Psychological Horror Iconography and conventions

Iconography InterviewName- Connor HorneGenre- PsychologicalCorrect/Incorrect- CorrctWhat comes to mind when you think of the psychological horror genre- “I think of people in the films having to go thorugh awful situations and traumatic experiences throughout the film.”

Name: Bianca MorrissGenre: Slasher Horror

Incorrect“I tought this was a slasher horrror collage because I saw some iconic characters from films that I would

consider a slasher horror.”“In a psychological horror film I would

expect to see examples of well known phobias and peopleing having

to face their phobias.”

Iconography Interview

Name: Ben BartlettGenre: Psychological Horror

Correct“I think of peoples fears and how the horror films in this subgenre uses the audiences fears to its advantage to create an effective horror film that makes the audience as scared as

possible.”

Name: Jayk CassieGenre: Serial Killer

Incorrect“I felt as though this was a serial

killer subgenre in horror becuase I could see two characters that I

assocaiate with the subgnere of serial killer.”

“When I think of a psychological horror I think of phobias such as

arachnophobia or clostrophobia.”

Iconography Interview

Name: Alfie GammonGenre: Psychological Horror

Correct“I think of distress and how people

react to different events and situations.”

Name: Steve TyrrellGenre: Psychological Horror

Correct“I think of people having to

experience their worst fears when I think of a pshycological horror film.”

Iconography Interview

Name: Stevie CreasyGenre: Psychological Horror

Correct“Something that shows how people

react to different events.”

Name: John DaviesGenre: Psychological

Correct“I think a phychological horror

portrays phobias in order to entertain an audience and frighten them.”

From Audience Feedback We Learned...- Many people have the same idea about what a psychological horror film is.- People believe that they revolve around phobias. - Psychological horror conventions are easy to recognise.

Part 2

✦ We will research conventions in the Psychological subgenre.

Subgenres within Horror

-Psycho-Buried

-Halloween-Hills Have Eyes

-28 Days Later-Godzilla

Paranormal Monster

KillerPsychological

-Poltergeist-The Exorcist

You’re NextWe have chosen to research the film You’re Next because we feel it is a good

portrayal of the psychological horror genre.

You’re Next:

A family reunion turns into a full-on massacre when a gang of masked killers invade a sprawling country mansion on a ruthless mission of murder. Paul and Aubrey Davison are about to celebrate their wedding anniversary, and they've invited their grown-up children out to the country to share in the revelry. The first to arrive are Crispian and his new girlfriend Erin. It isn't long before the rest of the family has filed in as well, and the party gets under way. Later, at the dinner table, old sibling rivalries begin to resurface and parental preferences quickly become apparent. Just as tensions begin to flare up, however, a crossbow arrow blasts through the glass window and panic sets in. The family is under attack. But who are the savage invaders donning eerie farm-animal masks, and what is their motive behind slaughtering everyone in the house? No one is safe as the blood starts to flow, but Erin is determined to see the dawn, and she's got the survival skills to strike back at her attackers with deadly force.

You’re Next:

A family reunion turns into a full-on massacre when a gang of masked killers invade a sprawling country mansion on a ruthless mission of murder. Paul and Aubrey Davison are about to celebrate their wedding anniversary, and they've invited their grown-up children out to the country to share in the revelry. The first to arrive are Crispian and his new girlfriend Erin. It isn't long before the rest of the family has filed in as well, and the party gets under way. Later, at the dinner table, old sibling rivalries begin to resurface and parental preferences quickly become apparent. Just as tensions begin to flare up, however, a crossbow arrow blasts through the glass window and panic sets in. The family is under attack. But who are the savage invaders donning eerie farm-animal masks, and what is their motive behind slaughtering everyone in the house? No one is safe as the blood starts to flow, but Erin is determined to see the dawn, and she's got the survival skills to strike back at her attackers with deadly force.

Plot

The film ‘You’re Next’ is done in a non-linear structure because in the film it has a series of flashbacks to the characters history meaning that the film cannot be linear because in a linear film the film starts at the beginning, moving to the middle and then proceeds to the end of the story.

The film does follow the Todorov Theory with the exception of the final point on the theory which says that there is “a return or restoration of a new equilibrium” because in the end of the film all the characters but one is left dead and then this character is killed by one of the masked murderers.

The film ‘You’re Next’ is done in a non-linear structure because in the film it has a series of flashbacks to the characters history meaning that the film cannot be linear because in a linear film the film starts at the beginning, moving to the middle and then proceeds to the end of the story.

The film does follow the Todorov Theory with the exception of the final point on the theory which says that there is “a return or restoration of a new equilibrium” because in the end of the film all the characters but one is left dead and then this character is killed by one of the masked murderers.

Narrative structure

Character types:Erin- Countertypical female protagonist.Felix- Stereotypical antagonist who acts innocent and hides among protagonists.Policeman- Stereotypical policeman as policeman will often turn up at the wrong time.Masked men- Main antagonists.

Character types:Erin- Countertypical female protagonist.Felix- Stereotypical antagonist who acts innocent and hides among protagonists.Policeman- Stereotypical policeman as policeman will often turn up at the wrong time.Masked men- Main antagonists.

Character types and Representations

Character representations:Erin- Represented as a strong female character, who has to act in the situation she is in. This representation is countertypical and is a positive representation.Felix- Is represented as an antagonist who cares more about money than his family. This representation is stereotypical and is also negative.Policeman- He is represented as someone who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. This representation is stereotypical and negative.Masked men- They are represented as powerful but they are also shown to have weaknesses which shows the audience they are not unstoppable. This is a countertypical representation and is negative.

