Horror Films: Creating Horror Films: Creating and Reflecting Fearand Reflecting FearSo what have we learnt…So what have we learnt…

Not a single genreNot a single genre

The most common way to consider genre is The most common way to consider genre is through the identification of its most commonly through the identification of its most commonly used visual and aural characteristics.used visual and aural characteristics.

Iconographies Iconographies or or codes and conventions codes and conventions help to frame audience expectations of the help to frame audience expectations of the type of story the text will tell and the way the type of story the text will tell and the way the story will be constructed.story will be constructed.

What code and conventions did we associate What code and conventions did we associate with the horror genre? Do these conventions with the horror genre? Do these conventions appear in all horror texts or contain appear in all horror texts or contain conventions from different types (sub genre) conventions from different types (sub genre) of horror?of horror?

What settings do we What settings do we expect to see in Horror?expect to see in Horror?

Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene

Three different mise-en-Three different mise-en-scene all recognisable as scene all recognisable as codes of horror:codes of horror:

The gothic mansion (The The gothic mansion (The Others: 2001)Others: 2001)

A suburban house A suburban house (Halloween: 1978)(Halloween: 1978)

Isolated rural location Isolated rural location (The Descent: 2005)(The Descent: 2005)

So why are horrors So why are horrors created?created?

What pleasure do you think the What pleasure do you think the genre offers its audience? Why is genre offers its audience? Why is being scared so pleasurable?being scared so pleasurable?Users and gratifications theory offers some possible Users and gratifications theory offers some possible

pleasure that might be experienced when watching pleasure that might be experienced when watching horror films. For example:horror films. For example:

IdentificationIdentification

EntertainmentEntertainment

DiversionDiversion

EscapismEscapism

Social interactionSocial interaction

Using the film we watched in class, Using the film we watched in class, consider how Horror might offer consider how Horror might offer the following:the following:

However horror films can offer more However horror films can offer more than simple pleasures:than simple pleasures:

Physical effects - adrenaline etc - the Physical effects - adrenaline etc - the visceralvisceral

EmpathyEmpathy

Intrigue/mystery/suspense/problem Intrigue/mystery/suspense/problem solving (enigma)solving (enigma)

Catharsis/vicarious experienceCatharsis/vicarious experience

Perception of anti-mainstream activity/ Perception of anti-mainstream activity/ sub cultural belongingsub cultural belonging

Exploration of taboo subjectsExploration of taboo subjects

VoyeurismVoyeurism

Preparation for deathPreparation for death

Playing out cultural/personal fearsPlaying out cultural/personal fears

Confirmation of dominant Confirmation of dominant ideologies and valuesideologies and values

Masochism (&/or sadism)Masochism (&/or sadism)

A sense of community/belongingA sense of community/belonging

Communicating repressed desiresCommunicating repressed desires

‘‘Acting outActing out’’ - challenging enforced - challenging enforced values and repressionsvalues and repressions

Horrors Create FearHorrors Create Fear

There are many techniques used by horror films to There are many techniques used by horror films to attempt to scare the audience.attempt to scare the audience.

Music Music - atmospheric music or sounds- atmospheric music or sounds

EditingEditing - jump cuts - jump cuts

CinematographyCinematography - extreme close ups and low key - extreme close ups and low key lightinglighting

All help to create a feeling of unease or uncertaintyAll help to create a feeling of unease or uncertainty

Horrors tap into fearsHorrors tap into fears

Different eras have different ideas and values Different eras have different ideas and values and experience different problems, fears and and experience different problems, fears and concerns. Successful horror films are the ones concerns. Successful horror films are the ones that tap into specific cultural fears and exploit that tap into specific cultural fears and exploit them to meet the needs of the genre.them to meet the needs of the genre.

The best way to create fear for the audience in The best way to create fear for the audience in a horror text is to play on the fears that already a horror text is to play on the fears that already exist.exist.

Different Monsters for Different Monsters for Different FearsDifferent Fears

The External MonsterThe External Monster

An outsider. The external monster will be the An outsider. The external monster will be the now ho comes from now ho comes from ‘‘somewhere elsesomewhere else’’ and and brings the threat to a community.brings the threat to a community.

Vampires are good examples as they are often Vampires are good examples as they are often not members of the community and they not members of the community and they invade a previous safe and peaceful invade a previous safe and peaceful environmentenvironment

The Man-made MonsterThe Man-made Monster

ManMan’’s creation.The archetypal man-made s creation.The archetypal man-made onster ban be found in Frankenstein (19310onster ban be found in Frankenstein (19310

A collection of body parts put together brings A collection of body parts put together brings Dr Frankenstein alive. He could never be a part Dr Frankenstein alive. He could never be a part of the community, but he is a creation of a of the community, but he is a creation of a member of the community.member of the community.

The Internal MonsterThe Internal Monster

Man gone wrong. Here the monster is human.Man gone wrong. Here the monster is human.

The human may come from within the The human may come from within the community but they are thinking or behaving in community but they are thinking or behaving in a way that creates a threat from the inside. The a way that creates a threat from the inside. The archetype for this kind of monster is Norman archetype for this kind of monster is Norman Bates in Psycho (1960). He is mild mannered Bates in Psycho (1960). He is mild mannered ‘‘boy next doorboy next door’’ character on the surface but the character on the surface but the film reveals he is murderously insane.film reveals he is murderously insane.

Cultural Feats of the Cultural Feats of the timetime

The threat of invasion generated by glocal The threat of invasion generated by glocal political uncertainty between the two wars political uncertainty between the two wars (1918-1939) is reflected in the (1918-1939) is reflected in the external external monstermonster

The fear of the way science could be used in a The fear of the way science could be used in a destructive way in the destructive way in the ‘‘atomic ageatomic age’’ (post 1945) (post 1945) after the dropping of nuclear weapons on Japan after the dropping of nuclear weapons on Japan at the end of World War II reflected in theat the end of World War II reflected in the man man made monster.made monster.

Internal Internal Monster 2Monster 2The idea of the internal monster The idea of the internal monster dominates modern horror, this allows us dominates modern horror, this allows us to identify some of the fears and to identify some of the fears and preoccupations that dominate preoccupations that dominate contemporary society.contemporary society.Psychological thrillers have become more Psychological thrillers have become more popular as we have a better popular as we have a better understanding of psychology. understanding of psychology. Modern society has become less actively Modern society has become less actively religious. Evil is perceived as a possible religious. Evil is perceived as a possible human trait rather than something that human trait rather than something that comes from elsewhere.comes from elsewhere.

Scream (1996) – the monstrous boyfriend – Scream (1996) – the monstrous boyfriend – apparently a good guy but in fact a psychologically apparently a good guy but in fact a psychologically

deranged killer. He was shown to be a product of bad deranged killer. He was shown to be a product of bad parenting and a culture which has access to too much parenting and a culture which has access to too much

media violencemedia violence

Saw III (2006) – a monstrousSaw III (2006) – a monstroushospital orderly dishing outhospital orderly dishing out

gruesome punishment for peoplegruesome punishment for peoplewho he perceives are morallywho he perceives are morally

lacking in an shallow, selfish worldlacking in an shallow, selfish world