What Is A Horror Film
What is expected when someone watches a horror movie?
For starters horror is an intense feeling of thrill, shock, or disgust. In which all of these three feelings stem from watching horror movies. It seems quite ironic that people will pay to watch a movie that is going to have them scared to death. Not only will they leave the theaters terrified but they won't be able to stay home alone for a few days afterwards. Contrary to popular belief horror movies are actually one of the most eye catching genres that people gravitate towards. This leaves horror to be one of the most popular genres to pick from.
Genre Conventions (Content)
Every horror movies has a different type of content that it includes. One of them being Satanism. Satanism is a very popular recurring theme in horror movies. For example, a very well known film is called The Exorcist. In The Exorcist the story unfolds by a 12- year old girl being possessed and then her mother seeks help from two priests.
Continuing the different types of content found in horror films, comes films revolving torture. Torture would focus specifically on the punishment of other individuals. This most likely means the main character will be causing harm to others throughout the scene. A well-known film that focuses on torture is called Saw.
Next, comes Suspense with the content in a horror movie. Suspense is a huge aspect that is focused on throughout horror films since it's exactly what leads to those jump scares. Since people have no idea what is going to happen next. This factor allows for everyone to constantly remain on their toes. The feeling suspense creates a type of adrenaline for the viewer which leaves them to want to continue watching the film. An example of a movie that is solely focused on suspense is The Boy.
Genre Conventions (Production Techniques)
Every director of horror movies uses a variety of techniques when it comes to developing a horror films. They tend to mix multiple different types, not only just one. The technique is to constantly change the types of techniques so people never know what to expect when watching the film.
Examples of specific production techniques would be jump scares. Jump scares go hand and hand when it comes to horror films. 99% of scenes that are intended to cause fear are fabricated to be jump scares. This is a sudden or unexpected event. The film includes this in hopes to startle the audience. An example of a film that includes multiple jump scares would be Friday the 13th . Such as when Jason is hiding underneath the blankets.
Another production techniques that is actively used in horror movies would underexposure. What exposure in film does is either brighten the image or reduce the visibility of it. An example, of underexposure being used would be a screen with very low light visible and chronic screaming coming from the background. A film that includes this techniques would be the films of Paranormal Activity.
Horror Marketing
Horror movies typically sell to demographics of 16-24 year old's. Even though both genders tend to really love horror movies, they mostly focus on males. Since males are most likely to gravitate towards something that is going to provide them with a quick scare. There's also those couples that will go together to the movies solely to have an excuse to grab the other ones arm during the jump scare scenes.
Many horror film titles are written with a font that is abnormal. This will gravitate the viewer to further look into the purpose of the movie and evaluate if they want to watch it or not. For example, the text will be white with droopy letters. Or red, giving it the effect that it represents blood and fear. Therefore, illustrating what the film is going to provide.
Film Sample #1
The Boy is a great example of a film that unfolds the genre of horror accurately. This movie is about a young girl (Greta) who took a job as a nanny. All was well up until she actually met
"the boy" and she finds out she was going to be taking care of the doll. All of this quicky turns into a series of uncomfortable events that carry out. Which then cause Greta to believe that the doll was actually in fact alive. The doll was originally a coping mechanism that the parents had due to the death of their son 20 years prior.
This movie portrays the idea of horror accurately due to the weird events that are being carried out. Since it's like if there was a spirt trapped inside of the doll. All of these paranormal activity that is taking place is all things that happen in horror movies.
Film Sample #2
The Babadook is about a single mom and her child that fall in a deep sleep. This stage of sleep turns into a state of paranoia. Which then causes them to believe that their home is is taking place in a dark children book called "Mister Babadook".
This film is known to be very dark and creepy all in a metaphorical way. This develops the sensation of fear for the viewers. Since it transports them to a different world, when watching this film. Therefore, the Babadook develops the genre of horror accurately.
Horror Movies To Add To Your List:
1.Hereditary- Hereditary | Official Trailer HD | A24 - Bing video
2.The Texas Chainsaw Massacre- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Official Remastered Trailer (2014) - Horror Movie HD - YouTube
3.Annabelle- Annabelle - Official Main Trailer [HD] - YouTube
4.Open Water- Open Water (2003) Official Trailer #1 - Thriller Movie - YouTube
5. The Cabin in the Woods- The Cabin in the Woods Trailer - YouTube
