Portfolio Project Genre #2

 

Horror Genre Research 

HORROR- 

In Aice Media we were introduced to the film opening project. I started thinking about all the different genres that I could choose from and the best way that I can go about this project. The horror genre really interested as one of my possible choices. I typically enjoy films like comedies, and drama but I think horror could be something different then what I am used to and I could come up with good ideas for it. I started looking into some characteristics of the horror genre and here is what I found. 

In horror films the vibes are usually very dark and suspenseful. Mise-en-scene plays a huge part in the horror genre. Most films within this genre have low-key lighting and and often use colors like dark reds, black, greens, blues, and lots of cool and dark tones. 

(The Purge Election Year 2016)

The typical target audience of the horror genre is usually young people who enjoy suspense, jump-scares, and fear. The audience does not depend on gender and both male and female enjoy this genre. There is many different types of horror films, some popular examples are phycological where it's about mental issues and emotions like in the film "Get Out", monster horror where there are monsters as the "villains" like in "The Babadok", Body horror where things happen in the body like in ""Raw", Super natural horror with things like ghosts and afterlife like in "The Conjuring", Slasher horror where there is a killer following people like in " Scream" and more. 

 

In horror film there are many techniques that are used to add depth to the genre. Throughout horrors there are many close-up shots to emphasize the fear and emotions that the characters are feeling. They also often use dutch angles to express the feeling of distress and give a unwell vibe to the film. "The Shining" is an example of a horror film that uses lots of techniques to add to the eerie feel of the movie. It uses close up shots during jump scares to emphasize how scared the characters are. They also use dutch angles when the main character is looking in the mirror and starting to go crazy, it shows that things are shifting in the film. Another very common technique in horror genre is jump scares to catch the audiences attention and add intensity to the film. Another example of a horror that uses techniques to add to the film is "The Conjuring", they use a lot of silence throughout this film to create a build up and a frightening feeling of the quiet. This film also uses POV shots which bring the feel of the movie to the audience and make them feel connected in the fear. 

 ("The Shining" 1980)

(The Conjuring" 2013)

Often in this genre the setting is somewhere isolated like in a house far away from civilization as an example like in the movie "The Night House". Often while marketing horror films they show a snip of who the "monster" or "villain" is in the film and builds suspense for the audience to want to go and watch the movie. Often in the trailers they will show suspense and leave off with a jump scare to have the audience wanting to go and see more jump scares in the real films. 

ERMW Team. (2024, October 31). 30 film techniques for horror and Halloween movies. El Raton Media Works. https://www.elratonmediaworks.org/northern-new-mexico-film-tv-blog/30-horror-making-techniques

Wilkinson, A., VanDerWerff, T., Suderman, P., & Phipps, K. (2018, October 22). The 100 best horror movies — and the scenes that define them. Vox. https://www.vox.com/a/best-horror-movies-scary-scenes

Rivero, S. (2016, September 20). The do’s and please-don’ts of horror movie marketing. Medium. https://solinwords.medium.com/horror-movie-marketing-516d3c99f1fa

Kubrick, S. (Director). (1980). The Shining [Film]. Warner Bros.; Hawk Films.

Wan, J. (Director). (2013). The conjuring [Film]. New Line Cinema; The Safran Company; Evergreen Media Group.

Bruckner, D. (Director). (2020). The night house [Film]. Searchlight Pictures; Anton; Phantom Four.

Peele, J. (Director). (2013). Get out [Film]. Blumhouse Productions; Monkeypaw Productions; QC Entertainment.

Kent, J. (Director). (2014). The babadook [Film]. Screen Australia; Causeway Films; South Australian Film Corporation.

Ducournau, J. (Director). (2016). Raw [Film]. Petit Film; Rouge International; Frakas Productions.

Craven, W. (Director). (1996). Scream [Film]. Woods Entertainment; Dimension Films.

 DeMonaco, J. (Director). (2016). The purge: Election year [Film]. Platinum Dunes; Blumhouse Productions; Man in a Tree Productions.