GENRE RESEARCH

HORROR

Horror is a film genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's primal fears. Horror films often feature scenes that startle the viewer; the macabre and the supernatural are frequent themes. Thus they may overlap with the fantasy, supernatural, and thriller genres. Horror films often deal with the viewer's nightmares, hidden fears, revulsions and terror of the unknown.

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film

The most well known horror movies lately are:- Sinister The possession Mama Evil Dead

THE SCARY HOUSE These films are all typical horror films where there is

something either in or around the house trying to kill the people visiting there.

Here you can see all three of the trailers frame the house from a low angle suggesting the house is in power, also they are filmed very close to the ground suggesting a underworld. This is typically done to engage the reader into a sense of fear around the house.

In each shot you can see there is dead trees and leaves surrounding the house as well as a unkempt feel, this suggests the house has been vacant for sometime and suggesting it shouldn't be entered.

KILLER ON VICTIM Most horror films have a killer on victim theme where there is a

killer or evil spirit seeking to kill a single victim or a group of people.

This is seen in the cabin in the woods as the trailer reveals a group of people going to stay in the woods and a very creepy man which is a indication of a killer.

This is also seen in evil dead as one girl is victimised out of the group and is overcome with the possession from the evil girl from the woods/house.

In house at the end of the street a family moves into a new house which is doomed with a evil spirit and when they have moved in they begin to experience paranormal activities in the house this being the killer.

This narrative is widely used across the horror movie genre and is one of the most common storylines to base a film on as it is one of peoples fears to be chased by a killer or something paranormal the directors play on this and use this to their advantage.

THE TITLES

In between shots short titles are often used to hint at what the film is about or to add a element of suspension by using words like ‘think again’.

Most movie trailers feature these titles but in horror genres is it particularly known for them to have a dark dreary background just like the ones below with sharp simple text to contrast against the background.

MAIN CHARACTER TYPES

Typically there is the main protagonist who is the victim or the hero of the movie. Then there is the villain, other monster , mutated freak, alien or killer who will end up killing the group of wreckless teenagers.

Also there could be a creepy child, woman or man who either possesses or tries to kill a family or a couple in a house.

There also may be other characters such as the untrustworthy policeman or neighbour who turns out to be in with the killer.

LIGHTING, COSTUME & PROPS

Typically dark colours like red and black as well as grey are used as they link to evil, blood and the dark side.

The lighting is very low key to make the location to seem dark and dingy also it helps create dark shadows and unfamiliar shapes in the darkness.

Props can help us identify the genre further through the use of chainsaws, machetes, knives and guns etc. They also may use masks to hide their identity which is a fear of some people.

Typical costumes used will either be hospital gowns to suggest mentally ill patients and a sense of instability or dark ripped clothing often dresses on women.

THRILLER

Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension and excitement as the main elements. Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and/or terror. Thriller films tend to be adrenaline-rushing, gritty, rousing and fast-paced.

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_Film

The most well known thriller movies lately are:- The Purge Erased Dark skies The host The hunger games: catching fire

THE MAIN TROUBLEMAKER

In thriller movies there is normally one main character who is seen as a troublemaker in the narrative.

In the host it is seen to be the girl who rebels against the takeover.

In erased it is seen to be the man as the troublemaker as he is shown in a sequence of fight scenes in the trailer

In the hunger games it is also the girl who is the main troublemaker as she strikes up a rebellion even at her presence.

This element in thriller films is essential as this is where the action and suspense comes from.

THE ACTION SCENE As thriller films rely on the uncertainty, anxiety and surprise

it is key they have a big action scene in them. Below in the host the main action scene from the trailer

seems to be the challenge to capture the girl who is trying to stay human.

In erased the main action scene seems to take place in the train station where a man is chasing the victim and a fight breaks out.

In the hunger games the main action scene seems to be the uprising of the people during a rebellion against the government.

All of these action scenes are feature in the trailers to ensure the audience that there is a element of suspense and action to the film which reinforces the idea that it is a thriller film.

LIGHTING, COSTUME & PROPS The lighting in thriller films is similar to those of horror films in

the respect that it is often low key creating a mysterious and edgy feel to it. However thriller films sometimes contain a element of action so the lighting can change to accommodate this and become lighter and create shadows rather than dark grungy lighting which would be used in horrors.

Typical costumes in a thriller film vary depending on the sub genres, for example action thriller movies will feature normal costumes such as suits which is shown here in the dark knight trailer.

Props used in the thriller genre vary, as some films offer gore they will feature knives and chainsaws etc. Where action thrillers will feature fast cars, guns, gadgets and knives. These differences are evident throughout the film.

THE FAST PACE

As thriller films rely on the tension and action that is in them the trailers are often very fast paced in order to create a sense of thrill.

Below you can see15 shots packed into a 10 second time frame.