Researching Horror Films

 For my research, I will be looking into things I
believe will help me with my product. I plan to
look at different existing short films with similar
themes to what I have planned, breaking them
down and talking about what I like and dislike
about them, and how they could influence my
product. I also plan to look at film theory, and
research how cinematography and colour could
influence my product and the best ways to utilise
it, as well as camerawork and editing. I want to
make sure that every aspect of my product holds
meaning and has been thought through, which is
why I will be looking at how different colours
link to different emotions, as well as how
camerawork can portray emotions and the best
tactics to entice and captivate my audience, so
they feel engaged with what's happening in the
film. I'll be researching my audience, looking into
my target demographic and discussing why I
have chosen to target this audience and age
group.

Over the last decade, short horror films have grown in popularity and accumilated a large
audience and fan base due to their creativity and simplicity. Short horror films are more
popular particually on sites such as YouTube, with some films reaching upwards of 100
million views. Short horror films are almost like a 'trend' on platforms like YouTube,
giving amateur filmmakers a chance to express their craft and passion through the
internet reaching millions of people. Just by simply searching 'short horror film' into
YouTubes search bar, you will find hundreds of short films from people of all backgrounds
ranging in low quiality films, all the way to big budget professionally made films. Many of
the films seen on YouTube are student films for projects much like my own, and others are
made from personal passion, or even just for fun. A well-known YouTube channel
synonymous for creating and producing short horror films is 'Crypt TV', a channel with
over 3 million subscribers and hundreds of films made and produced, highlighting the
large consistent market and audience for short horror films on YouTube.
Looking through the Crypt TV channel page, the most popular films have very
captivating and disturbing thumbnails, as these disturbing images are what draws in the
audience, making them captivated and wanting to see the film. This is something I think
I should consider when creating the movie posters for my project, making sure to use
interesting, disturbing and captivating imagery to draw in my audience / horror fans.
Crypt TV - YouTube Channel

What makes a Horror Movie scary? | Ringer PhD | The Ringer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5V-ybRa_m0
The Element of Surprise: One element / tactic a lot of filmmakers use to have an impact on their audience is by using the element of
surprise. Catching the audience off guard and surprising them with a scare when they least expect it can be very effective and can
also take the audience out of their comfort zone making them unprepared for the next scare, which keeps them feeling constantly on
edge and only generates more suspense and tension.
Psychology: The psychology behind horror and what most people find scary plays a huge role in manipulating the audiences'
emotions and understanding the best tactics and techniques to use in order to achieve effective scares. This deep-rooted psychology
can spawn from all kinds of things, for example, human beings like the feeling of control and security and once they're put into
situations where this security is taken from them it puts them in a state of tension, panic and fear. This is a common universal fear
that is utilised in horror films with tropes such as the defenceless victim in a home invasion, or a victim being chased through the
woods by a slasher killer etc.
Sound: Sound is the key element that helps the audience become immersed in the universe the filmmaker has set up. Sound helps
compliment what we see on screen and works hand in hand with almost every other aspect of a film. Visuals and sound go hand in
hand together and one wouldn’t work without the other. Sound has always been perhaps the most prominent and recognisable
feature of the horror genre, with iconic sounds such as Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO score and the eerie opening score to Stanley
Kubrick's The Shining. When looking at both of these pieces of iconic media without their penetrative sound design, it really takes a
lot of the effectiveness out of the movie, leaving it feeling rather stale and unappealing, as well as losing a lot of its scare factors.

Horror Movies Reflect Cultural Fears
"Audiences, especially the youthful 15-24 demographic that has shaped horror since the 1950s, evolve too. We
continually seek out new thrills and fresh scares. New horror movies must be relevant, or risk losing their bite: what
was terrifying yesterday might seem a non-issue tomorrow. Generation by generation, we work through our shared
traumas and move on to the next iteration. In the 1970s, people worried about mutations in unborn babies triggered by
thalidomide or Agent Orange. Today, that threat is forgotten and we’re much more concerned about the damage caused
in utero by microplastics."
-Karina Wilson
"The idea that horror films reflect, or even caricature, society's collective anxieties is nothing new. ''Invasion of the Body
Snatchers'' is frequently read as a critique of McCarthy-era pod people. King Kong? A metaphor for the Great
Depression or the threat of the black man to white social norms. Godzilla? A Japanese reaction to the devastation of the
bomb. And the vampires haunting us of late? A coded response to the trauma of AIDS."
-Shaila K. Dewan
"If movies are the dreams of the mass culture... horror movies are the nightmares."
-Stephen King
Horror Movies: Our Shared Nightmares — Horror Film History
Do Horror Films Filter The Horrors of History? - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Horror as a genre has been engraved into western culture for decades. In order for horror to spawn, we
must have fears. Horror is at its most impactful when it targets us on a personal level and makes us
think, 'what if this happened to me?'
Due to this, it's no coincidence that horror movies often relate to the time period and cultural era in
which they are made. For example, when the devastating attack of 9/11 in September of 2001 hit
America, the predominant fear of the Western World grew into the thoughts and ideas of extreme acts of
violence that humans would inflict onto other humans. This time period also happened to spawn movies
such as Saw, The Devils Rejects, The Collector, Hostel, all movies that specifically focus on the extreme
brutal nature and darker sides of humanity, much like the acts of terrorism and extremism seen in
reality. America and the Western World as a whole were consuming what they feared most with the
Horror genre label printed across it as a way to brand it as fiction but with a darker and more realistic
undertone.
How HORROR Movies Changed – Wisecrack Edition - YouTube
(Similar themes discussed at 19:40)
Eli Roth On Hostel - YouTube
(Director Eli Roth on the link between fiction & reality)
Writer-Director Marcus Dunstan on "torture-porn," censorship, and his new film Saw VI - YouTube
(Horror writer addressing social politics in horror)

