The document discusses several conventions and techniques used in horror genre films to create suspense and fear. It explains that horror films typically take place in isolated, desolate settings to add mystery and suspense. It also discusses how lighting, colors, sounds, editing choices like blurring backgrounds, and not revealing the threat can build tension and leave things to the audience's imagination. Special effects are also discussed as a way to set tone and atmosphere rather than just showing the creature. Reaction shots of frightened characters can further amplify the fear for the audience.

1. CONVENTIONS
H O R R O R G E N E R E

2. MISE EN SCENE:
In horror films, the setting is a crucial element in creating a spine-tingling
atmosphere. Typically, these movies take place in eerie, desolate locations, far
away from bustling cities and crowds. The darkness and isolation of these
settings add to the suspense and mystery that runs throughout the film.
Abandoned houses, cemeteries shrouded in loneliness, and remote villages
become the canvas on which the story unfolds.
For example, in the opening scene of "The Woman in Black," the story is set in a
remote and secluded village in the middle of nowhere. This choice of location
immediately sets the tone for the supernatural and mysterious events that are
about to transpire.

3. CASUAL
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Gothic horror films, in particular, embrace the theme of mystery and
the supernatural. Consequently, they often feature grand castles,
ancient graveyards, and eerie, haunted houses as their primary
settings. These locations amplify the sense of foreboding and
unease that is characteristic of gothic horror.
When it comes to props in horror films, they play a crucial role in
intensifying the fear factor. Weapons like knives, axes, and
chainsaws are commonly used to create gruesome and horrifying
scenes. The more brutal and violent these tools appear, the greater
the reaction they elicit from the audience, as horror films aim to
shock and terrify.

4. However, not all horror films rely solely on weapons to convey
fear. In the case of "The Woman in Black," the opening scene
uses subtler props, such as rocking chairs and children's toys.
These seemingly innocent objects carry an air of mystery and
eeriness, foreshadowing the unsettling events that will unfold.
It's a testament to the film's ability to build tension and fear
through atmosphere and storytelling, rather than relying solely
on graphic violence.

5. LIGHTING & COLOUR
Add a subheHorror films are known for their ability to send shivers down our spines, and one
of the ways they achieve this is by setting the gruesome and terrifying scenes at night,
enveloping everything in darkness. When it's dark, shadows are cast, and shapes become
mysterious and hard to identify. This sense of uncertainty creates fear because the audience
can't see who or what is causing the terror. Filmmakers often use a technique called "low-key
lighting" to create these eerie shadows. It's a special way of using light that adds to the
feeling of uncertainty and spookiness. The fear of not knowing what will happen next is a big
part of what makes horror movies so frightening.
Now, let's talk about colors in horror films. Filmmakers carefully choose colors to enhance
the mood and atmosphere of the movie. In horror, you'll often see dark and intense colors
like black, red, grey, and brown. These colors are chosen because they evoke feelings of
danger and sadness. Among them, red is the most potent color choice. It's associated with a
lot of scary things like anger, aggression, blood, fire, war, and violence. When you see red in a
horror movie, it's a sign that something really frightening is happening.

6. Black is another essential color in horror films. It represents power,
fear, mystery, unhappiness, evil, and remorse. When you see black,
it's often tied to something ominous and unsettling.
On the flip side, white is often used in supernatural horror movies.
White can symbolize purity and innocence, but in the context of
horror, it can be twisted to represent something eerie and
otherworldly.
Colors play a significant role in movies because they help convey
messages and emotions to the audience. In horror films, the careful
choice of colors adds to the overall sense of fear and dread, making
the experience even more spine-chilling.

7. SOUNDS
In movies, there's something called "diegetic sound." This means
the sound you hear is coming from something you can see on the
screen. It could be people talking, things making noise, or even
music played by instruments you can see in the movie.
Now, in horror films, they use diegetic sound to make things even
scarier. For instance, when a phone rings, it's something you can
see on the screen, right? Or when a character screams in fear, you
see them doing it. They might also have creepy music playing on a
piano, and you can see the piano in the scene.

8. The cool thing about using diegetic sound in horror movies is that
it makes everything feel real and spooky at the same time. When
you can see where the sound is coming from, it's like you're right
there with the characters, experiencing the fear and danger. It
adds to the excitement and makes the horror scenes even scarier.
So, diegetic sound is a clever trick filmmakers use to make you
feel like you're in the middle of all the scary action.

