Technical Codes and Conventions of a Horror By Sophie White
What are the horror movie characteristics for the audience? • Cause dread and alarm • Can focus on psychological or physical fear • Play on audiences vulnerability • Frighten and panics audience • Shows the audience a darker side of life without them being in danger
Camera • Dollying – the camera follows the character from in front or behind to make it feel like the character is being followed. • Handheld – shaky camera movements increase tension • Long Shots – Usually shows the character isolated and helps show the danger • Extreme close ups – Emphasise certain images to the audience • Dutch angles – Highlights danger and increases disorientation • Point of view – The audience gets put into the situation, sometimes only shows snippets of the antagonist to imick the characters panic
Editing • Fast paced editing – increases suspense and tension for the audience • Parallel editing – Usually between the protagonist and the supernatural or metal antagonist • Flashback – Usually at the start of the film. Someone probably dies in the first 5 minutes • Jump cuts – Creates a jolty atmosphere and increases tension, makes it harder to focus on the elusive antagonist
Misc en Scene • Costumes usually contain blood, dirt or a supernatural goo • Supernatural Antagonist – Have uneven skin, with blood or scabs etc. on it, pale, dark eyes and lips • Human Antagonist – Usually a tall man, dark bags under the eyes, pale, messy dirty hair, dressed predominantly in black • Dark lighting to create a sinister atmosphere • Locations usually isolated, deserted and falling apart • The supporting characters would include a silly blonde who will die almost immediately
Sound • Dark, steady music throughout, except when all sound is cut out to create a suspenseful scene • Diegetic sound can include a scary voice on the other end of a phone, screams, chains rattling, thunder, heart beats • High pitched screeches are also used during scenes of silence to make the audience jump • This is also paired with loud, fast paced music which increases tension