 SHE KNOWS - Horror Short Film - YouTube
 Likes:
 The main thing I liked about this film was how short and simple it was. The writers
were able to establish a simple plot that was portrayed to the audience in a very
natural way that didn’t feel too forced in. I felt that the visual effects in this film were
executed really well, especially for a low budget film. The effects were very impressive
and didn’t take me out of the film, as usually a lot of low budget films have very bad
looking effects which can distract you from enjoying the film. Another aspect of the film
that I really liked was the cinematography. I loved the desaturated colours mixed with
strong lights that really stood out in a lot of the shots, as well as how the darkness of
the film complemented the desaturated colours, and really gave it a more creepy and
unsettling tone that made me feel on edge.
 Dislikes:
 There wasn’t a lot of things about this film that I disliked. I thought for a low budget
amateur film it was overall well made, however there are a few things that I think
could've been done differently to improve the film. I thought the story set up in the film
was interesting, however I think the scares were executed poorly and were quite
predictable which did take away from the overall scariness of the film. I also think the
film ended a little too abruptly, and I felt that the ending of the film was rather
underwhelming compared to what had been building up throughout the film.
 How will this film inspire my product?:
 There are a lot of aspects of this film I would like to incorporate into my own work, the main aspect
being the cinematography. I love how lighting and colours are portrayed in this film, as well as how
lights are contrasted with the dark which makes the light stand out a lot more. Watching this film
and having my eyes drawn to certain colours or lighting choices inspires me to create my product in a
similar style to achieve the same effect, as I think it's important that my product is visually
appealing.

Polaroid - Short Film - YouTube
Likes:
• I really liked this film, despite its short runtime I thought it did almost
everything perfectly. I liked how the film was shot with a mix of handheld
camerawork and still shots. It was clear that all the shots in this film were very
well thought out. The film was brilliant at generating suspense, and I like how
the film went for the 'less is more' tactic by not revealing the antagonist for too
long and adding long, lingering shots to make you feel on edge. The film was able
to establish a simple plot that wasn’t confusing or made you question wat is
happening. I also liked how the colours were natural, as it made it feel a lot more
real and personal, especially with the setting being a regular home. Overall, I
thought this was a brilliant, entertaining and scary film that was executed
perfectly in almost every way possible.
Dislikes:
• There was only really one thing I disliked about the film. I felt like the lead
actor's performance was a little dry and could've been better. This was a film that
relied heavily on capturing the emotions of the character, and while he still did a
great job, I feel that his expressions could've been better and more believable.
How will this film inspire my product?:
• I plan to try and keep my film short with a simple plot much like this film. I also plan to
feature unique and interesting scares much like the ones seen in this film. My main goal is to
generate as much fear and suspense onto my audience as possible, and I hope to generate as
much suspense as this film did. This film will influence the way I will film my project, utilising
different filming techniques such as a mix of the handheld and still camerawork.

 THE MIME - Horror Short Film - YouTube
 Likes:
 I enjoyed this film a lot and there were a lot of things I liked about it. The first thing I noticed was the camerawork. I
really liked how the director chose a mostly handheld style, as it gives the feeling of unease and sickness throughout
the film. I also thought the colour and lighting helped back up the feeling of 'sickness' throughout the film. The
under exposed light and the desaturated green made the film all the more disturbing and added a layer of realism to
it, especially with the setting. The filmmakers took an already unsettling location for many of us and manipulated
with our fears of underground desolate places such as the one seen in the film, which makes the fear feel a lot more
personal and something we can all relate to. The visuals in this film were incredibly disturbing, especially towards
the end which made me feel very uncomfortable and made me cringe at the screen, which is always a positive sign
that the filmmakers have been able to make something that will get a physical reaction out of the audience.
 Dislikes:
 There wasn’t a lot that I disliked about this film. After watching it over a few times, I think that my biggest
complaint with it is that I feel the lighting is a little too dark for my liking. Personally, I would've had my lighting
exposed a little more because I do feel that the film overall is a little too dark.
 How will this film inspire my product?:
 There's a lot to take from this film, a lot of styles that I really love and tactics the filmmakers have utilised that will
benefit me greatly if I implement them into my work. The fact that the filmmakers have used a common, yet eerie
and creepy location is something I would like to try to do for my film. The fact that these kinds of locations are
familiar with everyone and already have a creepy aura surrounding them I think will make my product more
impactful and all the more horrific. As I've mentioned, I love the colour choices for this film as I think they work
perfectly for the setting and tone of the film, which is something I will keep in mind when filming outdoor scenes.

