Genre: Horror
Target Audience:
The usual target audience for films with the horror genre is people ranging from ages 15-25. These teenagers and young adults enjoy watching films that contain suspense and terror to give them thrills. Younger audiences get more excited when watching these thrilling movies. Adult audiences are often put off by the graphic images of violence. Also, it was concluded that 42% of horror audiences are women, and 58% being men.
Genre Conventions:
Content:
In horror films there are many roles that characters take part in. Moreover, a type of protagonist or hero is always present in horror films. They are usually the ones that save the day by killing or stopping, the villain, murderer, monster, or torturer in the movie. The are also victims in horror films, they are tortured and have many problems, caused by the antagonist, which most of the time end up dead. Furthermore, the antagonist is the actual evil itself, whether it's a monster, serial killer, or demonic force. Lastly, children are used a substantial amount of times in horror films. They play a menacing role in these films to make the circumstance appear scarier. Little girls are used more than little boys because they are considered to be creepier.
Production Techniques:
The mise-en-scene of horror films can be represented by the types of settings that are used to give the connotation of isolation or loneliness. Small communities, dark alleys, and urban neighborhoods are used often with thunder and rain, which adds to the gloomy setting of these films. The use of terrible weather is used to make the isolation of the setting stand out. The mise-en-scene of horror films can also be characterized by the use of lighting. Lighting, in horror films, usually anticipates that something bad is going to happen. It gives the audience a feeling of terror and suspense. Low-key lighting, dark shadows and flickering lights make the viewer feel anxiety and fear. Another component that contributes to the mise-en-scene of horror films is the use of props. Common objects include knifes, chainsaws, crucifixes, and candles. Props are an important addition to the frightening atmosphere of horror movies. Lastly, the use of costumes and colors is another element in the mise-en-scene of horror films. The costumes usually depict the personality and they fit with the stereotype of the specific character. The costumes play a significant part in horror films since that alone can categorize a character as good or bad. The use of the colors red and black is seen throughout most horror films because they have to do with blood, danger, and death. These horror films count of sound for the suspense element. The use of Foley when creating sounds builds tension through the exaggerated diegetic sounds. Non-diegetic sounds are used for jump scares. They are fast, loud, and creepy which add to the audience's fear.
Institutional Conventions:
Narrative Image:
The narrative image in a horror film is known for leaving room for a sequel where the monster/evil character reappears. Horror films usually begin with the protagonist/victim wondering off into a threatening or isolated environment. Then, the characters will encounter the evil character and violence is unleashed. The characters who survive would try to tell the authorities for support, only to return disappointed with less hope. The climax of the film contains a showdown between the protagonist and the antagonist characters with differing outcomes. The resolution of the plot usually leaves a suspenseful ending generating room for the possible return of the monster.
Marketing:
Horror films have certain marketing techniques to go along with to be considered a successful film. One of these techniques includes naming some of the characters in the trailer. The audience will be concerned whether a character lives or dies, by giving the character a face. Another technique is not giving everything away in the trailer. Triggering a sense of mystery and suspense in the viewers will make them want to go watch the horror movie. Furthermore, obscuring details in the trailers will hook potential spectators. Another marketing technique that is consistent in most horror films is the demonstration of viewers' ratings and comments on the movie. Also, credible testimonials are shown in most trailers because they increase the potential of people going to watch the film. Lastly, since horror is one of the largest genres, it is concluded that it is one of the most profitable genres as well.
Film sample #1
The Conjuring (2013)
The Conjuring is a good representation of the Horror genre because the storyline has to do with a family who moves into a house and is haunted by evil forces. As soon as the plot begins to develop, the audience starts to feel the suspense and terror. The family call a couple of paranormal investigators to help them remove the evil entity that has taken over the woman's body. The investigators realized that this was one of the most terrifying case of their lives. A movie about a satanic haunting of a family definitely belongs in the horror genre of films.
Film sample #
It (2017)
It is a good representation of the Horror genre because the whole movie has to do with battling a murderous, bloodthirsty clown. In the beginning of the story, one of the kids misplaces their sailboat and chases it into a sewer, this is when the suspense aspect is extremely emphasized. A pair of yellow eyes emerge from inside the sewers as the child looks into it, and the boy reaches into it to get the boat, and the monster bites his arm off and then drags him into it. There is a substantial number of creepy elements in this movie to contribute to the fact that it is a horror film. Such elements include demonic looking children, creepy red balloons that appear out of nowhere, a headless girl, clown dolls, guns, shadows, and of course, Pennywise, the main antagonist.
