The document discusses common tropes and techniques used in horror films. It notes that horror films often begin with characters going about a normal day that is disrupted by some evil force causing trouble. It also mentions the use of isolated settings like abandoned buildings that help create tension. Specific techniques discussed include using startling musical stings to emphasize scary moments and employing point-of-view camera shots to make the audience feel like they are experiencing the horror directly. The document also examines visual symbols and the distinction between good and evil elements as important aspects of horror film iconography.

1. By Carl Robert

2. • Starts off like any ordinary day.
• Characters are met by
someone/something evil that is trying to
cause them some sort of trouble.
Stock narratives and themes: Horror
As we see in Insidious 2

3. • Starts off like any ordinary day.
• Characters are met by
someone/something evil that is trying to
cause them some sort of trouble.
• During the day everything is normal, but
when it turns to night time, the action
begins!
• At the end of the film they usually
discover who/what it is causing them
trouble, but by the time they find out, it
is already too late!
Stock narratives and themes: Horror
Like we see in Paranormal
Activity 3

4. • In our film we used the idea that our
main characters are met by someone
evil, looking to cause them some
trouble.
Stock narratives and themes: Horror

5. • In our film we used the idea that our
main characters are met by someone
evil, looking to cause them some
trouble.
• We also thought it would be a great idea
for the characters to be oblivious to
what is happening at first, and slowly
begin to feel the presence of this evil
spirit.
• When filming this scene, we decided to
make good use of the negative space.
Negative space is the space between or
around the subject of an image.This
means that it is not the most obvious
area where the audience would be
looking, therefore we believed that it’d
be a great opportunity for something
thrilling to occur.
Stock narratives and themes: Horror

6. • Isolated/abandoned
buildings
• Locations with a
hidden past
Stock Settings: Horror
An example of this is “The
Cabin the Woods”

7. • Isolated/abandoned
buildings
• Locations with a
hidden past
• OR everyday streets
(shocking!)
• Night time creates
tension +
vulnerability.
Stock Settings: Horror
An example of this is in “The Blair
Witch project”

8. • As a team we decided to have our
characters move into a large
house, therefore portraying the
idea of vulnerability.The area is
very spacious therefore the two
characters may feel isolated.
• We were inspired to use this idea
from our main ideal, “Paranormal
Activity”.
Stock settings : Horror

9. • As a team we decided to have
our characters move into a large
house, therefore portraying the
idea of vulnerability.The area is
very spacious therefore the two
characters may feel isolated.
• We were inspired to use this idea
from our main ideal,
“Paranormal Activity”.
• We also used their idea of having
some scenes set in the day-time
also, making the film a lot more
realistic, therefore making it a
lot scarier fro audience
members.
Stock settings : Horror

10. • You tend to hear a high stringed
noise at a particular point when
something intense is going to
happen.This is more commonly
known as a “sting”.
Styles of presentation (CESM): Horror
We see this used when the
devil appears in Insidious 1.

11. • You tend to hear a high stringed
noise at a particular point when
something intense is going to
happen.This is more commonly
known as a “sting”.
• Another style of presentation in the
horror genre is using a point of view
camera shot (POV).
• By doing so it creates the illusion
that you are the character, therefore
maximising the viewers’
involvement in the film, and giving
audience members a more thrilling
experience.This is as a result of
spectators being in a more realistic
environment.
Styles of presentation (CESM): Horror
An example of this is in the BlairWitch
project.

12. • In our film, we decided to use the
styles of presentation which we have
seen in our role model examples:
Insidious and Paranormal Activity.
• First of all we chose to use a “sting” in
order to make the audience jump, and
emphasise the presence of the evil
spirit in the scene.
Styles of presentation (CESM): Horror

13. • In our film, we decided to use the
styles of presentation which we have
seen in our role model examples:
Insidious and Paranormal Activity.
• First of all we chose to use a “sting” in
order to make the audience jump, and
emphasise the presence of the evil
spirit in the scene.
• Next, we also used the same idea of
using a POV camera shot, in order to
engage the audience, and make them
feel a part of the film. We believed
that this would therefore enhance
their overall experience as a viewer.
Styles of presentation (CESM): Horror

14. • Iconography in horror films follow a
specific pattern, that won’t deviate
from the original format.
• They are set up to address the implied
viewer, making the genre identifiable.
• The connotation of the horror genre
tells the viewer who/what is good and
who/what is evil, also identifying the
codes linked with them.
Iconography : Horror
An example of this is in
Paranormal Activity 4.

15. • Iconography in horror films follow a
specific pattern, that won’t deviate
from the original format.
• They are set up to address the implied
viewer, making the genre identifiable.
• The connotation of the horror genre
tells the viewer who/what is good and
who/what is evil, also identifying the
codes linked with them.
• Iconography can be symbols which
recur throughout all horror films, such
as:
A haunted house
Symbols of death
Murder weapons (e.g.: chainsaw, knife
etc.)
Possessed child
Iconography : Horror
An example of this is from
Texas Chainsaw.

16. • In our film we decided to use the idea of
making a clear distinction between the good
and the bad.
• In my opinion, as a team we made this quite
obvious, as not only did we use a “sting”
when the evil spirit was present, but we had
them pop up at quite unexpected times in
order to surprise the audience, and
emphasise that they play a key part in the
story line of the film.
Iconography : Horror

17. • In our film we decided to use the idea of
making a clear distinction between the good
and the bad.
• In my opinion, as a team we made this quite
obvious, as not only did we use a “sting”
when the evil spirit was present, but we had
them pop up at quite unexpected times in
order to surprise the audience, and
emphasise that they play a key part in the
story line of the film.
• Also, we used two other examples of
iconography. The first is having a mysterious
small female child, dressed in a white night
gown, raising questions for audience
members immediately.
• Next, we have chosen for our characters to
move into a new large house. This shows
that they are moving into a new unfamiliar
environment, meaning it is a new experience
for them as well as the viewer (also making
them feel a part of the film).
Iconography : Horror