This document discusses various cinematic techniques used in horror films to develop and challenge conventions of the genre. It describes how shot angles, point-of-view shots, handheld camerawork, lighting, sound design, close-ups, and iconography are employed to immerse viewers, build suspense, and portray emotion. While some techniques like these pay homage to conventions, others allow filmmakers to subvert expectations and showcase creativity within budget constraints. Overall, the document analyzes the formal elements that define horror films and how directors manipulate them.

1. 1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge form
and conventions of real media products.
Horror films are generally set in isolated locations such as empty towns,
abandoned houses and mansions, dark alleyways, sewers, the woods and
many more similar locations that have a sense of isolation from others. These
can be changed when another genre is linked with the film such as a sci-fi
horror as the setting has to incorporate the sci-fi connotations (in space etc.)
but tie them to the horror genre so it could be an abandoned space ship.
Shot angles can be manipulated to connote fear and the insignificance of a
character or the powerful prowess of a monster or antagonist. Point of view
shots can be used to immerse the audience and put them in to specific
characters shoes such as in Doom there is a point of view segment to both
draw the audience in and to pay homage to the films video game roots but this
technique can also be used to show what the villain sees and where they are
hiding in relation to the character (behind them, above or below etc.)
Handheld shots can also be used to immerse the audience however they also
make the scene seem more frantic and unpredictable, they can also make it
difficult to make out what is going on, which can be used to the film makers
advantage as they can show less of an event and cut down on costs such as the
Blair witch project which had a low budget and made a large profit ($60,000
budget $248,639,099 Gross) Depth of field and pulling focus can be used to
focus on a shadow moving in the background or instead show the protagonist
approaching the antagonist. Close ups are frequently used to show characters
reactions and expressions to what is happening or going to in order to add
dramatic irony.
Both Diagetic and non-Diagetic sound is crucial to horror films. Diagetic
sounds such as footsteps, heavy breathing, and creaking floor boards all add to
the ambiance of the scene and create suspense and a sense of impending
death/ doom. Whereas non-Diagetic sound can contribute to this with the use
of a heartbeat or a backing track, these give use an insight into the characters
feelings, the mood of the scene or sets the pace of the scene.

2. Certain shots can be used to add to the dramatic tension of the scene, such
as a extreme close-up can show a characters emotion or their reaction to
seeing or doing something (antagonist or protagonist)
The iconography and conventions of the horror genre include props such as
knifes, axes, chainsaws as well as masks, coats, witchcraft and supernatural
objects. But as our teaser trailer doesn’t feature these aspects we instead
feature different conventions such as a hanging phone, empty locations such
as parks and a man hanging in the wood, these are not always conventional
horror conventions but the combination of them sets the horror genre anyway.
Lighting
Themes