The key purpose of a movie poster is to entice and advertise, however their
purpose stretches beyond this. Not only does a movie poster allow you a
glimpse into what kind of film you're about / or would want to see, but it
also holds many connotations that link to the film's genre or sub-genre that
audiences may overlook. Excluding Hollywood's cliched 'teal and orange'
look, many movie posters, and particularly in this case, horror movie
posters can achieve admiration and attention through simplistic eye-
catching designs, even without lead actors or actresses faces floating in the
background. Personally, I'm a firm believer that in the case of poster
artwork, less is most definitely more. Take for example the Theatrical
poster for Jordan Peele's 'Us'. One of the first things that stands out about
this poster is how strict the colour pallet is, which is the case for a lot of
horror movie posters. The lack of variety in colours mixed with the heavy
use of blacks for the background draws your eyes instantly to the middle of
the poster aka the main subject. The heavy use of shadows and blacks
makes the colours pop and really stand out. The deep red connotates the
blood, violence and sinister aspects of the film, and the eerie / unusual
visuals add more to the tone but also offer ideas as to what the poster is
trying to imply, as well as adding details about the underlining plot of the
film. The expression on the main subject's face is terrifying and unsettling,
highlighting a sudden change of identity and personality, juxtaposing the
second face in the poster that the subject is holding which further
underlines potential plot details to the audience. Its simplistic, terrifying
and incredibly well made, and doesn’t rely on Hollywood cliches.

 I chose to analyse this poster because I would like to make at least one of my posters in
a similar style, I like the minimalism and design behind it, as well as the colours and
lighting, and I'd like to take inspiration from it when creating my posters, as well as what
marketing tactics such as taglines I could use to entice my audience, making them
interested and captivated into wanting to see my film.
 The first thing to note about this poster is the 2 faces featured in it. Both faces are
highly important to the film as they are both the lead characters. These faces have
been used not only because they're important characters in the film, but because
they're also highly iconic for horror fans and audiences, making them easily
recognisable to fans, which makes the film easily recognisable.
 The poster shows Laurie Strode, the main character of the film up front, close and
personal with a daring look in her eye, highlighting she is a strong female
protagonist with a personality of vengeance. In the background of the poster behind
Laurie we have Michael Myers. The fact that Michael is shrouded in darkness
highlights that he is the antagonist of the film. He is also staring maliciously
at Laurie, which conveys a confrontation and perhaps hatred between the two,
further detailing potential plot details. Michael is blurred in comparison to Laurie,
this symbolises that despite not physically being seen or present, Michael is a
constant threat, and his presence lingers throughout the film, highlighting he is
someone to be feared and a huge danger to Laurie. The tagline 'Face your Fate'
further backs up the confrontation point, once again highlighting that Laurie will
have to face Michael at some point in the film, which from a fan's standpoint
generates a lot of excitement and hype for the film.

Movie Poster Mood Board Some of my personal favourite horror movie posters that may inspire my work.

Ayers, Laura. (2016) Horror Film Poster Analysis
Horror Film Poster Analysis by laura ayers - issuu
Brennan, Neilan. (2012) Horror Movie Poster Analysis
Horror Movie Poster Analysis by Neilan Brennan (prezi.com)
Clark, Dylan. (2018) The Pretty Thing (Short Horror Film)
(4) The Pretty Thing (Short Horror Film) - YouTube
CryptTV. (2014) YouTube Channel
(4) Crypt TV - YouTube
Film Riot. (2018) How To Make a No Budget Horror Film
(4) How to Make a No Budget Horror Film - YouTube
Houston, Paul. (2017) Polaroid – Short Film
(4) Polaroid - Short Film - YouTube

 Colour is a vital key in cinematography that helps convey emotions towards
the audience. For example, the colour red can be associated with a lot of things,
however it all depends on context. For a romantic comedy, the colour red would
appear warm and welcoming, however when applied to the context of horror, the
colour is usually associated with pain or death. Each colour is associated with
its own individual emotion and meaning. The colour blue when applied to horror
gives the impression of loneliness and emptiness, which coincides with the
ghostly and haunting themes a lot of horror films run with. A good example of
this would be 'Insidious' (2010). The film is portrayed through natural colours
with desaturated tones due to the depressing theme of loss and hopelessness,
however later in the film when the story starts to take a more haunting and
horrific tone, the colour blue starts to bleed its way into many of the scenes
where these hauntings take place, highlighting that in the context of horror, the
colour blue could connotate an unknown and perhaps dangerous presence.
Green is associated with sickness, death and decay. Green can also connotate
lifelessness, which juxtaposes the colours link and association with nature,
wildlife and growth. However, much like the colour red, the context of the colour
can affect its meaning entirely, highlighting that colours can be twisted into
different meanings through their portrayal in horror. The use of colour in horror
helps engage the audience and make them feel more connected to the film and
the characters, as well as giving indications of what the audience should feel
when exposed to these colours, which is why they are such a vital aspect of
filmmaking and making sure the audience is connected with the film.

