Conventions of Horror

Post by Mollie Knapp: 


Horror films will always have conventions of horror these are:

Setting

Small communities, isolated places, urban environments, dark alley ways, run down ghost towns anything that connotes isolation or being alone.

Locations such as lakes, dark woods, forests, abounded houses, creepy houses/hotels, attics, meat factories, caves, tunnels, graveyard, castles, haunted houses, mental homes, church, sheds, underground, basements.

Places that have 'dark' and haunted history such as abandoned houses, hotels, hospitals and asylums are also associated with horror films.

Camerawork: 

Camera angles can be very expressive and connote different things such as high and low angle shots. Low angle shots can show vulnerability as the surroundings/person looks bigger which can also show fear. High angle shots can show a person looking huge compared to what they are looking down at showing that whatever the camera is framed on look like they are in trouble and in danger. POV shots are effective as it allows the audience to see from the persons eyes and allows you to experience what is happening with them wether this is them being in danger or them chasing someone. This shot really impacts the audience as they feel connected to the person enhancing fear and it makes them care more for the person. Depth of field can be used to blur certain parts of the frame making the audience have to look closer which draws them in it also obscures what they can see for example they would not see the bad person approaching the victim. Extreme close ups are used a lot in horror films as they allow the audience to see the expression clearly on the victims face enhancing the terror they also use them to show important objects such as weapons like in 'The Strangers'. Handheld shots are used as they can be very shaky at times which makes it hard for the audience to make sense of making the audience intrigued by what is going on drawing them in making sure they don't loose focus. It also creates a rushed atmosphere which helps build suspense such as when the victim could be running from someone. However the editing of a movie is very important especially the pace of a shot if the camera angles change quickly it builds suspense and you know something is coming or there is a high risk of a problem but if a shot has not changed for a long time suspense is built and you are aware there could be a 'jump' shown in many horror films (Woman in Black uses the slow technique) the speed a a shot can be very unsettling and uncomfortable for an audience as it raises emotions.

Character types: 

• The villain who is often a monster, killer who will often use a mask to disguise their faces or deformity this is to show no emotion making them seem more heartless than they already are this makes the audience had no connection with the villain and cuts them off completely. Wearing a mask also plays with the fear of the unknown and creates enigma. This character will never die until the end sometimes this character does not die at all, the character will never react the same as a human would e.g. be harmed they would act unharmed making them seem inhuman and monster-like. A villain such as a zombie/monster or a demon plays on the fear of the unknown again as there is no proof that they do exist making the audience think what if this happened, how would i react? This plays on the audience primal fears as these characters are normally not ever seen e.g. 'Paranormal Activity'. This character has this biggest impact on the audience as they are the person who creates the fear and what all the codes and conventions lead up to.   
• The protagonist who is normally the hero or victim stereotypically this character is normally male as women characters are show to be the ones in need of protection normally blonde as they are also stereotypically 'stupid'.
• Spooky children or spirits who are normally referred to a past of a victim or the killer to give background knowledge
• The 'non-believer' who is normally trying to convince the other characters that nothing bad is going on or not to believe it and they are over reacting. However this character is normally the first to be killed as they are typically over confident (Wrong Turn 2).
• A hysterical character who is usually a female this character helps build suspense and horror from their screams. This character would be killed during the film either from being stubborn and not moving or being saved till last either way they would be killed. This character will also witness a death of a friend/ member of the group and her hysterical tendencies will reflect off onto other characters. 
• There are sometimes a loved-up couple in movies who normally are killed when showing interest to each other. They are normally never around for the first murder so they do not know that the villain is around therefor they die. This character impacts the audience and causes the audience frustration as the villain is normally close to them but they are to preoccupied with each other that they do not realise which makes the audience shout at the screen in anger and fright for them when they are about to be killed. The character creates suspense as the audience really gain interest because the killer is so close to them which irritates them putting them on the edge of their seats. (This is shown again in 'Wrong Turn 2').     

Themes:

• Religion 
• Suicide
• Evil vs Good
• Childhood issues
• Depression
• Supernatural 
• Revenge
• Madness
• Nightmears
• Envy
• Insanity 
• Zombie apocalypses
• The future
• Lust
• Beyond death
• Self-conciousness 

Narratives: 

A classic horror film narrative is where a protagonist has a conflict or a dilemma that the main characters have to endure. Horror films try to connect with the audience with hope that the view will identify with the hero they also try to play on the stereotypical fears of people as it will create more impact for the audience. Some narratives, such as physiological based films are based upon a bad upbringing where the character would have experienced traumatic events which has affected them in the future making them lash out and kill people at random, especially children. 

Iconography:

Visual stylings make it easy for a viewer to identify that the movie is a horror for example:

• Dark colours such as red and black are used as these colours connote danger and death, the colours are associated with blood, entrails and dark shadows. The villain will usually wear black as it creates mystery also the colour black is associated with the darkness which is associated with the unknown as we cannot see what is in the darkness this creates dramatic tension and plays on the fear of the unknown which is very important as it creates suspense and makes sure the audience do not get bored. 
• Low-key lighting is iconic in horror films as it creates shadows which plays on the fear of someone following you and lingering watching and stalking you. The shadows can make unfamiliar shapes but also can be a link the the villain and maybe the only link you will ever get if the villain wears a mask to disguise their face.
• Iconic props are usually; masks, knifes, chainsaws, guns, ropes etc.
• The setting will usually be a dark and dismal place like a abandoned area.

