Similar Media Works

Horror: The Mist The shining

Closely related genres and sub-genres of horror

The horror genre has lots of different sub-genres and closely related genres. No horror movie is simply a horror- they all have a different sub genre of horror. For example, the film “The Mist” by Steven King is a Sci-fi horror and monsters, and “The Shining” is a supernatural, gore horror. Other sub genres of horror include Gorenographry (e.g. Saw), B-Movie Horror, and reincarnation. There are also some genres which are closely related to horror. These films tend to be similar to regular horrors movies, but can be more tame or be directed more towards the plot than actually trying to scare people. Some of these genres include thrillers, science fictions, and action films. As with horror films, these films tend to include violence and peril.

Mat Bigg

What does the audience assume about films of this genre from the outset? From the outset, the audience will have many ideas of what will happen in a horror movie. Like most movies, horror contains an antagonist and protagonist, with the antagonist usually being a dark, twisted, demonic person or creature. The audience will also usually expect one, or multiple deaths in a horror film, which are usually graphic and gory. Not all expectations are about death, and gore. The audience will also want to see romance, which usually ends in the female character getting kidnapped or killed, prompting a ‘sad scene’.

Mat Bigg

The target audience of horror films The horror genre is quite wide and diverse, allowing for a very much large range of different sub-genres that appeal to a universal range of people. Typically 16-24 is the target audience for mainstream horror films, with research showing that a greater percentage of revenue is grossed from this age group. Young people are the target audience for a number of reasons. Firstly major films production companies will specifically advertise new horror films in teenage magazines and on music channels such as kerrang. Doing so will enable word of mouth to spread quickly among teenage gossip and in theory groups of friends will go and see the films. One example of this would be Nightmare on Elm Street which owes its success to word of mouth rather then its pitiful advertising campaign. Another interesting aspect of why the age group starts at 16 is due to younger teenagers wanting to be perceived as cool if they watch something that was attended for a slightly mature audience. The film companies know this and often try will make ‘18’ rated movie with the knowledge that underage people will still consume there product In relation to Gender, horror movies have been typically stereotyped only for male viewing due to the gore effect. However, research shows that a growing number of females also enjoy the adrenaline rush that horror films strive to create, thus allowing horror films to be to regarded as universal in that sense. The actors present in horror films are almost always teenagers or young adults. In some cases like John Carpenters ‘Halloween’ they represent your typical rebellious teenager, supposedly punished for there immorality throughout the film. Teenagers watching the film can compare to social issues allowing them to put there minds in the actor’s narrative, creating a more realistic viewing experience. Matt Thomas

Common story lines Horror movies can follow multiple story lines, but usually end in the same outcome. A common storyline for modern horror films starts with a protagonist who is either away from home or has just moved house. They are then confronted by the antagonist, where they will have to fight to survive and get help before it’s too late, usually ending in the protagonist surviving and the antagonist being defeated. Some examples of this are Vacancy and The Skeleton Key. The protagonists can be both male and female (or both), and the antagonists can range from anything from a murderer (Saw 1-6) to giant bug-like monsters ( The Mist). Horror films are generally set in old, dark buildings and don’t tend to move much from the one set.

Mat Bigg

Technical codes seen in horror films When looking into technical codes seen in horror films, they all keep the same theme of camera angles, lighting and editing techniques. When looking at the lighting in the film – The Shining, The lighting in the scene with the male character cutting a whole in the door, is shown as low, dim and dark giving the impression of menace and fear. Around the male character are shadows. The closed door is illuminated by the lamp, making it lighter than the other objects in the shot. Consequently, when the male character is shown standing in front of the door, his shadow creates a dark and menacing silhouette. The lighting looks realistic; the lighting angle giving the impression that the room is being lit by a lamp. Consequently, the second shot is of the female character that is in the bathroom. The lighting in the bathroom is very even and there are no bold shadows in the location. It is a stark, bright light in comparison to the lighting used in the previous scene. The cold effect of the light and the expression on her face tells the audience that she is terrified. The lighting looks realistic throughout the shot. Camera angles play a large role in the making of horror films. They used a mixer of mid shots and close ups. When looking at the shining, when the male character is cutting a whole in the door, Camera angles are used very effectively in this shot. The first shot is of the male character facing the door; the audience can now see that the character has the intention of smashing through the door. A side shot of the character is used while the camera is panning with the axe as it is travelling through the air. When the axe hits the wood the camera shakes and comes to an abrupt stop to give the impression of how much force is being used to cut through the door. The camera angles can build fear in the audience and create new feeling of fear

