Understanding horror films

I have researched horror films throughout the planning of my production and have concluded that the purpose and significance of horror films can be defined as:

Distressing texts which are designed to frighten and panic the viewer as well as causing dread and alarm whilst calling upon our hidden worst fears.
They often include a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a emotionally provoking manner.

'Horror films effectively and conventionally center on the darker side of life and human nature, the forbidden, and strange and alarming events (supernatural).
They usually concentrate on exploiting and provoking our most primal nature and its fears: our nightmares, our vulnerability, our alienation, our revulsion's, our terror of the unknown, our fear of death and dismemberment and loss of identity'

This definition consisting of quotes and my own ideas allows me to understand what frame of mind i must ensure i acquire whilst filming my text. I must ensure that i try and include most of these ideas in my production and editing in order for the viewer to be satisfied that they are viewing the opening to a potentially disturbing/scary film of the horror genre.

Codes & conventions of Horror/Thriller films

Horror/Thriller films often involve a complex set of codes and conventions that will allow the audience to establish that they are watching a Horror/Thriller film.
Some of these include:

- A crime or representation of distorted humanity and evil at the core of the narrative
- Complex narrative structure (false paths, clues, resolutions)
- Narrative pattern of establishing enigmas (Mysteries) which the viewer expects to be resolved
- A victim(s) of the plot, being antagonised by the representation of distorted humanity
- A protagonist (hero/victim in the case of horror) who is systematically dis empowered and drawn into a web of intrigue by the antagonist (villain or 'monster')
- Extraordinary events happening in ordinary situations to sustain interest
- Themes of identity
- Protagonist with a 'flaw' which is exploited by the antagonist
- Titles often reflect an aspect of the protagonists psychological state
- There is often a scene in which the protagonist/victim is in peril
- Mise en scene evident echoes the protagonists'/victims' plight

Less complex codes and conventions or Horror texts in particular are
- Darkness
- Screams
- Victims
- Villains
- Isolated settings
- Killing/death
- Evil/violence
- Weapons
- Blood

I must ensure that in the opening to my film I include not all, but most of the conventions listed above which are relevant.

Overview

Through my research on two films of the horror/thriller genre (the others and the messengers) and my brief interpretation of a variety of posters i am now able to begin to understand the conventions i must conform to, in order to make a successful film of my own.
I must effectively include aspects such as mise en scene, camera, editing and lighting in order to perperuate the genre throughout my film and achieve a relevant emotional response from the viewer.
I must ensure that all of these conventions combine together to allow me to produce and edit a successful film of the horror/thriller genre.

'The Messengers' Analysis

This is an example of a film that is also of the horror/thriller genre.
This movie poster conforms to all of the conventions of a typical film of this genre.
The old abandonded house allows the viewer to establish a haunted/mysterious atmousphere and tells the viewer that the narrative will take place based around this house and its significance. They have made the actual house monochrome to connote to the viewer that this house is a bad place, a place full of mystery and potential danger. This is typical of a poster of this genre to do this because it has all the conventions needed in order to communicate to the viewer its particular genre and plot. The camera angle is at a low angle allowing the viewer to be intimidated by this house.




This still has effective body language and facial expressions that allow the viewer to see that this character has something to fear and the fact that she is holding a child in such a protective manner, this brings innocence to the scene allowing the viewer to experience a slight heightening of frightened emotions.
This still is clever in how it denotes fragmentation. This creates meaning by suggesting that particular aspects of this film are not all as they seem, again, connoting mystery. The female character is wearing white, which suggests that she is the victim throughout the plot, oblivious of things to come.

Examples of Mise-en-scene

In this still of 'the others' the mise en scene contributes to the audiences establishment of the genre and narrative of the film.
For example, the colours of costumes are fairly neutral, dark green and dark purple, indicating that these characters may aquire a sinister side to their personalities. The props in this still also reinforce the fact that this film is of the horror genre. The cobwebs are the best example of this because the audience would associate cobwebs with mystery, old, abandonment and they have connotations of a hanuting ambience. The black book that kidman is holding indicates mystery and danger perhaps.
The set of this still looks to be in an old, desolte room which hasn't been in use for a while, also suggesting that there is a creepy, haunting atmousphere.
In my film I aim to make sure mise en scene effectively supports my horror genre.



This is also another good example of mise en scene supporting the horror genre.
Again, the costume colours are dark indicating a sinister atmousphere and plot.
The set and location of this still is showing corridoors, a large staircase and furthur large rooms. This type of set allows the viewer to establish that this is in a large house, and the dark lighting also reinforces that this film is of the horror genre. Lack of props, colour and lighing in this shot all combine and indicate to the viewer that this film is sinister, mysterious and scary. Kidmans' body language also allows the reader to see that her character is nervous, about to do something she doesn't want to, she looks scared. Her body language and facial expression also allow the viewer to certify that this is a film of the horror genre.
In my film i aim to produce scenes with relevant props, lighting and character body language and facial expression, in order to create a thriller like genre.

