AS media research

1. Horror genre research

2. Subgenres of
Horror
Slasher
Torture porn
Psychological – the
one we have chosen
Action
Body
Comedy
Gothic
Sci-fi Zombie

3. Camera work
It is important that the camera shots and movement is varied in order to achieve a range of effects. Increasingly in recent
years, cameras ‘set up by the characters’ has become more popular: we see this in films such as Paranormal Activity and Blair
Witch. This gives the more realistic effect; the shakiness of the camera when It is handheld makes it difficult to know what
might happen next, adding to the terror. Other camera shots such as P.O.V’s and close ups are used frequently in horror films,
this could be to put the audience in the characters position and also to see their emotions and facial expressions.
I have noticed that the most popular shots that are used in horror films are close ups/extreme and establishing shots. These
are used to show emotion of the characters and give detail, also establishing are used to show either the setting or the main
action in the shot. This lets the audience see the setting, but also recognise it if it is one of the main locations of the film.
Camera angles such as canted angles are used often in horror films to distort the image and make the audience feel
disturbed. Camera movements like tracking are parallel the main subject of the shot e.g. the protagonist, to allow the
audience see what is happening as the subjects move. Also zoom lenses are used, which is when the camera zooms into a
close up shot to show more detail. For example, if a character sees something, the zoom will usually be a close up of their
face to show their expression. Different camera angles are used within a film such as high angle shots, low angle and eye
level. Low angle shots are usually of the villain, in a horror film, it will be of the person/demon/spirit depending on what type
of horror it is. This low angle makes the subject look superior and more powerful. The high angle shots can be of the victim,
this is to make them look more vulnerable. These types of shots are very conventional to a horror film as it makes the
audience interpret the scene or character in a certain way.

4. Editing
Editing can change a way a scene is interpreted by the audience, from watching other horror films, the way
non-diegetic sound is added to a shot; the pace of the editing and also continuity. For example, adding
synchronous music to a shot conventional to a romance film adds to the warm feel of the film. Whereas,
adding the same music to a shot within a horror film makes it become asynchronous sound, therefore, it gives
more of a sinister feel and can confuse the audience, giving a different effect than it did in the romance film.
Along with the pace of the editing, we usually see faced paced editing with short takes and cuts to different
shots such as shot-reverse-shots and cause and effect shots, this is used to add tension and make the audience
feel unsettled.

5. Mise-en-scene
For costumes and make-up, we see a lot of the time that the villain is wearing a mask or disguise, this can hide
what they really look like and make them seem paranormal and mysterious to the audience, making it scarier
and more unknown. Props are used a lot in horror films, mostly weapons, such as the traditional knives. Guns
are not frequently used as audiences don’t like deaths to be quick because it does not feel as disturbing as
knives etc. which is, essentially, the aim of the horror genre. Other props to do with spiritual things e.g. crosses
are usually associated with demon/possession films.
Positioning of characters in a film is highly important as it shows who/what is the main subject of the shot, as if
they are centred in the shot they are what the audience should give their attention to. Body language can
indicate what character they play in the film (Propps theory) for example, the villain could have very open body
language showing confidence and power over the victim, however, who would usually have close body
language portraying vulnerability.

6. Mise en scene continued
The lighting in shots are mostly low key and dim to create shadows and make the atmosphere more
frightening. Filler lights are used to slightly light up the darker areas, which can sometimes be where
someone/something will pop up and scare the audience. In films such as paranormal activity, when the lighting
is high key (day time) nothing happens, only when the lighting is low key and dark does something
sinister/demonic happen, this could be because the victims are even more defenceless at night, making the
scene more tense.
Locations used in horror films are in places like suburban areas, graveyards, woods, abandoned areas. These
isolated settings are used to give the loneliness fell and that there is no one around to help. They also add to
the element of segregation and how detached they can be from the real world. They are usually anywhere that
is dark and confined, but also places with a ‘dark’ history such as, abandoned/haunted houses and insane
asylums.

7. Sounds
In horror films they almost always incorporate non diegetic music that gives it an eerie feel. Sounds are one of the most
important conventions in horror films because they can completely change how an audience interpret a shot or it can
complement the scene and make it even scarier to the audience. Sounds that are conventionally used are non-diegetic scary
music like lullabies and orchestral sounds that add a haunting feel to the scene. Other sound like screams, these can be
diegetic or non-diegetic, are used very often in horrors to scare the audience and make them involved in the situation the
characters in.

8. Iconography & Ideology
Iconography
There are many conventions that allow audiences to identify a film from the horror genre. Throughout horror films, they
usually have some sort of colour scheme within their shots and titles like red and black to connote danger, death and
blood. Other things like low key lighting and shadows also can relate to the horror genre.Often isolated areas and suburban
houses illustrates a horror film due to the secluded areas etc. Finally, often in films like Insidious, priests and Christians are
used to fight against demons. Therefore seeing churches in openings of films can indicate the horror genre of the film.
Ideology
These are the messages that the producers are trying to portray, along with how they are interpreted by the audience.
Stereotypes within the horror genre I have noticed that the victim is usually female or a child, this is because they are
stereotyped as weak and should be protected by a male. The ideology is create within a horror film that
religion/Christianity can save someone’s life, due to the fact that things like exorcism are performed and priests and
crosses are used against demonic creatures.

9. Narrative Structure
All horror films use Propps theory of the narrative. We see the character types like the villain, the hero and the victim. In
recent films we see the villain prevailing and defeating the hero, this can shock the audience and therefore, make a better
film because it makes the audience feel emotion. Horror films usually follow a non-linear structure with multiple strands of:
fighting the evil; relationship problems; family issues, which intertwine throughout the film. Other aspects of the non-linear
structure that are used in horror films are flashbacks to times that have influences on the film. For example, flashbacks to the
family in the house before them and showing that the same thing is happening to the current family.
Todorov’s theory can also be referenced as we see in the film the ‘set up’ of the characters and how their lives are. Followed
by the ‘disruption’, which is usually the supernatural/paranormal thing creating many unpleasant events along the narrative.
Finally, we see the ‘resolution’ which could be evil being defeated which is seen in Insidious or maybe, even, the hero being
defeated.
Binary opposites
Binary opposites are always used within horror films to show the difference between two characters, usually, the hero and
the villain. Audiences can spot these straight the way as the features of each character are, essentially, opposite.

10. Representation
Representation can refer to stereotypes. Some of the most common ones are represented through the
character types and roles. For example, usually the victim is a woman or child, this is because they are
stereotyped as being vulnerable and cannot protect themselves, which also refers to the ‘damsel in distress’. In
recent films, we are seeing the conventional villain is a spirit of some sort, which is either an old woman or
child. This is changing that representation that females should be seen as the victim. We see this in films such
as The Woman In Black and Insidious.