Character representations:Erin- Represented as a strong female character, who has to act in the situation she is in. This representation is countertypical and is a positive representation.Felix- Is represented as an antagonist who cares more about money than his family. This representation is stereotypical and is also negative.Policeman- He is represented as someone who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. This representation is stereotypical and negative.Masked men- They are represented as powerful but they are also shown to have weaknesses which shows the audience they are not unstoppable. This is a countertypical representation and is negative.

Erin: C- Normal casual clothes that present her as a normal girl.L- High key lighting makes her stand out from her setting.A- Acting shows the character’s development throughout the film.M- Movements show how she can make mistakes which puts her in danger however when she is faced with danger she fights well.P- Uses an axe which is a countertypical weapon for a female to use, this shows how she is the main protagonist and is the more adapted to survival than the other characters.S- Setting takes place in a house shows how the she is familiar with the other characters and shows how she is a normal person who is put into this situation.

Felix:C- His clothing shows he is wealthy and of a higher class.L- Darker lighting connotes that he has betrayed the other characters and also connotes the danger he is in.A- Shows him as a weaker character.M- Movement shows he is timid and is scared of the situation he faces.P- Doesn’t use any props which shows how he is weaker than the antagonists and some of the other protagonists.S- Shows how he is a normal person who is put into this situation.

Policeman:C- Wears a normal policeman uniform.L- Dark lighting connotes his fate.A- Acting shows that he is unaware of the events and shows how he is trying to help but is in the wrong place at the wrong time.M- Nervous as he doesn't know what to expect.P- Has a car which shows he has traveled a distance to get to the house as well as a gun which shows his authority.S- Shows how he is a normal person who is put into this situation.

Masked men:C- Dark clothing connotes they are dangerous. Their masks hide their identity which shows the audience that they are the antagonists. L- Dark lighting disallows the audience to see much detail.A- Acting varies between them, this shows how they are different. Some of them are more professional, whereas some are more clumsy.P- All of them carry weapons which shows they are dangerous.S- The setting shows how evil they are as they are attacking a normal family home.

Erin: C- Normal casual clothes that present her as a normal girl.L- High key lighting makes her stand out from her setting.A- Acting shows the character’s development throughout the film.M- Movements show how she can make mistakes which puts her in danger however when she is faced with danger she fights well.P- Uses an axe which is a countertypical weapon for a female to use, this shows how she is the main protagonist and is the more adapted to survival than the other characters.S- Setting takes place in a house shows how the she is familiar with the other characters and shows how she is a normal person who is put into this situation.

Felix:C- His clothing shows he is wealthy and of a higher class.L- Darker lighting connotes that he has betrayed the other characters and also connotes the danger he is in.A- Shows him as a weaker character.M- Movement shows he is timid and is scared of the situation he faces.P- Doesn’t use any props which shows how he is weaker than the antagonists and some of the other protagonists.S- Shows how he is a normal person who is put into this situation.

Policeman:C- Wears a normal policeman uniform.L- Dark lighting connotes his fate.A- Acting shows that he is unaware of the events and shows how he is trying to help but is in the wrong place at the wrong time.M- Nervous as he doesn't know what to expect.P- Has a car which shows he has traveled a distance to get to the house as well as a gun which shows his authority.S- Shows how he is a normal person who is put into this situation.

Masked men:C- Dark clothing connotes they are dangerous. Their masks hide their identity which shows the audience that they are the antagonists. L- Dark lighting disallows the audience to see much detail.A- Acting varies between them, this shows how they are different. Some of them are more professional, whereas some are more clumsy.P- All of them carry weapons which shows they are dangerous.S- The setting shows how evil they are as they are attacking a normal family home.

Mise en Scene

A Vacation home in missouri. The vacation home is located in the middle of A Vacation home in missouri. The vacation home is located in the middle of nowhere surrounded by a forest. The film takes place during one night. nowhere surrounded by a forest. The film takes place during one night.

These features are stereotypical of films in the horror genre. These features are stereotypical of films in the horror genre.

A Vacation home in missouri. The vacation home is located in the middle of A Vacation home in missouri. The vacation home is located in the middle of nowhere surrounded by a forest. The film takes place during one night. nowhere surrounded by a forest. The film takes place during one night.

These features are stereotypical of films in the horror genre. These features are stereotypical of films in the horror genre.

Setting

Themes:Themes:-Night-Night-Dark Colours (Red/Black)-Dark Colours (Red/Black)-Blood/Gore-Blood/Gore-Weapons-Weapons-Greed-Greed-Death-Death-Families-Families-Mask-Mask-Madness-Madness

These themes are used in horror films consistently and this film is no exception, using all These themes are used in horror films consistently and this film is no exception, using all of these themes throughout the movie to strike fear into the viewer.of these themes throughout the movie to strike fear into the viewer.

Themes:Themes:-Night-Night-Dark Colours (Red/Black)-Dark Colours (Red/Black)-Blood/Gore-Blood/Gore-Weapons-Weapons-Greed-Greed-Death-Death-Families-Families-Mask-Mask-Madness-Madness

These themes are used in horror films consistently and this film is no exception, using all These themes are used in horror films consistently and this film is no exception, using all of these themes throughout the movie to strike fear into the viewer.of these themes throughout the movie to strike fear into the viewer.

Themes

Camera Work

Editing and sound

Purpose:How it is Scary/Frightening/Disturbing.

The purpose of the horror movie You’re Next is to basically bring fear into the audience. It also works psychology by the fact that the plot is plausable menaing that it could happen to any person in their everyday life.

By making the villains in the film humans and not monsters also adds to the fear becuase by doing this the film is more believable.

The gore and deaths in the film are also not extremely complex and involve real items such as axes and machettes, making the deaths seem more real, resulting in the audience being more disgusted and full of fear.