Mise-en-Scene

Mise-en-Scene in a film allows the viewer to establish what type of genre the film is. It denotes the place and connotes representations aswell as allowing us to establish characters.

SETTINGS & PROPS
COSTUMES, HAIR & MAKE UP
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS & BODY LANGUAGE
LIGHTING & COLOUR
POSITIONING OF CHARACTERS & OBJECTS WITHIN A FRAME

All of these aspects of mise-en-scene contribute to the overall genre of a film and messages and values being represented

In my film, which will be of the horror genre, i must ensure that mise-en-scene is effective for the genre and the narrative.

'Horror' Posters

Through analysising these posters, I can achieve a better understanding of the conventions i need to use, in order for the viewer to be able to establish that my film is of the horror genre.
For example,
darkness- to create a sense of fragmentation of specific characters, connoting mystery and danger.
extreme close ups- to establish relevant emotions conveyed by specific body parts (a mouth screaming, an eye widely opened)
colour connotations- i must ensure the colours evident in my film connote relevant emotions i wish to portray (red for danger, black and grey for mystery, white to establish a victim etc)

This is the opening sequence to the psychological horror 'the others'
This is the type of product i aim to achieve when i finish producing and editing my film.

'The Others' Stills - Camera Use

This is an establishig shot, an extreme long shot, at a slightly low angle.
This shot is being used so that the viewer can establish location, so that they can assume the following film is about to take place based around this environment.
It is at a slightly low angle, so that the house visable can appear large, overpowering and intimidating.
The idea that the lake is infront of the house and we are situated behind the lake, suggests that this is a barrier we should not cross, this house connotes danger. This is implyed by the typical 'haunted house' atmousphere, the large trees hiding the house, and the fog visable allows the viewer to be able to see that this film is of the horror genre. This is also reinforced by the lack of colour evident in the shot, just simply green, black and grey.
I would have to ensure my establishing shot in my film aquired all the conventions that a successful establishing shot does; relevant location, lack of colours, lack of movement, one large main object (perhaps a building) and the continuous presence of darkness.



The shot being used here is a mid-long shot at high angle. This suggests that the viewer is superior to Kidman, simply viewing the action from above, implying that this character is vulnerable (which is furthur indicated by her facial expression.)
Kidman is in a way being swallowed up by the setting, accentuating her vulnerability.
This type of shot is one in which i would use in my film, to effectively establish character types, in this case, the victim.



The shot being used here is a close up at eye level. This intimate shot magnifies Kidmans' facial expression, allowing the viewer to establish her shocked/horrified emotions.
I would use a neutral shot like this in my film, to indicate to the viewer emotions being portrayed by the characters, so that they could establish that this was a horror genre, through the characters' facial expressions (shock, horror, fright)



This camera shot is a mid shot at low angle. This shot is being used to emphasize the viewers' powerlessness.
We feel inferior to Kidmans' character, suggesting that her character aquires a more dark side, which is furthur implicated by the lack of colour and increasing darkness surronding her.
The lack of background to this shot adds disorientation to the viewer and the increased height of Kidman allows the viewer to feel insecure and perhaps psychologically dominated by her figure on the screen.
I would use a shot like this is my film to heighten mystery and convey a sense of fright and the unknown, i would use this shot with an effective use of lighting, in order to enphasize a characters' presence and therefore their key role within the film.

'The Others' Analysis

This is a poster from the film, THE OTHERS.

I have decided to begin my research for my film, by investigating various horror genre posters, in order to allow me to establish what specific genre i am interested in and what aspects of this genre i want to focus on at the moment.

The lighting evident in this poster allows the viewer to establish that there is a mysterious, creepy ambiance being created. The lack of light on one side of Kidmans' face indicates to me that there is an aspect of her character being hidden, a dark secret? The fact that she is focusing her gaze out of the shot suggests that there is an unwanted presence surrounding her, she is constantly looking to see what is coming next. This shot is a mid shot at eye level, just showing enough of Kidmans facial expression for the viewer to be able to initially characterise her.
The mise en scene of this poster is suggestively effective. The colour black is traditionally associated with the 'baddie' in a film, the character who is most likely to cause trouble or have a dark side. The actual lack of objects in the poster allows the viewer to question this poster even more. Why is she holding the candle? Who is she looking at? Why do aspects of mise en scene assume that she isn't a good character?

When i create my film, i need to ask myself questions before i begin, in order to meet the viewers' expectations. For the particular genre i select, most likely, horror, i must ensure the mise en scene, shots (distance and angle) lighting, editing and sound all successfully combine to ensure my film is a success and aquires believeability for the 'horror' genre. (As does this poster from 'The Others')