The document discusses the history and conventions of horror films. It provides examples of effective techniques used in short horror films and trailers. Horror films have evolved from using monsters and vampires to focus on more realistic threats like ghosts and murderers. Effective elements discussed include ominous music, simple yet scary paranormal events, dark and confined settings that build tension, quick edits, and unsettling sounds. Trailers use techniques like changes in atmosphere, mysterious sounds, and jump cuts to generate suspense and lead to a climactic moment. Common horror conventions explored are isolated settings, camera angles that show vulnerability or threats, diegetic and non-diegetic sounds, fast pacing with edits, low key lighting, and symbolic colors and props

1. Horror film genre
By Billie Wilson

2. History
• The horror genre has been around for as long as we
can trace back too, the use of horror to scare, make
jump or frighten other humans has always been
around. Back in the day horror films were less realistic
due to lack of production ability and usually followed
story lines of vampires and monsters. But as time and
technology progressed films became more real using
characters like ghosts or murderers in their films. Films
in the horror genre have also got a lot more scary as
time moved on, as films that were once X rated in the
1900’s, are now U’s, one famous example of this is
revenge of the zombies.

3. Short film - example
Shadows
• The music in this short film is what makes it the most
scary, because as the music builds up you can tell
something weird or scary is going to happen
• The paranormal activity of been dragged and the lights
being messed with and doors slamming our simple and
effective.
• The lighting is very effective as in the dark you don’t know
what's lurking or going to happen next
• The innocence of the setting and costume of a school and
school uniform juxtapose the horror events that are
happening making the real life setting more relatable so
more scary.

4. Short film - example
• The emotion of loosing a friend adds to the innocence
and desperation of the young school boy, and the fact
he’s alone also makes the film a lot scarier.
• The edits like fades add to the darkness of the film
because your not in control of what you are seeing
• The fact he cant get out of the school and is trapped
makes the tension build even more
• The scariest bit in the short film is when he turns
around and the boy is behind him looking demented.
The jumpiness of this scene heightens the film.

5. Trailer - example
Insidious
• This horror trailer follows Todrov’s narrative. It
begins with a happy family, typical American
dream home style atmosphere. Then
disequilibrium hits the trailer when supernatural
things start to appear and disturb the house but
mostly the sun. then equilibrium reoccurs when a
woman comes to help the family get out of the
haunted situation.

6. Trailer - example
• The iconography of this horror trailer is a new
home that becomes dark and gloomy when
strange situations occur. The size of the house
and the amount of corridors and stairs adds to
the suspense/.
• The house is very typical with normal house
holder items. The baby monitor and rocking
horse signify an eerie super natural event.

7. Trailer - example
• The sound creates a horror atmosphere through being
very mysterious. The whispering and noises through
the baby monitor signify that the child is not alone.
The non diagetic sound that interferes with the title
shows the supernatural are going to disturb during the
film. This kind of non diagetic music adds to the
tension and build up suspense. There are also dramatic
pauses and silence to make the audience wait for
something bad to happen. The constant ticking or
pulsating noise through out the trailer shows that time
is running out and the whole trailer is leading up to
something important.

8. Trailer - example
• The edits make the film continuous. The edits are quick
and jumpy but majorly speed up in important scenes.
This creates an edgy suspense for the audience as they
don’t know what's happening next.
• The establishing shot of the house at the beginning
shows that the house is going to be an important
significant scene in the film. There are also close up
shots of the family as they are also significant.
• Over the shoulder shots are used to add to the
scariness as if someone is behind them, watching
them.

9. Horror conventions
Setting
• The main settings for horror films are isolated
places, like the middle of know where or dark
alleys where no one can help you, also run
down houses, all of these setting connotes the
idea of isolation or being alone.

10. Horror conventions
Camera angles and shots
• Low angles connote vulnerability and fear
whereas high angles show thing thing you are
scared of.
• Point of view shots get to see the characters
emotions and feelings, mostly of fear or terror.
• Handheld shots work well, making the audience
feeling like they are part of the film or that
someone is following the character and watching
their every move.

11. Horror conventions
Sound
• Diegetic sounds like breathing or footsteps or
doors slamming or screaming can build the
tension up very quickly
• Non diegetic sounds like heartbeats or fast
paced music can also over exaggerate the
suspense.

12. Horror conventions
Edits
• Quick fast edits make build the pace of the
horror making the audience think the
characters are running out of time.
• Quick cuts also allow things to jump out of
come up behind the character so the film has
the jumpiness factor added to it.

13. Horror conventions
Lighting
• Low key lighting adds to the darkness of horror films
which heightens the sense of drama as you don’t know
what's lurking in the dark.
Colors
• In horror films colors like red and black are used a lot
to symbolizes darkness, blood, danger, evil etc
Props
• Props often used in horror films are weapons, masks,
along with supernatural or religious symbols