4. Often sometimes places with “dark” history, like abandoned houses, hotels and insane asylums.
5.
6.
7. POV shots are important because they allow the audience to see the world from the monster’s eye. This happens roughly at the end or in the middle of typical horror film (Evil Dead had a very long POV shot when it chasing Ash the hero through his house).
8. Handheld shots make it difficult for the audience to make out what is happening. Cloverfieldis one prime example of this, since the entire movie is shot with a handheld camera to promote the feeling of terror and the unknown.
9. Sometimes framework uses the depth of field, makes it harder to see the monster creeping up behind the protagonist.
10. Disturbing sounds are very important in a horror movie. Ambient diegetic sounds like footsteps and non-diegetic sounds (like a heartbeat).
11. Types of shots used like ECU on a certain victim’s face can help the audience identification with horror and fear, and also to exclude any threats (if we can’t see it, then its more terrifying).
12.
13.
14. Lighting is expressive and non-naturalistic. Low-key lighting can help to crate dark shadows and unfamiliar shapes in the blackness. Lighting can be motivated in the world of the film (like bonfires, fireplaces and torches).
15. Props can help us to further identify horror genre. Specific props can be identified with a certain villain or character (Chainsaws, Machetes, Knife, Claw Gauntlets, Costumes, Firearms etc).
19. There’s always a hero a protagonist, a man or “final girl” of the film, keeping with the normal conventions of the genre. Usually the hero must embark on a mission or quest to kill or solve problems.
