2. Scene
A typical scene for a horror film tends to be where the characters are cut
off and unable to get help, in this case is the woods, which is a very
common scene for horror films. The trees make it dark and add tension
and they characters can hide behind them and can create an opportunity
to scare the audience.
3. It is also common for the scene to be set in a house and for the family or couple to be
targeted, also when children are involved it is always more upsetting and tense as it is
in When a Stranger Calls. Also the fact it is in a home makes it scarier for the audience
because they could imagine it happening in their hoe making the experience more
tense and creating adrenaline rushes to entice the audience to want to watch more.
4. In the shot above the long shot shows the young girl in a scary mask on a swing. This is a
typical prop for horror films as it is creepy and the noise tends to be a creaking
swing, which adds tensions. Also the fog is common in this genre, as it adds mystery and
builds tension for the audience because they don’t know what it is covering. In the shot
bellow you can see the pond around the house and how dark it is, creating an isolated
atmosphere
5. Lighting
In horror films, the lighting tends to be dark and dull making everything mysterious. The
lighting is very important as it helps create a mood, in the screen shot of the Strangers trailer
(above) it is yellow which reflects that the moon is out adding to the tension of being in the
dark and not knowing what is out there. In the screen shot of When a Stranger Calls (below)
the lighting is very dark and mysterious creating tension as someone could hiding anywhere
and they wouldn’t be seen.
6. The shot of the damsel in distress
The shot of the damsel in distress is a typical shot in horror films. (above) She is shot at a low
angle to show her desperation. This is an example of a typical character in this genre.(below)
The shot is at the beginning therefore shadowing what it to come and setting the genre
straight away, as in this shot she is seen to be either in pain or screaming in fear.
7. Props
Props are very important in scary films because they help create realism in the film, using
authentic props like this axe (above) maximise the experience for the audience by adding the
realism, after all it is them who need to believe it is real to get the full experience. Other
weapons are always common, such as knives etc. Props arent just weapons in scary
films, they can be relevant to the title (below) or in super natural movies could be a book of
some sort.
8. costume
The key to scary films is the costume of the protagonists, they are what people will remember
after they have watched the trailer, so it will entice them to go see the films. Like in these
trailers, a mask is a very common costume type, as it hides the identity but also makes the
audience feel creeped out and scared of it, especially in the strangers (left) as the white is a
symbol of pure and innocence but is corrupted and twisted. Also, for the image below, the
protagonists is in all black, therefore he can blend in a hide easily in the house, which helps keep
the tension at all times
