Street’ to draw the audience
into the scene and to make
them feel involved.
