Genre conventions: Horror.

Genre conventions: Horror.

1. Sound

   • Non-Diegetic
     • Mood music, sound effects, narrators voice.
   • Diegetic
     • Can range from converstaions on screen, screams, heavy breathing and crying.

2. Cinematography

   • Shot types
     • Commonly used shit types are: Over the shoulder angle, close up, wide shot, point of view shot and cutaway shots. For an example of how a over the shoulder shot would be used in this genre, think of films like 'Insidious' were people are followed by a demon from behind. Close-ups are good for showing the characters emotion and reaction in this type of film.
   • Movements
     • Horror films may use fast movements, especially in 'found footage' horrors, to give off the impression of a chase scene. This may also be used to add suspense to an oncoming jump-scare! Slower camerea movements would be used in this genre to heighten suspense and anxiety of the audience, to hide a scare or to allow them to see the horror scene/environment.

3. Mise en scene

   • Lighting
     • Darker, more shadowed. If horror films were too light, the element of fear would be gone, therefore we see dark corners, blackened corridoors and forests in the night. Lighter scenes may be seen in phycological horrors or scenes inbetween the scares.
   • Props
     • Props may include weapons, spiritual items (for films involving paranormal elements) and also everyday objects.
   • Characters
     • In stereotypical horrors, there was always a person in distress, with a villain waiting with a scary set of plans. In modern cinema you can have zombies, vampires and murderes. The horror genre has a wide variety of what characters can be included, with almost anyone fitting in. Most popular seems to be found footage, young characters (Eg; paranormal activity).
   • Colour
     • Colours in horror films usually are very dark. Black, greys and red feature to give off a certain theme of suspense. The dark colours give the film gloom and never lets the audience know whats coming next. Light colours would be to light for the mood of the film.
   • Setting
     • This can vary from anything from buildings to woods and even the odd funfair. Depending on what the creators decide to do with the film, any setting can be made to fit in the horror genre.
   • Costumes
     • Depending on the film, costumes in horror vary. For example, a victorian ghost film may use period dress and fit in with that theme, whereas in zombie films, ripped clothes covered in blood would be more suited.
   • Space
     • Often smaller, giving off a tense/cramped environment. This tends to make the viewer more wary of the surroundings, but allows the film too seem more creepy and have an element of mystery. Although space may be small. there is normally more areas or rooms, to give different levels of paranoia and surprise, to not give away whats lurking in the shadows.

4. Editing

   • Quick cuts lead to suspense and shock (jump scares).
   • Long takes may also lead the audience to a scene waiting to reveal something.
   • Trailers are always cut done, to stop it from revealing too much, to leave something for the audience to watch in cinema.