Green – The colour green can portray many emotions in film, however for my project, I will be looking at
how green reflects emotion in a more negative way, as I feel that this is more suited for my project. In the
2004 film, 'The Machinist', green is used throughout to highlight depression, dullness and lifelessness.
The low saturated green mixed with deep blacks and contrast along with the disturbing visuals and
performances by Christian Bale gives off the feeling of sickness and is almost nauseating to look at.
Looking at Christian Bale's physique partnered with the 'sickness green' makes the natural seem a lot
more unnatural, even without explicit disturbing visuals. This colour tone helps manipulate the
audience's emotions and plays a big factor into the movie, which is one reason why the film is so
memorable.
Blue – Blue often symbolises loneliness, hopelessness and gives off a very chilling tone. Blue also
provides a big contrast when partnered with other commonly used colours such as red. In horror films,
scenes that are given a blue hue allow reds, predominantly blood, to stand out a lot more and gives the
image an overall much more violent and graphic tone. Blue mixed with a high white balance gives off the
feeling of death and is often related with a ghostly presence and is synonymous with paranormal horror
and imagery. The chilling tone of the colour adds to a feeling of abandonment and gives off quite literally
a cold and chilling feeling which helps to highlight to the audience how the characters are feeling and
what they are experiencing, which adds more of a personal attachment and effect towards the
characters.
Orange – Orange is a very warm and inviting colour which is juxtaposing when portrayed in the context
of horror / thriller. Orange usually highlights the feeling of security and safety and provides a 'dream
like' effect when partnered with strong colours such as black, giving a strong contrast and silhouette
effect much like the example image used. The fact that this colour is associated with security as well as
warmth and comfort means that when things more disturbing and visually shocking occur, they have
more of an impact on the audience, almost like catching the audience by surprise. Orange is commonly
used in horror / thriller because of its iconism towards the Halloween holiday, giving it an already
noticeable connection which makes the film and the horror genre feel all the more familiar to the
audience.

There are many different styles of camerawork and shot
framing used throughout horror movies. Camerawork, much
like colour / cinematography can also be used to convey
emotions to the audience. For example, a lot of handheld and
shaky camera movement can highlight chaos, uncertainty and
intensity. During scenes where a character is either running,
fighting or during the climax of a film, the camerawork will be
handheld to highlight the intensity of the scene to the
audience and to put us into the shoes or perspective of
the character, which helps the audience feel emotionally
engaged with the film and the characters, giving the audience
more reason to care about what is happening on the screen.
The camera is our perspective, much like the audience is a
character in the film observing everything that is going on, so
without engaging and creative camera movement, it can be
hard to create that connection with the audience. Close up
shots also highlight emotion, often shots where a character's
face takes up the full frame it is to convey what the character
is feeling at that current time, whether that be fear, sadness,
worry etc. Being this close and personal towards a character
adds an overall bigger and more lasting impact on the scene
and thus the audience and helps to create better filmmaking.

 The editing of a horror film is one of the most important aspects of making
the audience feel fear, suspense and what drives the movie forward. The editing
can manipulate what we think we know, and completely turn the film on its
head through very simple trickery. Editing creates a sense of structure,
showing different perspectives of different things happening at the same time
so the audience can take in as much information as possible without losing
track of what Is happening in the film. It helps build the narrative and the
story. Different styles of editing convey different emotions, for example, a lot of
very intense scenes will have quick cuts to highlight the intensity to the
audience, as well as to give perspective into the character in the scene. The
quick cutting gives a sense of panic and loss of control. Humans, naturally, like
to have the feeling of control in almost any situation, so when this feeling of
control is taken away from us during the scene, it makes the scene more
impactful and adds to the fear intensity the editor is trying to inflict onto the
audience. Slow, lingering shots of something intense or disturbing also have the
same effect. The longer the camera lingers on something unpleasant, the more
uncomfortable it makes us feel, once again making us feel like we are
experiencing what characters in the film are experiencing. Editing controls
what is on the screen and is in control of the whole movie. A lot of good editing
is reliant on good timing, knowing when and how to scare the audience to
generate as much fear and suspense as possible before hand instead of
releasing it all at once which would have a more underwhelming effect on the
audience.

When making a horror film there are a lot of very
important components in making sure your film is
effective, and you're able to convey the emotions you
want to convey to your audience. One of the most
important elements of a horror film is sound design.
Sound design is essential in creating tension and
communicating with the audience on a personal level
and really getting under their skin. The most
terrifying scene is never completed without the power
of sound design, and most existing iconic scenes in
horror are very underwhelming when they are
removed of soundtrack, sound effects etc. Powerful
sound design can help manipulate the audiences'
expectations and emotions. The sound in a horror film
can act like a character of its own and helps us to
understand what we should be thinking and feeling
during a certain scene, even if it's only by using a
single sound que like an eerie thud or a slow
humming soundtrack that generates suspense and
mystery.

