2. SUB GENRES
After looking at three genres of film I would be interested in on my last
PowerPoint, I have decided that I would like to create a horror film trailer. However,
there are different types of horror film and I have decided to research each type to
figure out exactly which one I would like to do. I am going to look at:
1. Religious/Satanic
2. Supernatural
3. Slasher
4. Found Footage
3. RELIGIOUS/SATANIC
These horror films mostly focus on possession and exorcism, and one of the
major scare factors of this subgenre is that audiences, particularly very religious
ones, could see this as being real. The film The Exorcism of Emily Rose is based on
true events and The Exorcist, which is contested to be the scariest film in move
history is also rumoured to be based on a true story.
Key conventions: Christian/catholic religion, demonic possession, bodily
contortion, religious settings/family background, neglect of the possessed child,
rituals.
4. SUPERNATURAL
This subgenre focuses on supernatural and ghostly happenings. A lot
of these films such as The Amityville Horror will show one of the family
members turning against the others and murdering them, supposedly
driven by the happenings and the spirits in the house.
Key conventions: history of the family/place/reasons why the events
are taking place, set in a haunted house, features a nuclear family where
one may turn against the rest, poltergeists and unexplained mishaps.
5. SLASHER
Slasher films consist of a character who is so psychologically deranged
they have almost no soul and are mindless killers. Films like Halloween
conform to the genre perfectly as they centre around this character and
contain a lot of visceral imagery. These films are more for fans of gore
rather than fans of terror and suspense.
Key conventions: a lot of blood and gore, vacant and unsettling main
character, a mask, usually set in a few places where a chase can take place.
6. FOUND FOOTAGE
Films such as Grave Encounters and Cloverfield are supernatural
horrors but often reveal different points of view because of the way the
stories are pieced together through found footage on video cameras. They
often focus on an unknown source of disturbance or monster.
Key conventions: most, if not all is shot on a ‘personal’ video camera,
often includes a group of friends who tail off one by one, usually set in a
haunted location such as a house, lake or psychiatric hospital.
