For this post, I decided to research a very simple, yet important aspect of the project: genre. After a bit of thinking, I chose horror as my opening scene genre. This post will reflect on that decision by going in deeper into the making of horror films and the reasoning behind why they are so popular.
What Is Horror?
Let's start this post with a simple question: What is horror? Well, horror films tend to represent disturbing, dark, and deep matters that appeal to certain audiences. Horror movies are made to create feelings of disgust, suspense, terror, fear, and tension in their viewers.
Horror films are more likely to attract a younger audience rather than an older one. This may be since many popular horror movies include jump scares or gory scenes that appeal to a younger audience. This genre intrigues mainly teenagers or young adults between the ages of 15 and 25.
How Does Horror Provide Fear and Suspense?
Fear and suspense are two of the most important aspects of any horror movie. Not knowing what will be coming next or not expecting a scare that is right around the corner is what gets everyone on the edge of their seats during horror movies. These emotions are portrayed in horror movies in multiple distinct ways.
Lighting:
If used correctly, lighting techniques can be the difference between a good and a bad horror film. Lighting can change the whole feeling a certain scene portrays to the audience. Horror movies tend to utilize darker lighting to add to the suspense and mystery of the film. Darker lighting is also used to fit with the dark topic or theme of the film. Horror films also use darker lighting to incorporate spooky shadows and create a hardly lit atmosphere and setting. Lack of vision is a very common strategy used by many horror movie directors to make the viewer feel like they are actually in the film.
Sound:
Sound aspects are incredibly important in any film but especially horror films. Utilizing sound can add to the suspense and creepiness of the story. Using stings or scores is a great way to keep the audience on edge. Horror movies would be boring with no added sound. Sound is so important to horror films that when the movie is very quiet, the viewers know something is about to happen. Whether it's an absence or a sudden burst of sound, all sound elements are precisely used to feed the most suspense to the audience.
Camera Techniques:
Horror films typically use unusual and unique shots, angles, and compositions to create a certain emotion or feeling. Using camera techniques efficiently can create feelings of confusion, fear, suspense, and so much more. Quick cuts and fast movement of the camera could add suspense or fear indicating a potential-jump scare. Using low and high angles can change the viewer's perception of characters inducing an even scarier environment. Certain camera shots are also used to hint at things that characters can't see in the actual movie, such as showing a killer hiding somewhere when the victim is still clueless.
All in all, this research will help me create my horror opening scene. One that is much more accurate and enjoyable to watch for the audience.
-Dana
Sources:
“Horror Film.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/art/horror-film.
MyTutor. “What Are the Conventions of a Horror Film and How Would the Audience Respond to This?” MyTutor, https://www.mytutor.co.uk/answers/57621/GCSE/Media-Studies/What-are-the-conventions-of-a-horror-film-and-how-would-the-audience-respond-to-this/.
Theworm. “Who Is the Haunted House Demographic?” FearWorm, 9 Mar. 2020, https://fearworm.com/who-is-the-haunted-house-demographic/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20usual%20age%20for%20the,rather%20than%20an%20older%20one.%E2%80%9D.
“Why Sound Is so Important in Horror Movies.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-we-love-horror/202209/why-sound-is-so-important-in-horror-movies#:~:text=Key%20points,of%20such%20biologically%20potent%20sounds.
No comments:
Post a Comment