Horror Iconography

1. HORROR ICONOGRAPHY
George Brinan

2. EXAMPLES OF HORROR FILMS
The Exorcist
Insidious
Paranormal
Activity Films
As Above So Below

3. TYPICAL SYNOPSIS’
• The typical synopsis’ associated with horror films are used to scare, thrill and entertain
the audience. Horror films centre around the dark side of life; the strange, forbidden and
alarming events. Synopsis’ are vital for a horror film as they give the film a foundation and
meaning. Some of the typical synopsis of horror films include:
• • Revenge
• • Hauntings
• • Demons and exorcisms
• • Gore
• • Serial Killers
• • Religious belief

4. SETTINGS
• Often abandoned buildings or deserted areas, for example mental asylums or old
warehouses.
• Many times these buildings have some sort of past/history to them, such as ghost stories
or mysterious noises coming from there.
• Often horror films either start out in the daytime and later turn to night, or they occur in the
dark throughout. This gives an eerie sense to the film. If you were to watch a film that was
unfolding at night you would expect it to be scary or frightening.

5. PROPS AND CLOTHING
• Props are one of the main indicators that point towards the horror genre. Specific props
can be identified with a certain villain or character e.g. Chainsaws, Machetes, Knifes,
Guns etc.
• Common objects include: Weapons, Masks, Icons of the Supernatural, Religious Icons.
Masks are mostly used when some sort of criminal is the main protagonist for example in
the film Texas Chainsaw Massacre the killer is constantly wearing a straw mask. Religious
Icons are usually associated with cults and factions or they are associated with the main
story in the film.
• In many horror films the synopsis goes that a group of friends are out having fun, but then
end up in a bad situation. This means that the clothes they are wearing are casual wear,
however they get progressively more damaged as the film goes on. Several times they
may be covered in blood, dust or dirt as they try to escape from somewhere.

6. CHARACTERS
• The Main Protagonist, often the “victim/hero” of the movie.
• The Villain, often masked serial killer or some sort of possessed demon.
• The stupid/immoral teenagers that always get killed.
• Creepy children often little girls who have been possessed.
• Police Officers that can either be good or bad.
• Also more including Demons, Psychopaths, Stalkers,

7. CAMERA WORK
• High and Low angles are common features in horror films due to their ability to connote fear
and nightmares.
• POV shots are common because they allow the audience to see the world from the character’s
eyes.
• Handheld shots make it difficult for the audience to make out what is happening introducing a
sense of panic. Cloverfield is an example of this, as the entire movie is shot with a handheld
camera to promote the feeling of terror and the idea that this could happen when you least
expect it.
• Sometimes horror films use depth of field, makes it harder to see the villain creeping up behind
the victim.
• Disturbing sounds are very important in a horror movie. Ambient diegetic sounds like footsteps
and non-diegetic sounds like a heartbeat.
• Types of shots used like extreme close ups on a certain victim’s face can help the audiences
connection with horror and fear, and also to exclude any
• Editing can create unsettling tension and suspense. If the editing hasn’t been paced up in a
while then you know that something scary is about to occur.