9. Non-diegetic sound in movies is a bit tricky. It's the sound you
hear, like voices or music, but you can't see where it's coming
from in the movie. They usually add this kind of sound later
when they're putting the movie together. It includes stuff like
a storyteller's voice, special sounds to make things more
exciting, and music to set the mood.
Now, in scary movies, this non-diegetic sound is pretty
important. Imagine you're watching a horror film, and you
hear a door creak or spooky violin music, but you can't see
where these sounds are coming from on the screen. That's
non-diegetic sound at work.

10. EDITING
Create Blurriness Making the background blurry is a crucial technique to
make your horror movie even scarier. It's frightening when you can't clearly
see what's lurking in the background of a scene. You can achieve this by
using a "shallow depth of field," which means making only a small portion of
the scene in focus while the rest appears blurred. This creates an unsettling
feeling for the audience.
1.
If you have a high-quality camera lens, you can use it at a high speed to achieve
a shallow depth of field. What does this do for the scene? Well, it blurs both the
background and the foreground, making it seem like the monster or ghost is
hiding right in front of your eyes, but you can't quite see it clearly. This adds to
the suspense and fear in your horror film.

11. 2. Highlight the Background Creating a spooky atmosphere in a horror movie
involves paying special attention to what's happening in the background.
When something moves or stirs in the background of a scene, it can add a
sense of immediate danger. It also lets the audience feel like they're aware of
something that the character in the movie hasn't noticed yet.
If you've ever been in a movie theater watching a horror film, you know these are the
moments that make the audience gasp out loud. When the main character of your
movie is exploring a dangerous place, and something unsettling happens in the
background, it builds up tension. This tension is what makes a horror movie even
more thrilling for viewers and keeps them on the edge of their seats.

12. 3. Choose the Right Music Selecting the appropriate background music is
crucial for creating the right atmosphere in a tense or scary scene. The
music playing in the background often defines the most unforgettable
moments in movie history. However, there have been times when the
background music didn't quite fit and didn't add anything to the scene.
Choosing the right music isn't just about making a horror scene memorable
for the audience; it's also about building up tension. Music can make
viewers feel like something terrifying is about to happen, creating a sense
of suspense and excitement throughout the entire movie. On the other
hand, complete silence can also be used to enhance the feeling of dread
and impending doom in a scene. When done correctly, a silent scene can
send shivers down the viewers' spines and leave a haunting impact.

13. 4. Keep the Mystery Hidden In a horror movie, it can be quite scary when you actually see the
creature. But what's even scarier is when you don't see it at all, when it's hidden in the shadows.
The fear of not knowing what's lurking in the darkness is something everyone can relate to, and
using this fear to create tension in your horror film is a clever move. You don't always have to
reveal what the entity looks like to scare the audience. Sometimes, just the idea that the
enigmatic presence exists can be enough to send shivers down their spines.
Think about what Steven Spielberg did in "Jaws" by not showing the sharks too
much. Many horror movies have taken inspiration from this approach. Instead
of showing the enigmatic being all the time, they show the aftermath—the
damage and chaos it causes. This gives the audience a sense of how terrifying
the entity is without actually showing it, leaving their imaginations to fill in the
frightening details. It's a powerful way to keep the suspense and fear alive in
your horror film

14. 5. In today's world of cinema, it's quite unusual for a horror movie not to
incorporate special effects. You don't necessarily have to use these effects to
bring your creature to life. Instead, you can employ special effects to shape the
overall tone and atmosphere of the entire film. Many scary movies leverage
special effects to establish a distinct color theme and visual style.
Furthermore, audio effects can significantly enhance a scene. You can use sounds
like heavy breathing or a pounding heartbeat to intensify the tension in an
already frightening moment. There's a wide array of audio effects available,
including creaking doors, footsteps, and more, which can heighten the fear factor
of any given scene. These effects, both visual and auditory, are powerful tools for
making your horror film truly spine-tingling.

15. The Ideal Reaction Scene Another element of the technique
where you don't reveal the creature is having the perfect reaction
scene. It can be quite scary for the audience to witness how your
main character responds to the enigmatic presence. Sometimes,
it's even more terrifying to see how scared someone is.
These reaction scenes can significantly amplify the fear factor in
any horror movie. By using precisely edited shots, you can convey
the fear your character is experiencing, and it can put the
audience in a position where they become easily frightened.

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