-Loss of identity, films such as the shining play on these fears of loosing everything that you once were. People can often find this quite scary as they don't like the idea of losing their identity and who they are.
-Fear of the unknown, this is why monsters and aliens can work very well in horror films because nobody knows what to expect. It could even be something more simple like darkness. Films like 28 days later play on this as you and the characters never know what's around the next corner.
-Vulnerability, Feeling that you have no control in a situation and are very helpless can add to a horror film as people can get scared of a situation where they have very little control.
-Alienation, People are often scared of being alone especially when they know that they have no connection to other people. Many horror films try to play on this fear such as The Shining where the main character s have got little.
-Nightmares, Everyone has had nightmares in there life which could be why they can be so scary in horror films as everyone has experienced them.
-Death, So many people are scared of death even though it is inevitable. This could be partly due to not knowing what's going to happen to you.
Here are some words that are often associated with the genre of horror.
Here are some more convention of horror.
These were some of the codes and conventions for horror films in general but subgenres also have there own codes and conventions. For example:
Masks - Masks are very common in slasher horror films and are more likely to be found in this type of horror film then a gothic horror for example, but this does not mean that they are only found in this kind of horror film this is just where masks are commonly used. The character of GhostFace in Scream wears a white screaming ghost mask which is very memorable Another very famous and memorable mask is Jason's hockey mask in Friday the 13th.
Signature weapon -In slasher horror films the killer often has a signature weapon such as Freddie Krueger's claws from A Nightmare on Elm Street. Another example of a signature weapon is Leather faces chainsaw in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Chase scenes - Chase scenes are also a large part of many different kinds of horror films such as slasher horror films, sci fi horror films and zombie films.
Horror camera angles and shots
Camera angles and shots are a large part to any film and can help to distinct different genres of film.
Here are some of the shots used in horror film:
Extreme close up - This is a type of close up but even more close up. This type of shot is commonly used on the face especially in horror films. This host would only really be able to show one feature of the face for example the eyes. This shot is often used for dramatic effect and to portray emotions. In horror films there are often close ups of the protagonists face and often in there eyes to show fear. This shot does not really show any of the background and is just there to show its focus. These shots are most commonly found in westerns or horror films.
Film example My example
Close up - This is a close shot which is often used to show a face but can also be used to show mise en scene. These show very little background. it can be used in many ways such as showing the importance of an object or the reaction and emotion on a persons face. A close up on a face can be very intimate shot and takes the audience into the characters mind. These are very common in horror films as they let the audience see the characters emotions which is very important in these films as the audience must be able to relate and feel for the character.
Film example My example
Extreme long shot - These shots are often used as an establishing shot or to set the scene. In horror film these can be used in many different ways such as to show an equilibrium, or to show action. These are very often exterior shots. This is a more general shot and does not give as much detail as other shots.
Film example My example
Reaction shot - A reaction shot is usually used to show emotion on a persons face and are usually used with a close up. These shots are usually used to show the immediate emotions of a character. The most obvious example of this reaction shot is a person screaming or gasping. These shots are very common in horror films. They can build suspense for the audience as the character know something we don't.
Film example My example
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