After Dark Analysis. (2019) Colour Theory in Horror Movies | Film Theory
(3) Color Theory in Horror Movies | Film Analysis - YouTube
GammaRay. (2018) The art of Editing Horror | Dissecting Fear
(3) The Art of Editing Horror | Dissecting Fear - YouTube
Gold, Kristina. (2004) Genre Theory: The Horror Film
SOSC4319 Home (yorku.ca)
Granbacka, Viktor. (2016) How is Horror Illustrated in Movie Posters?
Microsoft Word - How Is Horror Illustrated In Movie Posters Viktor Granbacka
050516.docx (theseus.fi)
Navarro, Megan. (2019) The Psychology of Colour in Horror
From ‘Suspiria’ to ‘Midsommar’: The Psychology of Color in Horror - Bloody
Disgusting (bloody-disgusting.com)

Q1: Out of these 3 choices, which aspect of a Horror film appeals to you the most?
Most Popular Answer: Sound
Analysis: The fact that my audience believes Sound is one of the most important aspects of a horror film
highlights to me that I need to make sure to include and execute good sound design in my product, as this is
one of the main aspects my audience will be looking out for when watching my film. As I have already
investigated sound design (film theory) for my research, I feel that this research already conducted will help
me greatly during the production of my work, as I will be able to go back and review it, looking over the
importance of sound design and the role it plays in scaring the audience. Colour came in second with Lighting
being deemed as 'least appealing', highlighting that lighting does still play a big role, however it's not my
audiences top appeal when watching films, which is understandable due to the fact that many scenes in
horror films don’t need to rely on specific lighting or good lighting in order to scare the audience, despite this
however I do still want to make sure my lighting is as professional and as captivating as possible.
Q2: Which of these colours do you think corresponds best with the 'Paranormal' Sub-Genre?
Most Popular Answer: Blue
Analysis: The reason I asked this question is because my film will be running with a psychological /
paranormal theme and atmosphere. I want colour to play a big part in my product, but I don’t want to use
colours for the sake of my product looking good. I want to use colours that symbolise different emotions and
that reflects the mood and tone of the film. For my Film Theory research, I looked at how different colours
symbolise different meanings when applied to the context of horror. I talked about how the colour blue is
often associated with 'ghostly and paranormal' imagery, as that’s how the stereotype of 'ghosts' has been built
up in our culture for centuries. With these results, I will make sure to utilise the colour blue during the
editing of my product, for example, scenes with a ghostly presence will have a deep blue hue to them,
symbolising the paranormal side of the film. Ive talked about how colours also reflect emotions, and that the
colour blue often reflects 'depression' or 'sadness'. As my product is running with this theme, I plan on having
a blue aura of light constantly subtly surrounding or appearing in different scenes to highlight this theme
throughout the film.

Q3: Do you think the topic of Mental Health is a good topic to convey respectably
through a Horror Film? If so, why?
Most Popular Answer: Mostly 'Yes' mixed with 'No'
Analysis: Personally, I feel that this was one of the most important questions in my
survey. Since my preproposal I have wanted my product to revolve around the topic of
mental health, and to use my product to tell a story and to show a different
perspective of mental health that many people may not understand or underestimate.
This topic is important to me, and I felt my FMP project would be a great opportunity
to spread awareness through my passion and love for horror films and filmmaking.
Looking at the results, most of the answers are agreeing to the idea that mental
health is a good topic to convey respectably, whilst there are other answers claiming
that it's not too much of a good idea. Many perspectives can be taken from this;
however, I feel that because my story is a personal story, I will be able to convey this
theme in an understandable and respectful manner. The last thing I want is for my
product to offend anyone, so I will be taking the proper steps to ensure that my
product isn't too offensive or 'over the top' when it comes to the topic of mental health.
Looking at my audience's responses, many of them agree that using the foundation of
a horror film to tell a story about mental health is a very positive thing due to the
high popularity and traction horror movies have, which would definitely help spread
awareness and perhaps even change the way my audience thinks about mental
health. I also believe this is a good thing and is one reason I chose to convey this story
through a film. Because of the day and age were living in, conveying stories and topics
through films is a good way to reach out to people to get them to listen and provide a
stage for you to stand on.

