Top 10 Horror Shots

Agne Ivanauskaite

Off KilterThe off kilter shot is used in order to convey moments of horror and unease which adds to the idea of expressionism. The off kilter shot, also known as the Dutch angle is a type of camera shot where the camera is tilted to the side so that the resulting shot is skewed at an angle and the floor or horizon is off the horizontal. In cinematography, the off kilter shot is one of many cinematic techniques which is used in order to convey psychological uneasiness or tension in the subject being filmed. Considering my film is going to be a psychological horror, this particular shot will be beneficial as it will enable me to present psychological nervousness is a much more idealistic way.

Over the shoulder shot of the killer

Over the shoulder shot is a shot that is used of someone of something which is taken from the perspective or camera angle from the shoulder of another person. In horror films this is used in order to show the point of view shot which places the audience directly in the midst of the action. This particular shot enables the audience to see the victim’s facial expression to the current situation, therefore we would typically see fright and uneasiness coming from the victim’s perspective. The over the shoulder shot of the killer immediately reinforces the idea that something is happening between the characters, such as, having a discussion or an exchange.

Close up on weaponA close up shot is a type of shot which tightly frames a person or an object, in this case a weapon. This type of shot is used regularly with medium shots and long shots. This is the shot that displays the most detail, however the shot does not include the broader scene. The close up shot is used in order to display the weapon that the killer is carrying, this clearly shows the audience what they are going to use in order to kill the victim. Additionally, if the weapon was a gun, this initially makes the audience frightened and anxious, however the anxiousness may increase if the weapon was a chainsaw due to the audience knowing what would create more gore and violence.

Close up / Extreme close up of fear

The close up / extreme close shot up is used in order to display the reaction of the character(s) in that particular situation. This is the only type of shot where we are able to see the emotions of the character(s) close up and the captured emotion is very important, especially in a horror movie as this determines how frightened they are. The close up / extreme close up shot is usually used in order to create dramatic effect or unquestionable emphasis.

360 degree shot to show isolation / fear

A 360 degree shot is usually used in order to show the victim’s surroundings. Usually in a horror film the victim is typically filmed alone in an isolated place, therefore by showing the audience the 360 degree shot, we are aware that the victim is definitely alone. However, the 360 degree shot can also be used from the victim’s own perspective of them looking around with the diegetic sound of them heavily breathing, creating more tension within the scene. Below is an example of a 360 degree shot.

High angle shot to show victim’s vulnerabilityThe high angle shot is usually located above the subject, so the camera is facing downwards

towards the victim. This type of shot is mainly used in scenes where power balances need to be expressed and this is used to make the subject appear powerless and vulnerable to the audience. Typically, the high angle shot will be used to portray the vulnerability of the female victim, against the males authority. As an audience, we too feel more powerful than the character. This type of shot is also used as a technique to make the scene much more dramatic.

Low angle shot to show the power of the

killerThe low angle shot opposes the high angle shot, therefore the camera angle is positioned from the vulnerable victim’s perspective, so it looks like the victim is looking upwards at the killer. This gives the killer both power and status. This type of shot is used in order to give the killer (antagonist) power over the victim. Due to the focus being on only the killer, we as an audience feel intrigued by what the killer is going to say or do, especially if they have a weapon in their hand.

How to stab someone without hurting them

Stabbing someone (without hurting them) in a film is an essential scene in a horror movie. In order to create all the gore, there needs to be some form of stabbing in a horror movie in order to create fear within the audience. In the video created, I have demonstrated this technique, by displaying the killer running towards the victim when she has her back turned and is unaware that the killer is approaching her. The killer then stabs the victim in the back (without hurting them) and she falls to the ground, due to her fall, it immediately makes the stabbing look much more realistic.

Point of view of victim and killer as victim

crawls away on her back and killer approachesThis technique is very similarly used to the high angle shot which shows the victim’s

vulnerability. In this case, the victim is on the floor which makes them look more vulnerable and it shows us that the killer is more dominant in the current situation. The fact that they are crawling shows the audience that they have no escape due to the killer being very close to them and there is little possibility of escaping if you are crawling. In this shot, we would typically see fear in the victim’s face and usually this is when the killer has their best chance of killing or hurting the victim due to the victim having little power.

Use of the power of suggestion

In a horror film, the power of suggestion is presented usually by someone being stabbed, however the gore is not necessarily shown, only the action of the stabbing. This reduces graphic imagery as it may not be appropriate in some films with certificate ratings such as 15 and below. On the other hand, if the movie is an 18 then strong graphic imagery can be shown, however movies such as a 15 and below must include gore to a minimum, so if someone is stabbed then the result of the stabbing is not to the shown, only the action of the stabbing.