Matt Thomas

Technical codes seen in horror films Sound is another large role in the making of a horror film. The shining uses very eerie extradiagetic sound to create atmosphere and tension in the film. The scene with the female character in the bathroom, the viewer hears very little sound from the woman. The only diagetic sound is of the knife being grabbed from the bathroom sink. The extra diegetic sound of the music becomes very eerie, making the viewer feel anxious. Sound effects are important in making the scene seem realistic to unrealistic events. In The Shining, the male character is cutting down a door with an axe. The music used in this shot is very unnatural with high and low pitches of musical instruments. The sound gets louder and louder reflecting his voice getting louder and louder. The male characters voice gets deeper in pitch as he talks. This makes the viewer feel small and weak in comparison the male character. When he first swings the axe into the wooden door you can hear the cracking of the wood. As the wood splinters you can hear the woman scream “nooo”. This is repeated another three times in this shot. The wood cracking makes the viewer think the woman has not got a chance of survival and it gives the viewer a feeling of being chased and trapped and of needing to escape – causing an adrenalin rush.

Matt Thomas

Generic signifiers There are many symbols associated with the horror genre. Some examples of symbols which are commonly associated with horror are weapons such as axes and specifically shot guns. These sorts of weapons are commonly associated with horror due to the ease of how to get them. A murderer can easily get hold of something like an axe, especially since a lot of horror films are set in old towns and houses. Of course, one of the most iconic horror film weapons is Freddy Krueger’s claw. Another commonly associated symbol with horror is a mask. In films such as Scream, Friday the 13th and The Texas chainsaw massacre, all of the main antagonists wear masks. Similarly to scary masks are puppets, and most notably the ‘Billy puppet’ from the saw films. Even before they were used in horror films, puppets were quite a scary sight so when they started being included in horror films, they were almost defiantly going to become something to associate with horror. Not all horror movie symbols are items. Probably the most iconic symbols of horror are the classic monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula. Even things as simple as blood and small rodents (like bats and rats) are both associated with the horror genre. Mat Bigg

5 films Horror films Vacancy Director: Nimród Antal

Writer: Mark L. Smith

Release Date: 15 June 2007 (UK)

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

The Skeleton Key Director: Iain Softley

Writer: Ehren Kruger

Release Date: 29 July 2005 (UK)

Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller

The Mist Director: Frank Darabont

Writers: Frank Darabont (screenplay) Stephen King (novel)

Release Date: 4 July 2008 (UK)

Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Matt Thomas

5 films Horror films The Shining Director: Stanley Kubrick

Writers: Stephen King (novel) Stanley Kubrick (screenplay)

Release Date: 23 May 1980 (USA)

Genre: Horror Thriller

1408 Director: Mikael Håfström

Writers: Matt Greenberg Scott Alexander

Release Date: 31 August 2007 (UK)

Genre: Horror Thriller

All the films above are related because they all have the same genre, horror. When watching the films you can see typical camera angles that are used in horror films. A major part of horror films is the sound. Sound effects are used to create a more realistic feel. A good example is the scene from “The Shining” with the male character cutting a whole in a door. The audience can hear the sound of wood splinters and the crying of the female character.

Matt Thomas

Conventions in horror films

The Grudge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-b8QYY1k6Q This scene from the grudge builds up tension well. It leaves the audience wondering what’s wrong with the girl right up until the last second. When the girl turns round she is jawless, making her seem almost monstrous. The lighting is dark, only just revealing key features of the protagonist. When the female character turns round, the man looks shocked and then screams, showing his horror of the girl’s monstrous appearance. The Shining http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TVooUHN7j4 This scene has a psychopathic antagonist wielding an axe. The lighting in the room where the antagonist is standing in is poorly lit, with just a bedside lamp producing light from under his face. The music in the scene is high pitched, making it distressing, helping the audience to understand the female characters terror. It also helps to build up tension as the antagonist smashes through the door. Scream http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFCStOMqpfk The lighting in this clip is low, and natural. It starts off quite bright, but gradually darkens as the clip progresses. The protagonist’s clothing is light and angelic, making her seem innocent. As the scene progresses, the music builds up, creating tension and showing danger. The camera movements are quick and jolty, showing the female characters fear and distress.

The Mist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8uPYulh05I&feature=related This scene is dark, with no sign of life around the car. This shows danger and creates suspense. The group of people in the car look scared and distressed. There is very little sound in this clip, until after the male character has shot the other four people in the car. Rather than it being a piece of music to build up tension, it shows the sadness and regret that the man has. There is also a clever twist in this scene. When you hear the diagetic rumble, you expect it to be the monsters coming to kill him, but instead it is the army coming to rescue him. Mat Bigg