Q4: In your opinion, should a Horror Movie put its scare factor (jump-scares etc.) before suspense?
Most Popular Answer: No
Analysis: Its clear to see from these results that it's important to make sure when creating a horror film that
cheap ways of scaring people such as jump-scares should not be held above other means of building up tension
and fear such as creating suspense. These results show that my audience are perhaps tired of seeing the same
scare tactics used throughout hundreds of different horror films and want a different reason to feel scared,
rather than having something jump out at the screen whilst making a loud noise. I believe there are multiple
different ways to scare an audience rather than using jump-scares, which is something I plan to utilise when
making my product. I want my product to have a very creepy, eerie and disturbing feel to it, and I don’t
believe jump-scares are the best way to achieve this feeling, and neither does my audience. My main goal is to
create suspense and getting under my audience's skin, as I believe this has a lot more impact and a lasting
effect that will make them think about the film long after watching it.
Q5: Is lighting vital in creating suspense?
Most Popular Answer: Yes
Analysis: Lighting does play a big role in setting the mood for a scene as well as conveying how the audience
should be feeling when watching a particular scene. Lighting can have a big influence on the overall mood
and tone of the scene. For example, during scenes where a character would be walking around an abandoned
building at night, the lighting wouldn’t be bright and colourful, instead it would be dark and unpleasant as
this reflects the setting of the scene and what the character is experiencing. It's clear that from these results
that my audience expects good lighting to work hand in hand with the scene, creating good suspense on
screen. When making my product, I plan to rely a lot on lighting to convey the mood of my characters, as well
as using lighting to highlight characteristics of the characters to my audience, hopefully helping them
understand the characters feelings and emotions better when watching the film. The majority of my film will
be dark, as it reflects the theme I am going for. I feel that if it wasn’t dark, my audience wouldn’t have the
right connections with the characters and be able to feel what they feel, and experience what they experience.

Q6: What aspects of cinematography appeal most to you?
Most Popular Answer: Camerawork
Analysis: These results highlight to me that my audience
pays attention to the camerawork when watching a horror
film and they feel that it is one of the most important aspects
of the films cinematography. When creating my product, I will
make sure to utilise camerawork much like how I am with
colour and lighting, making sure very choice has meaning. I
want to also convey emotions through my camerawork as I
feel like this is one of the best ways to do it. I feel that the
camerawork is a way to translate directly to the audience the
tone of a scene, how a character is feeling, if something is
wrong or not etc. Using this data, I will make sure to put a lot
of emphasis on my camerawork and plan out how I am going
to film certain scenes and how I will convey emotions to my
audience. I think that planning out storyboards and taking
test shots will help me greatly with this. Lighting came in
second showing that my audience still believe it is important
along with some believing that colour is the most important. I
feel that my product will appeal greatly to my audience as I
will be putting a lot of emphasis and focus onto all these three
aspects of cinematography, making sure they are as good
looking, meaningful and as professionally looking as possible.

Q7: Can you give me a location example that would work best for effecting the
audience on a personal level?
Most Popular Answer: A House
Analysis: The reason I asked this question because I wanted to determine what
kind of a place my audience would be more effected by when making my film. As
I have mentioned before, I want to try and effect my audience on a personal
level, so I believe that showing them something horrific or scary happening in a
place personal or relatable to them would have much more of a lasting impact. I
do plan on filming a good portion of my product in a home. Due to lockdown
restrictions, I don’t have many other options, but I feel that I will be able to use
this location to my advantage. I believe that having a horror film set in a place
where you're supposed to feel warm and safe takes away the audience's security
and can make them feel completely hopeless or helpless when watching the film.
Overall, I will be filming my product in locations that the audience will be
familiar with and be able to relate to. I wanted my product to have a mix of
indoor shooting and outdoor shooting to make it feel more varied and
interesting and not just secluded to one location. I like a lot of suggestions my
audience gave and I feel that they are all really good and interesting responses
that I will take into account and refer back to during the planning and
production of my project. Overall, I hope the locations chosen when filing my
product will have a lasting and personal effect on my audience, making them
feel scared long after watching the film and making them feel insecure about
their own location.

Q8: In your opinion, do you believe that 'less is more' in the context of horror?
Most Popular Answer: Yes
Analysis: I'm very happy with these results as I am planning to create my product in the 'less is more' horror
style. Ive always been a fan of horror films that leave a lot up to the imagination and this is what I plan to do
with my own film. I personally believe that when a lot less is shown on screen it has a much more terrifying
effect, especially when something scary is seen from a distance or only shown for a split second, as it makes
the audience question what they saw and almost makes them jump in their seat without having them
actually be jump-scared. I like when films leave a lot up to the audience's imagination, as they create own
images in their head of what they think they saw. I think the more you show something scary on the screen,
the audience starts to become a lot more desensitised to it and it starts to lose the horror effect, which is
something I want to make sure doesn’t happen with my film which is why I will be going for the less is more
approach. Overall, it's clear to see that my audience expects this style and I plan on utilising it in my product.
Q9: Out of these four locations, which would you find to be more unsettling when applied to horror?
Most Popular Answer: A House / Home
Analysis: This question links back to question 7, when I asked my audience to name a location they feel would
personally affect them when watching a horror film. Once again, these results show that they best way to
affect my audience on a personal level is by setting my film in a place that is personal to them. I think the
reason why this answer is so popular is because people find horror a lot more scary and impactful when they
themselves can relate to it. No one would want anything horrific to happen to them, especially in their own
home where they are supposed to feel the most safe and secure. As I have mentioned before, my film will take
place mostly in a house, which should hopefully strip away that feeling of safety and security knowing that
the character isn't safe no matter where he goes. I hope with all of the right filmmaking tactics I plan to use
such as the appropriate colours, lighting and camerawork I will be able to achieve the right effect and really
make my audience unsettled and scared when watching my film. At the end of the day one of my films main
purposes is to scare, so I need to make sure that I utilise all of these things properly.

