Macro-Elements of the Horror Film.
By Millie Iron
Narrative codes There are several reoccurring narratives throughout the sub genres of Horror. Catalyst: A significant event which occurs at the exposition of the film to establish the plot and “gets the film going”. The characters usually venture into a strange, threatening setting in which the audience can relate to through their own nightmares or through the expectation of something bad happening there. The Descent 2005 is a good example of this, when they venture into the caves underground, the mixture of claustropbia and entrapment immediately alarm the audience. Binary Oppoistion Horror films portray many Binary oppositions, as discovered by Strauus in the 1900’s, within their plots. The most common being Good vs Evil, there will always be a protagonist and an antagonist within horror films as explained in ‘Character codes’ later on. However there are also other examples like sane & insane and human and supernatural. For example Matt in The Haunting in Connecticut 2009 has supernatural qualities, whereas Sara is human.
Narrative codes False Scares These are inevitable within the horror genre, occurring frequently throughout the plot. The audience are made to jump at a particular time through something like a loud noise or an action that realistically leads to nothing more than building tension. The Woman in black 2012 is a great example of where false scares are used to increase adrenaline, fear and tension within the audience. Death In almost every horror film, someone is killed or commits suicide, in other words someone always dies. This allows the audience to realise the capability of a villain, provoking fear and dread as ‘death’ is one of the most prominent fears within a human. Climax: The climax of horror films usually involves a dramatic showdown between main characters with varying results. In modern day horror films, usually within the psychological genre, the resolution of the plot leaves open the possibility of the villains return. A good example of a contemporary horror film in which leaves the plot open for the return of the villain is The Ring 2002, creating impending suspense within the audience. It often leads to sequels of certain films.
Narrative codes The narrative codes of horror films vary with sub genre , these are 3 of the most common:
Psycological Horror: Psychological horror’s play with the emotions of the audience, relying on their fears to create suspense and tension within the film. The plot of this genre usually revolves around the supernatural or a story line in which the audience can relate too, rather than outright gore and graphic violence. This exploits the audiences fears, creating a more gripping, tension building viewing experience. They also use plot twists to furthermore engage the audience. Slasher Horror: The title ‘slasher’ helps to the define the genre, as it usually involves mass murder by a psychopathic killer, with the use of a feared weapon such as a blade. The Killer usually escapes, provoking the sense of unstoppable brutal crime. Slasher horrors were hugely popular during the 1980’s as evident by the montage of films on the next page. It was highly successful Slasher films such as Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street which triggered this. Gothic Horror: The sub genre of Gothic horror evidently contain elements of both goth and horror. The genre usually revolves around a supernatural plot and often features romance which unfolds throughout the film. However, the romance may be seen as forbidden or not ‘normal’ adding suspense as well as fear to the genre. Gothic horrors usually contain a dark, melancholic portrayal of characters or romance and are one of the most early originating sub-genres of horror due to early 20th century fiction, such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Narrative codes
Jacobs Ladder 1990 Adrian Lyne
Friday the 13th 1980 Sean S Cunningham
Character codes THE HERO: The one on the quest and the one who will eventually save the day. The audience will support them throughout, due to their morally good nature. THE VILLAIN: The antagonist of the film who causes the disequilibrium, they are usually a male or a supernatural child. THE HELPER: A person who helps the hero on their quest. THE VICTIM: Is at the the mercy of the villain and often teenagers. THE DONER: Someone who possesses something which will assist the hero.
Villain File
Name: Freddie Kruger Film: An Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984 Character Code: Villain Why: Clear distasteful traits like scars and disfigurement on the face. The glove in which he wears on his hand consists of weaponry to potentially kill his victims. He prays and kills a sequence of victims.
Character codes ‘Paranormal Children’ Often reappear throughout the horror genre, they are often manipulated by demons or evil and have supernatural abilities. They tend to mass murder or cause sincere disequilibrium because their young age acts as a advantage because the hero will find it emotionally harder to kill them. The audience may also become emotionally attached to these children instinctively and therefore become more engaged in the film, where their initial expectations are questioned. An example of children in horror films, Is evident within the film Sinister 2012. ‘Stupid/immoral teenagers’ These characters are another reoccurring convention in the horror genre as their constant egocentric and boastful attitude often causes them to make immoral, ignorant, rash decisions. Such decisions will lead to their death. The audience may realise and relate to the such characters, becoming emotionally attached and thus feel tension and dread for when their inevitable death will occur. ‘The Unlikely Hero’ Such plot twists are used frequently in horror films to create adrenaline and excitement within the audience as their initial predictions are proved wrong. Sometimes the audience suspect the hero to actually be the antagonist, reinforcing feelings of adrenaline and tension as they begin to question to resolution of the film.
Character codes The Sex Appeal/The Irritant This character exploits all the stereotypical traits of a men and women. They usually wear minimal or provocative clothing and are flirtatious, perhaps in an irritating way. This increases their vulnerability and thus are usually first to die . This initial murder or death, portrays the capability of the villain or the unavoidable end (death) of a certain location, provoking fear within the audience as they wait to see what happens next. For example Paris Hilton in the House of Wax 2005, directed by Jaume Collet- Serra. The Final Girl This is a character code used more frequently within contemporary horror films where the Final Girl confronts the killer, in an evident non-stereotypical way. They often undergo a transformation of vulnerability to sincere strength and resourcefulness. An example of a Final Girl is Sally Hardesty in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974.
