CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF A

HORRORBy Janet Lunkuse

Camera angles

Extreme close ups –This is used to emphasize a certain object or emotion

Tilt-This is used to create disorientation in a particular scene. Establishing shots-This is important in introducing the

location to the audience. Stereotypically, these usually show haunted mansions or isolated buildings.

Handheld-This is a fairly modern camera angle used for horror films. It makes the scene look more realistic and more believable. For example the movie 127 hours predominantly uses a hand held camera. 

Dollying- This is were the camera follows the character from behind to make the character feels as if he is being followed.

Point of view shot-This is were the audience can see what the character sees. It makes us as an audience feel as if we’re looking through their eyes.

Camera angles are very important in representing the genre effectively. This is because they help portray the feelings of the characters and the atmosphere of the location. Examples of typical camera angles in horror films are:

Example of handheld camera in “127 hours”

Example of a point of view shot (this image was found on Google images)

Location and settingThe setting and location of a horror film gives the audience a better sense of

the story. It allows them to visualize what is going on and connect with the characters better. Locations for a typical horror genre films could be:

haunted house-e.g The others (2001) A forest –e.g Jeepers creepers (2003) the lake-e.g Eden Lake (2008) a hospital-e.g Fragile (2005) Cabins in the woods-e.g The cabin in the woods (2012) the underground tube station –e.g Creep (2004) A graveyard-e.g the graveyard (2006)

Settings in horror films are usually in a urban environments such as dark and grim alleyways in the city. In haunted houses, the setting is normally based in the attics or the basements of the house. This is because they are the isolated or less visited places of the house. Moreover, settings in hospitals are located on the wards of the hospital. I think this is done because people usually relate hospital wards as a place of healing as opposed to a place of excruciating pain and horror.

Image of an attic Image of a hospital ward

costume and props Props can help an audience identify with the horror genre. It can help us identify even further with the characters.

For example, the antagonist can be identified with objects such as chainsaws( Texas chainsaw massacre 1974 ) and large machetes, whereas the protagonist usually has useless objects such as a mobile phone with no signal or a map. The reason as to why the villain is usually given such big objects is to help connote fear and terror from the audience. Typical prop objects in horror films include masks, religious icons, rope, duck tape and white gloves.

The use of costumes in a horror film also help to identify the villains from the victims. In a horror film ,the villain is usually the one with the most advanced costume and make up. Typical costume ideas for villains are:

Scarecrows Vampires/Draculas Ghosts Monsters Werewolf's Zombie

The antagonists costume often portray evil. Their costume is supposed to make the audience afraid of meeting them in real life. On the other hand, the protagonist usually wears plain clothes e.g t-shirt and jeans and their make up usually consists of dirt and scars on their faces .This may be because the film makers don't want the attention to drift away from the evil characters so they make the victims look as plain as possible.

Image from the movie Texas Chainsaw massacre

This is a screenshot from “the cabin in the woods.” The costumes for the victims are very plain and unattractive

This is a screen shot from the movie “dawn of the dead” it is noticeable that a lot of time went into the make up to create the zombie looking face

Sound Sound in a horror film includes diegetic sound (sound that the characters can hear too), non-diegetic sound (sound that only the audience can hear) and the variety of ways in which aural elements (e.g. speech, music and noise) are used in relation to the film.

Diegetic- This type of sound in a horror often includes: Screams Door slams Ambience Footsteps Car brakes

Non-diegetic-This type of sound a horror often include: Drum beats Orchestra Violins

The sound in a horror film is the most important element in setting the mood of the scene. Sound is more powerful in horror films than any other genre, this is because it helps increase the fear factor. The purpose of a horror film is to scare the viewer and a director tries to do this in all ways possible. The sound might progressively build to signify when a dramatic event is about to happen or it may be upbeat to lighten up the mood.

Editing/Lighting Lighting

Often in horror films, the lighting is often grim and dark to link to evil and to make the scene look sinister. For example in the Grudge 2,low key lighting is used to create dark shadows to express the eeriness of the scene.

The lighting plays a vital role in creating the atmosphere in a film. The amount of light and the direction of the light source can give meaning to the viewer of the film. For example, lighting can be used to indicate a characters feeling. Back lighting is really popular in horror films; this is were the main light source comes from behind a character. It is used to create a silhouette. The character can be made to look mysterious due to the effect of the shadows and it can create a sense of approaching trouble.

Editing

Editing in horror films is very important. This is because it requires precise editing to scare the audience. The allocated amount of time for each shot can help determine the pace. For example, quick shots of stabs, chases and other violent acts add to the realism of the scene. It helps bring about the tension of the audience and their concern for safety of the character.

This is a screenshot from the “Grudge 2.” It is noticeable that the lighting was purposely dimmed to create the cold and empty illusion for the scene.

This is an example of the use of backlighting. It has created a silhouette for this character in the 1960’s horror film “Psycho”