Q10: When watching a horror film, would you prefer to have
the antagonist (villain) revealed to the audience? Or have the
look of the antagonist be left up to the imagination?
Most Popular Answer: I'd rather have it be left up to the
imagination.
Analysis: This question links back to the 'less is more'
question. I am a big fan of the less is more concept, and I feel
that this should be applied to the aggressor / the antagonist.
The feeling of having something stalk or oppress you is one
thing, but not knowing what it is or what it looks like is much
scarier in my opinion and I feel like my audience can agree
with this. I do plan on keeping the antagonist of my story
rather ambiguous. When it is shown on screen, it will only be
shown for a short amount of time and will either be shrouded
in darkness or only be seen from a long distance. Personally,
the idea of something menacing in the distance is a lot scarier
for me, especially when applied to dark lighting where the
figure is merely just a silhouette. I plan to portray my
antagonist like this in a lot of scenes where it is set to appear.
I want my audience to rely a lot on their imagination and
make them want to rewind the film and brighten up the
image out of curiosity as to what the antagonist looks like,
which highlights that they will be much more engaged with
the film.

Interview 1, NAME: Isabelle, (Sister) Age: 16 - Horror Movie Fan
Q: Does the concept of short horror films with a simple story appeal to you, if so why?
A: Yes, I like the idea of having a simple story because I think it is a lot more captivating and easier to pick up on. I think that it’s an easy watch and easy to pick up on
what’s happening regards to the story. Short simple stories have always interested me.
Q: Is there anything in particular that you like about horror film aesthetics, any lighting styles, colour choices that stand out to you?
A: I like colours that link with the film's genre and the tone of the film. I think the colours contribute a lot to the feel of the film as well as the lighting. Darkness in
general can have a big impact on the film and add more of an impact towards the scare factor. I like how films like ‘Evil Dead’ (2013) use colours that reflect the mood and
emotions the film is trying to portray.
Q: Which out of these two elements do you think contributes more to the ‘horror’ element of a film, sound effects or music?
A: I think both of them contributed massively, though I do think music contributes more than sound effects. A film like ‘Insidious’ (2010) has some of the scariest music
I’ve ever heard and is something that has had a lasting effect on me and is one of the first things I remember about the film when it comes to mind.
Q: Finally, when watching a short horror film, would you expect the element of suspense to override the ‘scare’ factors of the film?
A: I think it’s important to make sure that the film features some scares, but I also think there should be a balance between suspense and things like jump scares. If jump
scares are used too often the film can become quite boring and predictable, I think jump scares are an uninteresting way of scaring people, but as long as it’s mixed with
suspense and build up I think they’re ok to use as long as they aren’t used too often.

Interview 2, NAME: Georgina, Age: 17 - Horror Movie Fan
Q: Does the concept of short horror films with a simple story appeal to you, if so why?
A: Yes, because they're quick and easy to watch, and usually scarier as there isn't time for dumb filler stuff and cheap jump-scares.
Q: Is there anything in particular that you like about horror film aesthetics, any lighting styles, colour choices that stand out to you?
A: I like when they have a foggy blue aesthetic, like when you can't quite see what's happening in the background, as it adds to the suspense cos something could be
hiding. Plus, it just looks really nice.
Q: Which out of these two elements do you think contributes more to the ‘horror’ element of a film, sound effects or music?
A: Depends, music is good at signalling a change or that something is about to happen, but sound effects can create a really scare atmosphere and keep you on edge
throughout. For a shorter horror film, I'd say sound effects.
Q: Finally, when watching a short horror film, would you expect the element of suspense to override the ‘scare’ factors of the film?
A: I'd expect a balance of both, but for shorter films I'd say lean more to the scare factors, like hiding things in the background or good jumpscares (not cheap ones), but at
least some suspence is still really important for any horror film. Because of such a short runtime I think it's best to try and weigh out the two so that none of the scares or
suspense in the film feel 'overdone' or too drawn out.

QUESTIONNAIRE &
INTERVIEWS
EVALUATION
 Overall, I'm happy with the responses from
my questionnaire as well as the interviews and I feel
like they have helped me in getting to know my target
audience better as well as what they will expect from
my product. Looking through the response's highlights
to me just what my audience is looking for in horror
films, what appeals to them and why. Using this
information, I will be able to create a product that will
hopefully appeal to the whole of my audience, as well
as executing my product's main goal which is to scare,
entertain and inform. Ive learnt my audiences likes
and dislikes, how they like to see horror films portray
certain filmmaking techniques and styles such as
colour, camerawork and lighting, as well as other
factors of horror films such as locations and themes. In
conclusion, I believe that my questionnaire has given
me a good insight into what my audience expects when
watching a horror film as well as the different
filmmaking techniques that would appeal to them,
which I will reference when creating my film.

