Paranormal and supernatural films rely on certain conventions to create suspense and scare audiences. Locations like isolated houses are used to make viewers feel alone and vulnerable. Characters often include an innocent person in danger and someone trying to help them. Music, sounds, and editing techniques like jump cuts also contribute to the scary atmosphere. The narrative structure commonly features a character in an unpleasant situation at the start, a cliffhanger ending leaving the plot unresolved, and a big climax with horrible consequences. These elements come together to effectively tell paranormal stories and keep audiences entertained.

1. S E O K J I N K I M & J AM AAL M AL I K
Media Studies

2. Paranormal: Supernatural
- The terms “paranormal” and “supernatural” are
commonly known as the similar words. However,
they are actually two separate terms.
- “Paranormal” refers to something that’s not
understood by current scientific knowledge.
- “Supernatural” refers to a phenomenon that is
beyond our capability to understand, now and simply
forever, because it just doesn’t operate under our
rules.

3. Plot
The Conjuring(2013): Paranormal
investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work
to help a family terrorized by a dark
presence in their farmhouse.
Oculus(2013): A woman tries to exonerate her
brother, who was convicted of murder, by
proving that the crime was committed by a
supernatural phenomenon.
Carrie(2013): A reimagining of the classic horror
tale about Carrie White, a shy girl outcast by her
peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother,
who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town
after being pushed too far at her senior prom.

4. Theme
In Horror Movies, the theme is mainly around a house with either
basement or attic, this is because house is meant to be a pleasant
place for you to live with others but producers want to make you
think re-think about the place, this makes the audience more
interested as they can relate to their house, for example; making
unexpected noises sometimes.
Some theme of supernatural films are based on a
true story, the reason behind it is to make the
audience more interested about the movie and so
they won’t get put off during the film.
Horror and supernatural films are always family
and friends related plots. The characters
always want to save either a family member or
their close mates in dangerous and horrific
situations.

5. Character Types
In Most Paranormal Supernatural films there is an
innocent person who’s in huge trouble and there’s
someone who wants to solve the problem for the
innocent person. This is useful for the audience
because it builds a story line for the audience to follow.
In these kind of horror films there is a character
who doesn’t speak much however they are the
person who turns out to be the most scariest
character if not the worst character in the film. This
makes the audience entertained because it’s
unpredictable for them to guess what’s going to
happen next.
Most Importantly there is a character who causes or
creates problem for others in the film, for example
opening a door when there is no need. Having a such
character in the film keeps audience suspense as
they won’t be able to predict what the character is up
to.

6. Setting / Location
In horror films there is a usually a house in
the middle of nowhere, this makes the
audience feel lonely, which creates an
scary atmosphere of being left alone.
Mirrors are commonly used in horrors films
as it has a good reputation of being horrific,
for example story of “Bloody Mary” and many
other urban legends stories are connected to
mirrors.
Door and a dark empty room can create a very
dull atmosphere towards the audience as being
locked up can make the audience feel nervous
as not being able to see anything except
darkness can make you panic.

7. Music/Sounds:
Sound is very important especially in horror film because this is what
makes you feel nervous, scary and even terrifying. Producers use
many different sound effects such as screaming, door opening and
many more in order to make the audience feel more realistic about the
film and what they are seeing. In order to create an effect of you
actually being at the place in the film.
Music has the ability to set the tone for how events
will unfold. Music may progressively build to signify
that a dramatic event is about to happen or it may
be upbeat to lighten the mood. Horror films rely
heavily in sound clips to create a scary scene.
Music adds to the complete experience of a horror film because it is a way in
which the director chooses to set the mood of the scene and film. By
repeating sequences of musical scores the audience associates that music
with events in the film. The point of a horror film is to scare the viewer. Music
is the biggest contributor to getting the viewer’s adrenaline pumping because
it sets the tone before any events actually occur. The viewer can feel scared
before any events transpire based on how effectively and artistically music is
utilized.

8. Camera Shots/angles:
Two-shots are good for establishing a relationship
between subjects. In this case it’s usually the crazy
character looking towards the innocent one, which can
make the audience feel sympathy. Since they don’t know
what the other person coming towards them is going to
do.
Medium shots are used in horror films to show to
audience the entire person or area. They’re
great for establishing the scene and allow for
good action of the characters.
A high angle is a camera angle that looks down
upon a subject. A character shot with a high
angle will look vulnerable or small. These
angles are often used to demonstrate to the
audience a perspective of a particular
character.

9. Editing Techniques
- In terms of editing for a horror film most important but simplest technique is a jump cut. The
point of a cut is to keep the audience interested by changing from one view point to another.
Which can make an object appear really quicker in order to scare the audience.
- Also editing can be used to provide a clear balance between what is known and what is
unknown, For example, when the boy is walking around the house looking for the killer, It is
partly editing that makes those choices, which can shaped a horror movie very clearly with
its choices.
- Lighting is perhaps the most important aspect of suspense. The deliberate blending of light
and shadow, the juxtaposition between darks shadows and dazzlingly bright lights can be used
to great effect in horror movies to not just unsettle the audience and create a suspenseful
atmosphere, but to unsettle the characters, and encourage the audience to further empathize
with their situation.

10. Narrative structure
A narrative convention of any genre is its
predictable set of plot events. In paranormal films
the story starts off very interesting, for example one
of the family member or friends gets into very
unpleasant position.
In most films the movie usually have a cliff hanger
at the end of the movie and a kind of never
ending plot. Which makes the audience more
interested and makes them want to watch the
next movie if it comes out.
Towards the end of the the film, there is always
a big lead up to climax, which eventually results
in horrible situations for the characters. This is
very important for the audience because it
keeps them entertained.