The document discusses the horror genre of film. It defines horror films as aiming to frighten viewers through techniques like cinematography, editing, and atmosphere. It notes that horrors have become more desensitizing as the audience has grown accustomed. The document also outlines several common subgenres of horror, including psychological, body, gothic, and slasher films. It provides examples of camera techniques, lighting, sound, themes, and iconography that horror films employ to disturb audiences.

1. Horror Genre
Shannon Bradley

2. What is a horror movie?
A horror movie has the main aim to frighten and scare the
viewers. This is done through the mis en scene, editing and
shot types. A horror also has many themes, one being
death. Horrors also intend to create an eerie and fear-provoking
atmosphere.
 Horrors are so popular they have now desensitised the
audience which has lead to many copy-cat instances, e.g.
the James Bulger case which was related to Child’s Play 3.

3. Sub-genres
 Psychological horror – use of supernatural features to provoke
fear and often has the mention of religion. (e.g. Paranormal Activity)
 Body horror – sense of fear is created through the destruction of
the human body. (e.g. The Human Centipede)
 Gothic horror – mixes both themes of gothic and horror

 Slasher film – includes a psychological killer who kills characters
using weapons such as axes (e.g. Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

4. Camera/ Shot types
close ups Point of view shots Low angles
(The Shining)
(The Shining) (Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
(The Ring) (Psycho)

5. Mis en Scene
• Isolated areas
• Abandoned houses
• Dark/ low-key lighting
• Young/ teenage characters
The
woman
in black
Texas
Chainsaw
massacre
Scary Movie

6. Sound
• Disturbing sounds (e.g. screams)
• Nursery-like songs to create and eerie feel
• Tension building music (non-diegetic)
http://www.filminute.com/films/2014/tuck-me-in/
Tuck Me In (a short film on filminute.com) is a good example of how
sound was used to create an uneasy atmosphere. A piano was used to
make the clip seem eerie and it also helped to engage the audience. The
sound also picked up when the Dad went to look under the bed which
added suspense and tension.

7. Themes - Supernatural, Evil, Death, Religion, Revenge
Paranormal Activity
follows a family whose
house it haunted by a
supernatural being and
they set up a video in
order to catch it on
recording. Supernatural
is the theme of this film.
The Exorcist is about a
girl who is possessed
by a demon and a
priest tries to save her.
This film includes
themes of religion.
Friday the 13th is about
a group of friends who
go on a camping trip to
a lake and members of
the group are suddenly
killed. This film has
death as a theme.

8. Iconography
 Weapons, religious symbols, Masks, etc.

9. Examples:
The woman in black is a horror film
and it has many conventions that
are typical of a horror. One being,
the children in the beginning which
creates an uneasy feel that adds to
the suspense. Eerie music is also
used to contribute to this tense
feeling. Despite, many more horror
conventions this film was passed at
a 12A which lead to controversy.
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1
2hLz_Ds2Qw
This is a shot from Insidious, another
horror film that uses many clear horror
conventions. Dark/ Low-key lighting has
been used in this shot which makes the
audience feel in suspense as bad things
always happen in the dark. The dark
lighting also creates an intense
atmosphere which also contributes to the
uneasy feel. This film was passed as a
15.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(1973) is a horror film that uses
the convention of an
abandoned house where the
victims are killed by a masked
man. This type of convention
makes the characters seem
more vulnerable and also
makes the house seem more
intimidating.