CREATING THE CREEPINESS OF HORROR

So many things go into a horror film from the costume design, the effects, and the prop and set design. Today we are going to be discussing the props and settings in horror films.

Prop

A very important way to fulfill the vibes that the film wants to portray to its audiences is by props. While creating these films there is a team just dedicated to taking care of the props. Some props become very important things throughout the movie for example in "IT" the red balloon is a sign that the clown, Pennywise is coming and something bad is about to happen. Another prop that has become well known is the mask in every movie of the "Scream" franchise. The mask has been the same one used in all 7 of the movies. These things have overtime become symbols of horror.

Setting

A typical setting for horror genre is somewhere that is isolated and dark. The setting of a film establishes the feel of the entire movie. An example of a movie that has this setting is "The Shining", the movie is set in an isolated large hotel that the only people staying in it are the Torrance family. The hotel being far away from any other life creates a feeling of being alone and that if something happens they could not be saved. The fact that the hotel is very big and most of it is empty besides where the family is also adds to the creepiness of this film. It creates a feeling that there is a lot of space for others to be hiding in. Adding these aspects to film elevate the potential of expressing the feel of horror for the audience.

TIPS FOR MY PROJECT

From researching so much about horror films these past few weeks I have learned a lot. With my project I want to emphasize the horror feel by making the setting of the main characters home very creepy. I want the room to be very dull with very little color. I also want the room to feel almost empty besides the bed and the person, establishing the lifeless personality of the protagonist.