Genre Research activity

  Friday November 12, 2021 

What even is Horror?

The horror genre is defined as an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust. The use of horror can be explained in many different ways such as horror films that create a sense of anticipation in the movie theater seats for those who enjoy it. Horror films can be very scary and intense and become very popular in the spooky season. During this blog we will dig deeper to explore not only why so many people enjoy this genre but also the production and technical aspect of it.

Content -

The main part of a horror movie is the horror, without it there would be no said horror. Fear is one key element you need in horror films. Fear is an unpleasant emotion that is used to keep the viewers on the edge of their seats and build up their anticipation when a certain scene is being played.

An example of fear is displayed in the movie It by Stephan King. Fear is displayed as pennywise the clown takes George's boat and then proceeds to take him down the sewer, striking fear in peoples minds that sewers are now scary.

Another main element thats important to any horror film is suspense. Suspense is used to create a stronger feeing of fear or anticipation about what might happen next and pulls you in. People like to be in control and have an understanding of the things around them however during horror films you don't know what's going to happen next so the feeling of suspense is what really adds to the fear. These suspenseful parts are the parts that make your heart race 50 miles an hour as you wait for the unexpected jump that may come next.

An example of suspense is displayed in the film Psycho where the main character is come face to face with another character who wants to kill her and...eventually does.

Mostly every horror movie follows the same storyline, it includes somebody passing away after a scene that involves something dark or even scandalous. All these scenes can be the same and come across as tabu but draws the viewer in and creates more suspense. 

production techniques -

Sound is big production technique that  can also help to make someone fear whats about to happen and get them on the edge of their seats. By adding either screams, growls, or a Shepard's tone an audience will be frightened by the jump scare. In addition, adding small creaks and heavy breathing can add to the suspense right before the jump scare. The suspense before a jump scare or the action during an fighting can also be emphasized through music. Suspense can be built up by the sound of a song slowly growing louder and louder.

An example is in the movie Jaws some production techniques that are used are a very wide amount of sound. Every time a shark comes into the scene or is about to be shown this specific music plays to give the audience a signal that it is coming.

Marketed -

The audiences that usually watch these scary movies are from ages 13-20. These adolescents and some what adults are the targeted audience for horror movies and films because they seek adventure and sensation which is what a horror film entails.

Many horror movie posters all have a central and similar idea to indicate a gory, fearful, and intriguing idea. A common theme is a picture of only the monsters eyes or skull, as well as hands to indicate the theme of "fear" making it known it is a horror movie. The majority of posters for marketing the productions have the main characters entire face plastered on it, this conveys an emotion of fear again or even an evil idea. 

Samples -

     A Quiet Place directed by John Krasinski. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, a family is forced to live in silence whilst hiding  from monsters with their ultra-sensitive hearing. This means no speeding, to evade deadly and seemingly indestructible armored creatures which track they're every move. Under these circumstances the family tires their best to live as a normal of a life as possible with devised safeguards to protect them despite anything that my happen to them potentially to throw them off this routine of mock normalcy and survival. Through this ordeal, they also try to learn as much as they can about the creatures in the hope of somebody being able to destroy them to regain their lives. For parents Lee and Evelyn, the first priority is protecting the children at all cost, which the children may not always see or understand but will soon come to terms with. The theme of a loving family working together to survive the situation they're in with the emotions of love, tenderness, and even loss as well as suspense and plot twists at every corner make this a fantastic combination.

     The iconic movie The Scream directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olphin and Tyler Gillett. It takes place in a town in California where a year passes after a teenage girls death and she is terrorized by a new killer who targets her and her friends. The killer stalks her and one of her classmates giving the viewers a mysterious rise in fear and suspense on whats going to happen next. A news reporter then is introduced, Gail Weathers and Woodsbroro's Deputy Dwight who investigate and try to figure out who the killer is and if it is the same person who killed the girls mom they year before. The suspense and fear that is built upon during this movie about psycho murders and there idealistic ways too draw their prey in give you goosebumps down your spine as well as a sense of urge to find out what happens next with the investigators trying to figure out who is behind all this as well as keeping everyone involved safe makes an excellent movie.

Other horror movies to consider watching~

Nun 2018

 Chucky 1988

It chapter two 2019

Hush 2016

Quiet place part two

Sources~

• https://www.moms.com/age-kids-horror-movies/#:~:text=In%20this%20case%2C%20letting%20your%20child%20watch%20a,mild%20scary%20movie.%20Are%20Your%20Children%20Easily%20Scared%3F

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_(1996_film)

• https://www.looper.com/160216/the-entire-it-story-finally-explained/