Film examples:
1. The Sinister (2012)
2. Saw (2004)
3. Hush (2016)
4. A Quiet Place (2018)
5. The Babadook (2014)
6. Paranormal Activity (2007)
Target Audience:
The usual target audience for films with the horror genre is people ranging from ages 15-25. These teenagers and young adults enjoy watching films that contain suspense and terror to give them thrills. Younger audiences get more excited when watching these thrilling movies. Adult audiences are often put off by the graphic images of violence. Also, it was concluded that 42% of horror audiences are women, and 58% being men.
Genre Conventions:
Content:
In horror films there are many roles that characters take part in. Moreover, a type of protagonist or hero is always present in horror films. They are usually the ones that save the day by killing or stopping, the villain, murderer, monster, or torturer in the movie. The are also victims in horror films, they are tortured and have many problems, caused by the antagonist, which most of the time end up dead. Furthermore, the antagonist is the actual evil itself, whether it's a monster, serial killer, or demonic force. Lastly, children are used a substantial amount of times in horror films. They play a menacing role in these films to make the circumstance appear scarier. Little girls are used more than little boys because they are considered to be creepier.
Production Techniques:
The mise-en-scene of horror films can be represented by the types of settings that are used to give the connotation of isolation or loneliness. Small communities, dark alleys, and urban neighborhoods are used often with thunder and rain, which adds to the gloomy setting of these films. The use of terrible weather is used to make the isolation of the setting stand out. The mise-en-scene of horror films can also be characterized by the use of lighting. Lighting, in horror films, usually anticipates that something bad is going to happen. It gives the audience a feeling of terror and suspense. Low-key lighting, dark shadows and flickering lights make the viewer feel anxiety and fear. Another component that contributes to the mise-en-scene of horror films is the use of props. Common objects include knifes, chainsaws, crucifixes, and candles. Props are an important addition to the frightening atmosphere of horror movies. Lastly, the use of costumes and colors is another element in the mise-en-scene of horror films. The costumes usually depict the personality and they fit with the stereotype of the specific character. The costumes play a significant part in horror films since that alone can categorize a character as good or bad. The use of the colors red and black is seen throughout most horror films because they have to do with blood, danger, and death. These horror films count of sound for the suspense element. The use of Foley when creating sounds builds tension through the exaggerated diegetic sounds. Non-diegetic sounds are used for jump scares. They are fast, loud, and creepy which add to the audience's fear.
Institutional Conventions:
Narrative Image:
The narrative image in a horror film is known for leaving room for a sequel where the monster/evil character reappears. Horror films usually begin with the protagonist/victim wondering off into a threatening or isolated environment. Then, the characters will encounter the evil character and violence is unleashed. The characters who survive would try to tell the authorities for support, only to return disappointed with less hope. The climax of the film contains a showdown between the protagonist and the antagonist characters with differing outcomes. The resolution of the plot usually leaves a suspenseful ending generating room for the possible return of the monster.
Marketing:
Horror films have certain marketing techniques to go along with to be considered a successful film. One of these techniques includes naming some of the characters in the trailer. The audience will be concerned whether a character lives or dies, by giving the character a face. Another technique is not giving everything away in the trailer. Triggering a sense of mystery and suspense in the viewers will make them want to go watch the horror movie. Furthermore, obscuring details in the trailers will hook potential spectators. Another marketing technique that is consistent in most horror films is the demonstration of viewers' ratings and comments on the movie. Also, credible testimonials are shown in most trailers because they increase the potential of people going to watch the film. Lastly, since horror is one of the largest genres, it is concluded that it is one of the most profitable genres as well.
Film sample #1
The Conjuring (2013)
The Conjuring is a good representation of the Horror genre because the storyline has to do with a family who moves into a house and is haunted by evil forces. As soon as the plot begins to develop, the audience starts to feel the suspense and terror. The family call a couple of paranormal investigators to help them remove the evil entity that has taken over the woman's body. The investigators realized that this was one of the most terrifying case of their lives. A movie about a satanic haunting of a family definitely belongs in the horror genre of films.
Film sample #
It (2017)
It is a good representation of the Horror genre because the whole movie has to do with battling a murderous, bloodthirsty clown. In the beginning of the story, one of the kids misplaces their sailboat and chases it into a sewer, this is when the suspense aspect is extremely emphasized. A pair of yellow eyes emerge from inside the sewers as the child looks into it, and the boy reaches into it to get the boat, and the monster bites his arm off and then drags him into it. There is a substantial number of creepy elements in this movie to contribute to the fact that it is a horror film. Such elements include demonic looking children, creepy red balloons that appear out of nowhere, a headless girl, clown dolls, guns, shadows, and of course, Pennywise, the main antagonist.
Film examples:
1. The Sinister (2012)
2. Saw (2004)
3. Hush (2016)
4. A Quiet Place (2018)
5. The Babadook (2014)
6. Paranormal Activity (2007)
