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Researching Genre Horror

Genre Research

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Page 1: Genre Research

Researching Genre

Horror

Page 2: Genre Research

SoundSound is one of the key major aspects of a horror film. Sounds are what help generate that feeling of suspense, whether it’s the low-key notes, high-key notes, crescendos, enhanced sounds, or even no sound.

The great thing about sound is that even if there is nothing on screen which poses a threat, the gradual change of tone in the sound enables viewers to detect that something is about to happen.

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Colour/LightingHorrors are very clever in the way in which they use visual styling. One such example is the use of colours within film such as black and red. These colours connote danger, blood and death. White is different, and it is heavily influential on the supernatural side of the horror genre.

Lighting is essential in creating a tense atmosphere, along with unfamiliar shapes and shadows. The reason why low-key lighting is so successful is probably due to the fact that the audience are kept in a constant state of suspense because of the unknown.

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Camera WorkIn Horror films, camera work plays a big part in creating the horror, suspense and drama portrayed within them.

Many different shots are used such as high and low angled shots to show dominance, close ups for anticipation, POV shots to see things from a character’s perspective, and even things like handheld camera shots.

Depth of field can also play a valuable role in horror films as the focus can shift so the background becomes blurred or more clear, in order to show the antagonist.

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Location/SettingIsolated Settings are important for Horror films. Urban environments or ghost towns – anything that connotes isolation of being alone.

Often places are used that have had a “dark” history such as abandoned houses, hotels, asylums etc.

Good locations would include: Lakes, Roads, Farms, Countryside, Woodland, Houses, Cabins, Subways, Tunnels, Ships, Cornfields, Asylums, Meat factories and many other dark locations.

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IconographyThere is a standardized pattern within horror movies, because they are set up to allow the viewer to identify the film. The audience seek discovery and conflict in most horror film structures, and this is consistent throughout the genre itself.

The Iconography of horror films are the symbolic items/tools/scenery etc. that are constantly recurring throughout the film and horror films in general. These could include: Chainsaws, meat cleavers, woods, haunted houses, masks, disfigurement, knives, the murder weapon, screaming victim, opposition of evil, blood/gore etc.

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Character TypesMost horror films follow the same set of rules when it comes to characters, which allow the audience to identify them as individuals. Such types include:

The Protagonist: Often a strong male role or female role (final girl). Usually they have the ability to prevail in situations that most others would fail in.

The sexualized: There are a lot of horror films that include a woman who is highly sexualized. These are often one of the first to be killed off.

The Antagonist: All horror films have a “bad guy” of sorts, whether that character be human, spectral, or psychological. It is common that if the antagonist is mortal, they are only wounded at the end of a film to make room for a potential sequel.

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