 Primary Audience
 Gender & Age: Male & Female, 16-24
 Psychographics: Belonger, Emulator,
Needs Driven, Type A, Balanced
 Class: Middle, Upper
 I chose this demographic for my primary audience
as I feel this group is more suited for my product. As
my product is a Horror Film, I felt that a young age
group of both males & females was appropriate due
to the young appeal for Horror Films. In 2018, a
study by Stephen Follows highlights the younger
appeal for horror cinema amongst a group of varied
ages.
 Horror films are associated with thrill / sensation
seeking which further highlights just why there is a
bigger appeal amongst young adult and teen
audiences. The films are highly popular amongst avid
filmgoers, as well as audience members who aren't as
avid. Younger people tend to visit the cinema on
occasions such as for Halloween or mostly with
groups of friends, as horror is usually best
experienced with other people of the same age.
Source: How do movie genre tastes change with age? (stephenfollows.com)

 Secondary Audience
 Gender & Age: Male & Female, 25-34
 Psychographics: Belonger, Emulator,
Needs Driven, Type A, Balanced
 Class: Middle, Upper
 Ive chosen this demographic for my secondary
audience due to the large market for older audiences.
Whilst not as large as the younger audience market,
the appeal for Horror Films still exists within older
audiences. In the Uk, the estimated age percentage of
audiences aged 25-34 for box office contributions was
a mere 19% with just over 5% of this estimated data
being horror movie audiences of this age group, while
in the US the data shows that in 2018, the
horror market consumption for adult audiences was
66%. It's clear to see the appeal for horror in this age
group is much more in the US, which is likely due to
population differences. Despite my product mainly
being catered towards a younger audience, I feel that
it will also greatly appeal to this demographic, which
is why I have chosen it for my secondary audience.
Source: How do movie genre tastes change with age? (stephenfollows.com)
Source: • Favorite movie genres in the U.S. by age 2018 |
Statista
US Data:
UK Data:

Cotton, Shannon. (2012) Conventions of the Horror Genre
Research: Conventions of the Horror Genre | Shannon Cotton (wordpress.com)
Follows, Stephen. (2018) How Do Movie Genre Tastes Change With Age?
How do movie genre tastes change with age? (stephenfollows.com)
Gruvi. (2016) Know Thy Audience: Marketing the Horror Film 'It Follows'
Know Thy Audience: Marketing the Horror Film It Follows - CMF Trends (cmf-fmc.ca)
Palmer, Will. (2017) Who is your Audience in 2017?
CinemaCon 2017: Who Is Your Audience in 2017? - Boxoffice (boxofficepro.com)
Statista. (2018) Most Popular Movie Genres Among Adults in the US by Age Group
• Favorite movie genres in the U.S. by age 2018 | Statista
Variety. (2016) Horror Movies Scare up Big Bucks at Box Office
Horror Movies Scare Up Big Bucks at Box Office - Variety

Overall, I know that my research will be extremely helpful towards making my final product. I
wanted to make sure that my research was relevant, as I have strayed off relevant research in past
projects and waisted time with things that wouldn’t help me during production. However, Ive
now researched everything that I feel is necessary and that I know I can use to help me during the
production for this project. I believe that both my primary and secondary research have helped me
understand my target audience a lot easier, and I now know what they expect from my product which
I can use to my advantage during production. It's also helped me understand how I should execute my
product. Now that I know what elements of a horror film my audience like and dislike, I know this
will help me build a better product. Looking into film theory was very interesting and Ive learnt more
Indepth ways of how I can convey emotion through all kinds of techniques such as colour grading and
camerawork which I think will go a long way into making my product more interesting and
professional, which should hopefully further appeal to my audience. Looking through existing short
films has also helped me understand what works best for a short horror film and what doesn’t, how I
should create suspense, good scare tactics and execution, how camerawork creates tension and how to
build up a scare. In conclusion, I know my research will benefit me greatly when creating my product.
It will be something I can constantly refer to, expand upon and look back on when creating my
product, as I constantly expect to be generating more fresh and new ideas for my product as this
project moves along.

What I will be looking into when planning problem solving:
• Preparing for production, possible pros & cons / things that could go wrong.
• Preventing damaged equipment when filming.
• Making sure to have the right amount of cast and crew.
• Health and safety on set.
• Making sure crew members know how to use specific equipment.
• How to light low light scenes.
• How to work under very low light conditions.
• Making sure there is no kinds of miscommunication between cast and crew.
• Acquiring and looking into filming locations.
• Finding the best appropriate filming locations.
• Working under COVID-19 rules and regulations with cast and crew.
• Setting up all equipment appropriately.
• Making sure important files are always backed up.
• Keeping important files stored in safe locations.
• Services such as food and drinks for everyone on set of filming.

Researching Horror Films

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