Horror Genre Analysis

Content

The main purpose of a horror film is to instill fear into viewers. Many films aim to produce nightmares and terror of the unknown. While the horror genre attempts to scare the audience, it hopes to entertain them through the adrenaline rush associated with fear.

Frequent themes associated with the horror genre include supernatural events, the macabre, religion, and survival.

The horror genre usually involves a group of friends such as Friday the 13th, or a family such as the movie Be Quiet. Often, the plot of a horror movie is developed when the main character decides to investigate something further, such as the creaking of a door or the flickering of a light. Horror movies almost always include a killer, such as an evil spirit or a mentally unstable individual. Death is also very common in horror movies; the character that the audience is made to like the most usually ends up dying.

Production Techniques

A variety of unique filming techniques are used to ensure that a horror film suits its purpose. A notorious technique that has made itself a staple in the horror genre is the jump scare, where a seemingly quite scene is interrupted by a loud action or noise. Another staple in the horror genre is in the lighting, in which films are usually made to take place at night. The dark is usually associated with the supernatural and fear. Dramatic shadows are also created to elicit suspense. Often, a sound will be heard without any whereabouts of the source of the sound, further creating suspense.

The Dark Voyeur POV shot is very effective in creating suspense and fear. With this technique, a scene is shot through branches, a window, or a closet. This makes the character appear vulnerable to the killer or evil force in the film. Also, horror films love to implement extreme close-up shots of both the monster/antagonist and other characters so that the audience can feel what the characters in the movie are feeling, which is usually dire fear and agony.

Make-up artists are often used in production to create gory and intense costumes. The use of CGI is also common in higher-budget films.

The setting in a horror film is a key element in getting a scare out of the audience. The locations usually are isolated and evoke a sense of loneliness and helplessness. Examples include a discrete cabin in the woods, an abandoned ghost town, or an urban environment with dark alleys.

Finally, sound plays a very important role in the production of a horror movie. Sound effects must be used to scare the audience, such as in a knife stabbing or an otherworldly scream.

The Leit Motif technique is used as a certain sound is associated with the onset of danger.

Marketing

When it comes to institutional conventions, a movie will not be successful unless it is marketed properly. If a company is unable to sell tickets, what was the purpose in creating the movie anyway? Movie producers implement many marketing tactics symbolic to the horror genre in order to effectively reach their target audience.

It can be established that many horror movies are released in the months of September-October. Many producers do this on purpose, given that Halloween is on October 31st. At this time, many people are often in the mood for a scare and are more likely to attend a horror film for the sake of tradition.

While many horror movie trailers are notorious for revealing too much content in their trailers, this is often done for good reason. Portraying a certain killing or event in the trailer might leave viewers confused, leaving them thinking about what could have caused such a murder. Horror film trailers make sure to hook viewers and usually reveal the antagonist so that they become more interested and curious. Trailers also usually include dark colors and low light to evoke a sense of fear in viewers.

The usual age groups associated with the horror genre are teenagers and young adults. Given that these groups of people, aged 15-25, are usually tech-savvy, it is imperative to use social media to get a hold of these individuals. Social media marketing is extremely effective and may benefit even more from the bandwagon appeal.

Film Analysis 1 - The Others

The Others, a 2001 film directed by Alejandro Amenabar, is a horror film that has received various awards and is a prime example of horror genre conventions.

The film is set in an isolated country home in the Channel Islands. This home is rather large and appears to be of Victorian architecture, and gives the appearance of a stereotypical “haunted house”. Many of the rooms in the home are also very dark and vacant. Furthermore, the house is constantly coated in a dense fog, adding to the mystery and suspense of the film. The setting allows for suspense to be created and frights viewers before the film begins to play out.

The characters include a mother with two young children, both of which have a rare disease. The mother is woken up by nightmares throughout the film. This is very common in the horror genre as they emphasize people’s fears of nightmares and the supernatural. Also, the children claim to see groups of people in the house, all claiming that the house is theirs. The mother also witnesses the piano playing itself. The development of the plot aims to bring viewers’ fears to life, which can be considered the underlying purpose of the horror film.

The music throughout the film ensures that viewers are in suspense the entire time. The film opens with a quiet, low-pitched instrumental tone. This helps to create a mysterious atmosphere hinting that something mysterious will occur. When these strange events actually occur, they are paired with high-pitched, shrilling noises that even in itself will frighten listeners.

Film Analysis 2 - A Quiet Place

Another film that perfectly embodies the horror genre is A Quiet Place, a film directed by John Krasinski in which a family must live in complete silence.

The most noticeable aspect of horror in this film is in the main villain itself. These creatures seem to be at least eight feet tall, walk on four, insect-looking limbs, have no eyes, and have slimy, gruesome skin. They also produce some sort of high-pitched noise that is disturbing to the human ear. Modernization has allowed for the use of CGI, and through this, the creation of truly disturbing monsters and creatures that would be impossible to produce in previous years.

Another interesting aspect in the film is in the sound, or the lack thereof. The creatures, although blind, have an extremely acute auditory ability, so the family in the movie must not make a single noise in order to survive. The lack of sound creates an immense amount of suspense, as the most minute of footsteps or the casual rustle of leaves will leave viewers scared and worrying for the family.

Similar to the conventions of the horror genre, the plot deals with a family, isolated from society, dealing with some sort of supernatural force, Although the film implements some unique characteristics, it stays true to the roots of the horror film.

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