Change of location

Change of location

 Change of location:

We decided that the change of location would be more successful as in previous filming we did not create the atmosphere we wanted. We decided to change location to the woods as it is surrounded by trees creating shadows in the early morning light. We felt it was best that we used the woods as our location because of the massive trees dominating the shot's, makingRosie seem much more vulnerable and innocent as the trees represent the mans identity, always surrounding her closing in until he gets her.

The pathway we used during filming, which bends and is surrounded by trees and nature.

Here you can see how tiny she becomes when surrounded by the trees.

Another picture we took of the location.

The pathway we are going to use in filming, because of the bends and cluttered walkway, we thought this would be best as it can imply the mans mind, unclear and cluttered with negative thoughts that are shown by the dark shadows contrasting with the beautiful, bright light, representing Rosie's innocence and purity.

Surrounding the location are pale purple flowers, this represents Rosie's personality and position in the film, showing she is very small and delicate compared to the dominating, huge, dark trees surrounding her representing the man.  

Here we are going to use this tree for the location for our idea where the children do Ring a Ring a Rosie,  we thought this was a good location because of the shadows made by the huge dominating branches, the tree is a representation of the mans personality.

The branches reaching out to the sky look very creepy and as if that is him trying to reach out to people but no one understands him, therefor he is reaching out to Rosie.

StoryBoard

Here is scene one of the storyboard.
In this scene, we have a medium shot of the trees with the title 'Rosie' in the middle. The clip then zooms further into the tree branches for a close up.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene : None.
Editing : contrast made darker.

Here is scene two of the storyboard.
We have a medium shot of the male character peering from behind a tree.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene : one character the man.
Editing : contrast made darker.
Costume: dark red jumper

Here is scene three of the storyboard.
Here we can see the young girl character 'Rosie' from a long shot showing her walking through the trees. It then continues into a medium long shot.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene : One the girl 'Rosie'.
Editing : contrast made darker.
costume : white dress.

Here is scene four of the storyboard.
Here we have a point of view hand held, long shot of 'Rosie' walking through the forest as though we are the man watching her.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene : One the girl 'Rosie'.
Editing : contrast made darker.
costume : white dress.

Here is scene 5 of the storyboard.
We can see a tilt up medium close up of a tree with the title 'MMR Productions' at the bottom right corner as our credit.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene : None.
Editing : contrast made darker, credit added which then dissolves out quickly.

Here is scene six of the storyboard.
We have a long shot that then goes into a medium shot
of the three girls dancing. We then want to have a panning shot of them skipping in a circle breaking the 180 degree rule to cause disorientation and a unusual feel for the audience.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene : Three young girls one of which is 'Rosie'.
Editing : contrast made darker.
costume : dressed in young clothing like dresses etc. 

Here is scene seven of the storyboard.
We have a medium to close up shot of the man watching the three girls skipping.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene : The man.
Editing : contrast made darker.
costume : dark red jumper.

Here is scene eight of the storyboard.
We have another long shot of the girls skipping.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene : Three young girls one of which is 'Rosie'.
Editing : contrast made darker.
costume : dressed in young clothing like dresses etc. 

Here is scene nine of the storyboard.
Here we have a medium close up of the man and the girl 'Rosie' in the distant - long shot. Here we want the man to be watching 'Rosie' as she walks past.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene : The man and the young girl 'Rosie'.
Editing : contrast made darker.
Costumes : Dark clothing for the man, and girl in white dress.

Here is scene ten of the storyboard.
Here we have a over the shoulder camera angle showing the man following 'Rosie' up the path.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene : The man and 'Rosie'.
Editing : contrast made darker.
Costumes : Dark clothing for the man, and girl in white dress.
Here is scene eleven of the storyboard.
In this scene we have a zoom in onto the red ribbon from 'Rosie's' hair the zoom in is a close up.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene :none
Editing : contrast made darker.
Props: Red Ribbon 

Here is scene twelve of the storyboard.
We have a medium close up tracking shot as the camera will follow the mans feet as he walks over to the ribbon.
The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene :Mans feet.
Editing : contrast made darker.
costume: dark trousers and dark shoes.

Here is scene thirteen of the storyboard. Here we have a zoom in onto the mans hand picking up the ribbon, and then remains a close up of the hand holding the ribbon.
 The location: Outside.
Lighting: Daylight.
Characters on scene :none
Editing : contrast made darker.
Props: Red Ribbon 

Mollie Knapp's spider diagram

Brainstorming our ideas

Mollie Knapp's diagram:

I have researched into 'slasher films' these are the more gory physiological films, whilst researching i wrote down some ideas that came to my mind these were:

Spider Diagram of idea for our horror opening sequence

Here is my spider diagram looking at different ideas for our horror opening sequence. We all really liked the idea of involving children, and nursery rhymes. We then decided to look into nursery rhymes and how they have a twisted a dark side to them. We personally liked ring around the roses, and liked the idea of having a child called Rosie. We also liked the idea of having a man who follows this girl and watches her sing her favorite nursery rhyme ring around the roses with plans to kill her. The song ring around the roses sounds creepy when young children sing it with a few affects added, as we found out when looking at horror nursery rhymes on youtube and we decided this would be good to include.