Jake's Horror Research.

1. RESEARCHING
GENRE
(HORROR)
BY JAKE KELL

2. HORROR GENRE
Horror typically have several plot lines which are associated with the genre. Some of these
include…
• Evil creature kills people (Alien 1979)
• Warning ignored with consequences
• Seeing things no one else can see
• Serial killer stalks victims (Scream 1996)
• Death of the innocent (Cabin In The Woods 2012)
• Mental/Insane (The Shining 1980)
• Good versus evil (Night Of The Living Dead 1968)
• Revenge (Saw 2004)
• Childhood issues (Friday The 13th 1980)
Horror film is a genre that aims to create a sense of fear, panic, alarm, and
dread for the audience. These films are often unsettling and rely on scaring the
audience through a portrayal of their worst fears and nightmares. Some
famous horror films include Nightmare on Elm Street, Saw, Friday the 13th,
Paranormal Activity and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Horror also has several
sub-genres within it such as slasher, a sub-genre which revolves around a
psychotic killer murdering victims in brutal ways. Other sub-genres include
comedy, monster, zombie, supernatural and teen.

3. CHARACTERS
There are usually two main types of characters in a horror movie,
the protagonists and antagonists. The main character is the
protagonist and the character the audience relates to. They will
usually have their friends who will not survive the film. Typical
examples of horror film heroes are Chief Brody (Jaws), Sydney
(Scream), Ripley (Alien).
The antagonist is the villain of the film and nowadays are more
likely to be more well known than the heroes. In some cases the pop
cultured villains are liked more than the intended heroes. These
antagonists can be anything from regular killers, to aliens,
monsters, ghosts or pretty much anything. Famous examples
include Jason (Friday the 13th), Freddy Krueger (Nightmare On Elm
Street) and Bruce the shark (Jaws).

4. LOCATIONS
Examples of typical horror locations include...
• Empty House (The Amityville Horror 2005)
• Barns (The Exorcism of Emily Rose 2005)
• Hotel/motel (The Shining 1980)
• Woods (Last House On The Left 1974)
• Holiday Homes (Cabin in the Woods 2012)
• Graveyards (Night of the Living Dead 1968)
• Theme Parks (Escape From Tomorrow 2014)
• Run-Down Towns (The Hills Have Eyes 2006)
• Deep Space (Alien 1979 )
As well as plotlines, horror can also
be associated with several locations
where they typically take place. They
are usually scary locations which put
the main character in danger. They
can also be set in innocent places
however which has a different scary
effect.

5. PROPS
• Candles
• Voodoo Dolls
• Skeletons
• Dead Bodies (Saw 2004)
• Gravestones
• Axe (The Shining 1980)
• Knife (Scream 1996)
• Chainsaw (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974)
• Spiders/Cobwebs
• Telephone (Scream 1996)
• Car
• Mirror
• Door handle
Horror films use a number of props in order to
create the required feeling they want. This is
usually to create the feeling of dread for the
audience. They can be weapons which the
antagonist are famously known for but also
general items which you wouldn’t at first think
would scare people, but they do in the way they
are used.

6. MUSIC
Music is a very important part of the horror genre. Good horror
films often have a good soundtrack to go along with it. The
music in there films is used to great suspense and dread
primarily. Some horror movies such as Jaws have famously
known music which goes hand in hand with its film. Music used
in horror films is often discordant and harsh on the ears. Some
examples of horror films with effective soundtracks include…
• Jaws (1976)
• Psycho (1960)
• Halloween (1978)
• 28 Days Later (2002)
• The Exorcist (1973)
• The Thing (1982)