2. Music
• A major convention in slasher films is the
music used. Non-diagetic music is frequently
used when the killer is hunting its victims. The
horrific music connotes that something bad is
about to happen which is usually reflected on
screen with the victim running. The music
builds up over time which creates tension.
3. Mise en scene
• The props in the film usually include weapons, in
slasher films a knife is iconic. This is because knifes
make deaths look more gory and painful. This is to add
shock value to the film. Also the killer itself has to
come right up to a victim to kill them which mirrors
hunting animals. This also allows more close ups of the
killer and tension to be built as the killer makes his/her
way to the victim. The clothing usually used by victims
is casual college clothing to reflect the fact that they
are students. The antagonist usually wears dark
clothing to add terror and they usually cover their face.
This connotes that they are an unstoppable force or
monster without human morals or values.
4. Setting
• The setting is usually a school. This is to
appeal to the target audience of teenagers.
Having a familiar location means that the film
becomes more appealing and similar to their
lifestyle which makes the film more scary.
5. Lighting
• The lighting used in slasher films is dark. This
connotes a sense of mystery or danger as the
protagonists do not know what is lurking in
the shadows. Lighting could also be used to
create lightning which is a common
occurrence in horror films which adds a sense
of danger and shock to a scene. This is
especially evident if a flash of lightning
happens and the antagonist suddenly appears.
6. Cinematography
• The cinematography is carefully used in
slasher films to add tension and terror. An
example of this is close ups of the victims
faces to capture their terror and add to the
terrifying atmosphere. Other types of
cinematography include foreground and
background shots. This is used to keep
background elements out of focus that fade
in. This connotes that an unknown object in
the background is actually the killer hiding.
7. Editing
• A lot of razor cuts are used during the
suspense scenes usually when the killer is
chasing the victim. This signifies
8. 1. Character:
The 1st Victim is
a streetwise
woman.
To add to the
“Innocent” style, the
light in the
background seems to
create a halo above
the character to
imply she is an angel
Hair cut “Bob”
with a young
and innocent
style. This
makes the
character look
defenceless to
the audience
Clothes
covering
up, Understate
d clothing.
Smiling even
though she is
talking to a
stranger. She is
willing to talk
“Naive”. She also is
willing to help
which adds to her
“innocent”
representation.
9. 2. Camera
Angle/Lighting
A Dutch tilt is
used to convey
her uneasy
feeling, talking
to a stranger.
The TV is off/Blue
screen. This
connotes that the
outside world has
been cut off as there
is no signal.
The lamp has been placed in
the corner to create a contrast
between the light on one side
of the screen against the dark.
The character moves from the
light side of the room toward
the window as if she is going
somewhere bad or something
bad is going to happen to her
“Going into the Unknown”.
As the camera pans, the
character is kept in to the
right. This is to emphasise
the dark outside the
window which takes up a lot
of this shot.
10. 3. Sound/Shot
Wind is heard
whistling
through the
trees, this
diegetic sound
adds tension to
the scene and
gives the
audience the
idea that a
big, unknown
entity is lurking
outside.
This is an establishing shot
that sets up the scene and
where the following events
take place. It also shows the
audience the “Plan” of the
house, possible entrances
and exits that could show
escape routes and places
the killer could enter.
The squeaky swing
adds a spooky
atmosphere to the
night as it makes the
audience believe that
there is something
lurking around in the
night.
The house itself
connotes that
the family is
wealthy and it
is also secluded
which makes
chances of
escape or help
low.
11. 4. Character
The door in the
background is
left open with a
dark shadow
which further
adds to the fact
that something
could be lurking
in the
background.
The fact that she is
holding a knife
adds a sudden hint
of danger to the
situation and could
be a foretelling of
later events.
She is still smiling
despite this
stranger calling her
for the 3rd time.
This continues the
representation of
naivety of the
character.
She is talking on the
phone about
“Halloween” a film
where the killer
uses a knife to kill
his victims. This is
referenced by her
pulling the knife out
of the block.
12. 5.Tension
The gradual increase in size of the
popcorn adds tension to the scene as
it looks like it will burst soon. This
kind of becomes a countdown timer
until something bad happens or the
woman gets harmed.
The Popcorn is left to continually be
cooked and grows too big. This connotes
that she is too busy to notice that her
popcorn is about to overcook. This could
be a result the killer taunting her over
the phone (out of shot but heard in
these screenshots) and scaring her to the
point of forgetting about the popcorn.
13. 6.
She is kept in the left side of the
frame. This is to give the audience
the expectation that something
behind in the hallway may kill her.
This is to build up the growing
tension that the killer is near the
house.
The fact that most of her
face is hidden behind the
door shows that she is
trying to protect herself
and is in genuine
fear, peering through the
window instead of look
straight through the glass
or even opening the door.
The blue screen is
again shown to remind
the audience that she
is cut off from society
in this desperate time.
14. 7.
The woman is kept to the
right of the shot to give the
audience the impression that
the killer will burst through
the double doors behind her.
Lots of shots like these have
been utilised to suggest ways
that the killer could enter to
build up tension before the
scare.
15. 8.
His directed groans
toward the woman
suggest that he
doesn't want to be
left in the dark after
she was asked by the
killer to turn the lights
out. This shows he
has a connection to
her (Boyfriend).
The killer obviously had the
whole scenario planned. This
is due to the fact that he
knew he would reveal the
boyfriend to the woman at a
specific time. This is due to
the fact that the killer used
tape to keep the boyfriend
quiet until he wanted the
woman to see him.
The cuts and bruising connote that he has been
beaten. This means that he has specifically been
placed their as a resource for the killer. This is
further backed up by his unbuttoned shirt which
suggest that he was in a struggle or fight when he
was captured. He could be seen as a threat to the
killer, especially as the girlfriend said he will protect
her, which is why the killer chose to tie him up.
16. 9.
To escape the
killer she has
gone to the
naturally lightest
part of the room.
In a way you
could say that the
light represents
an icon of “Hope”
in slasher films,
usually where
populated areas
are.
The fact that she is now
crouched behind her own TV
shows that she is not just
scared but terrified that not
even her own home is safe to
hide her.
She is now clutching the
phone a lot more than she
originally was which
signifies that she is no
longer flirting with the
killer but actually taking
him more seriously.
17. 10.
The woman is also walking away
from the lamp. This connotes that
she is walking into danger as she is
going from the light and
descending into darkness. Which
just so happens to be towards a
glass door which could be an entry
point for the killer, another tension
building scene.
The smoke from the burning
popcorn has been utilised to
limit the view of the
audience and character. This
makes it even more difficult
to see the killer and adds
tension to the overall scene.
18. 11.
After being stabbed (Note the
blood and wound), the wounded
woman sees her parents arrive
just mere metres away. She even
manages to stand but cant call out
their names due to her wound.
This adds hope for the audience
that she might get away but after
her parents leave and she gets
stabbed again, the audience are
left in a bigger state of shock.
The Canted angle is deliberately
used show her lying on the ground
in disorientation and her inability to
contact her parents.
19. 12. Realisation
The shock on the mothers
face connotes that she has
finally seen what has
happened to her daughter.
You can see that it is her
mother as her hands are kept
close to her chest to signify a
close and personal
relationship. It also prepares
the audience. This is because
they expect that she has seen
something really bad that the
audience will want to see. This
is why the tension in the
scene is built up with a slow
zoom of the mother and
farther as they look on in
horror.