gender Representation Gender is represented differently within horror films, some believe that conservative and traditional stereotypes are maintained throughout, whereas others suggest that because of the character code of the ‘final girl’, gender representation is in fact, non-stereotypical. In some horror films, females are more negatively portrayed than males as traditional stereotypes are maintained. The male characters are depicted as strong, powerful and masculine, where as the females are exposed as weak and vulnerable. Females are often chased by the male antagonists, unable to fight back and escape, thus appearing feeble, fragile and helpless. In comparison to the killings of male characters, those of the females are far more memorable and prolonged. The extended suffering forces audiences to view them as weak and traumatised as they witness the killer’s strength in full force. Perhaps the killings of male characters are not as prolonged because it may seem emasculating to watch a man plead for mercy and contradicts their stereotypical representation as the ‘superior’ sex.
gender Representation For example in the 1954 horror film, Creature from the Black Lagoon, males dominate and women are limited. The only female characters are those who are attractive such as Kay, who wear skimpy swim wear and is heavily made up and artificial in terms of hairstyles and make up. The women within this film are the ones who are stalked, menaced and abducted by the villain, whereas the men are on a constant journey to prove their masculinity by repeatedly saving the stereotypical ‘damsel in distress’ from danger.
Directed by Jack Arnold
This is evident within this movie link from a clip of Creature from the Black Lagoon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ mpyFEkzhoo
gender Representation During contemporary Horror films, women have adapted to a more active role in horror films compared to their previous passive one. We no longer have the binary between male and female who have always battled against each other in the past. For example in the film ‘The Unborn’ 2009, Casey is the hero and final girl whereas her helper is a male, her boyfriend. The female usually progresses from a weak, vulnerable character into a resourceful, strong individual who confronts and usually kills the villain. However, there is still a clear distinction between the women who pose as victims and those who are heroin's/protagonists. Victims usually appear sexually orientated because of their stereotypical appearance; blonde, thin, attractive features as well as flirtatious to appeal to men. Whereas the final girl/ protagonist usually has a unisex name and becomes more and more masculinized throughout the film. This disproves that the female characters are Directed by David S. Gover superior to men because in order to defeat the monster, the final girl must adapt to male tendencies, like intelligence, resourcefulness and strength.
Setting/ location codes The setting within the horror genre usually reflects entrapment, isolation, fear, alienation. The location will have a dark history, perhaps previous deaths have occurred within the house or a house was built on an old graveyard. Or the setting will be secluded with no possible chance of contact with the outside world. These are some common location codes within the horror genre: Asylums/ mental institutes/ Hospitals- In such environments, psychotic characters are often tortured, provoking fear within the audience. Such locations may also toy with audiences existing fears and nightmares, causing more tension to build whenever this setting is shown. Lighting is often bright and unflattering, intensifying the suspense felt, similarly buildings such as these are often primarily white which will enhance the colours of blood and mud. The characters within this location are often unstable and unpredictable, they have been deprived of a moral sense and so the audience will constantly fear the unknown, regarding their actions. Hospitals connote death and ill ness, so can leave the audience with an impending dread and alarm that we will all end up there one day because death is inevitable.
Bad dreams 1988 is set within an asylum, as is The Ward 2010.
Setting/ location codes Church/ castles- Horror films of the gothic genre are often set in such places as they are mysterious and create a sense of unease and the fear of the unknown. Such locations often have secret trap doors, hidden staircases etc which causes fear within the audience for the wellbeing of the characters. Its usually poorly lit and very dusty with protruding shadows which mirror the overall sense of abandonment. Churches are often used within films set in the Victorian age or that focus on exorcisms, spirits and devils. The audience can relate to the everyday setting of a church and thus feel fear.
Setting/ location codes Haunted houses- Such locations connotes entrapment and isolation as they’re usually situated in the middle of nowhere with no possible contact with the outside world. They often have a dark history which is inevitably bound to occur again, maximising the fear the audience feel for the characters. They are also dimly lit and dusty, toying with the existing fears of the audience because bad things are likely to happen in dark places. Haunted houses can provide a range of props that enhance the fear felt by the audience like creaky floorboards, long eerie corridors and candles on the walls which usually go out when the antagonist is present. There may be hidden staircases or rooms in which the antagonist can hide in to torment both the protagonist and the audience. An example of a horror film set within a haunted house is the 1979 film Amityville Horror, directed by Stuart Rosenburg.
Setting/ location codes Underground tunnels- This location creates a fear of the unknown within the audience due to the claustrophobic and confined space. This means the lighting will be minimal or non existent, adding to the general eeriness of the film. The characters are often trapped underground which may connote death as that is where dead bodies are buried. Characters within such locations are deprived of daylight and any phone reception or general contact with the outside world, so have no chance of escape. An example of this is The Descent 2005.
Setting/ location codes Deserted cities- This location is often used to maximise isolation and thus increase paranoia as contact with the outside world is impossible. This often leads to a fault in technology, either a car breaking down or no phone reception, leaving them stranded. The audience feel alienated as do the protagonists, which is one of the most scariest, sinister situations for everyone. An example of this is Danny Boyle’s 28 days later, 2002.
Setting/ location codes Cabin in the woods- In such locations, the protagonists are open to attack and have no contact with the outside world, ultimately sealing their fates. The woods are often filmed in the autumn/winter when the trees are bare and a sense of decay is prominent, connoting death. The woods also act as protection for the antagonists who may be lurking behind the trees and tormenting the protagonists. The audience can relate to such locations as they are widely accessible, enhancing fear as the events within the film become more realistic. The fear of isolation and the unknown also occurs within this setting. An example of this is The Cabin in the Woods 2012.
By Millie Iron