I will research the conventions of horror in order to gain knowledge of the typical aspects that create a horror film. This knowledge will give me an understanding of the expectations and features of the genre horror to act upon and develop into a creditable two minute introduction.
What are the conventions of horror?
- Targetting and adressing people's fears.; the reason people watch horror is to get a thrill from it.
- Dark colours and night time (scary setting) to show danger and therefore day light indicates safety.
- Scary setting; isolated locations, abandoned, empty.
- Set in the present day to suspend belief, make it more real.
- Tense music -signifier of when something horrid is going to happen.
- Repetition, to give a sense of when danger might happen.
- A victim (weak character), a villain and a hero is the structure of the characters in a horror film.
- The Levi-Strauss theory of binary oppositions, giving contrasting oppositions...good vs. evil. This gives a constant sense of struggle and battle.
- Dark clothes, modern clothes and modern props to contribute to suspending belief and making it more real.
- Camera work; long shot to mid shot to close-up to create a sense of learing into the suspense and then realisation, feeling more invloved.
- Editing and transitions, eye line matching, to also feel more involved.
ENIGMA is the thing that the audience do not know but want to find out. It gives the sense of the unkown which builds suspense. Keeps the audience captivated in order to find out WHY the killer is after the victim. Gives the essence of mystery.
- Dark colours and night time (scary setting) to show danger and therefore day light indicates safety.
- Scary setting; isolated locations, abandoned, empty.
- Set in the present day to suspend belief, make it more real.
- Tense music -signifier of when something horrid is going to happen.
- Repetition, to give a sense of when danger might happen.
- A victim (weak character), a villain and a hero is the structure of the characters in a horror film.
- The Levi-Strauss theory of binary oppositions, giving contrasting oppositions...good vs. evil. This gives a constant sense of struggle and battle.
- Dark clothes, modern clothes and modern props to contribute to suspending belief and making it more real.
- Camera work; long shot to mid shot to close-up to create a sense of learing into the suspense and then realisation, feeling more invloved.
- Editing and transitions, eye line matching, to also feel more involved.
ENIGMA is the thing that the audience do not know but want to find out. It gives the sense of the unkown which builds suspense. Keeps the audience captivated in order to find out WHY the killer is after the victim. Gives the essence of mystery.
Subgenres of Horror.
HYBRID HORROR.
A hybrid is something made by combining two different elements together. A hybrid horror is therefore two different genre's combined together. For instance, the genre comedy and the genre horror are combined to create 'comedy horror' which merges many elements from both genre's to gain a certain response.
SUBGENRES:
A subgenre is a subcategory in a certain genre; horror.
What are the conventions of a PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR?
The conventions of a psychological horror include all the conventions of a typical horror film but focus on targeting the audience's fears and instability to create a form of tension.
-The fears normally involve loosing control, where dominance and power is involved. Exposing psychological fears and vulnerabilities that are usually denied or aren't articulated.
-Psychological horror's play on the mental aspect of thrilling the audience by exposing the evil that hides behind normality, therefore less physical harm and gore is visible to the audience.
-The narrative contains realistic elements to make the psychological portrayal naturalistic and therefore believable.
-The location is derelict, isolated and believable.
-The period is aimed at the modern day; contemporary props and costume contribute to presenting this period.
-Class and status involves middle-class characters.
-The victim is normally a young female due to the stereotype that females are vulnerable and weaker than males. The age displays a sense of innocence whilst being relatable to the audience.
-Lighting is low-key and dim to create a dangerous atmosphere.
-Diegetic and non-diegetic sound are used.
All these conventions lead to the main purpose of why viewers
watch horror films; they thrive on the excitement of being scared but in a
controlled environment.
-The fears normally involve loosing control, where dominance and power is involved. Exposing psychological fears and vulnerabilities that are usually denied or aren't articulated.
-Psychological horror's play on the mental aspect of thrilling the audience by exposing the evil that hides behind normality, therefore less physical harm and gore is visible to the audience.
-The narrative contains realistic elements to make the psychological portrayal naturalistic and therefore believable.
-The location is derelict, isolated and believable.
-The period is aimed at the modern day; contemporary props and costume contribute to presenting this period.
-Class and status involves middle-class characters.
-The victim is normally a young female due to the stereotype that females are vulnerable and weaker than males. The age displays a sense of innocence whilst being relatable to the audience.
-Lighting is low-key and dim to create a dangerous atmosphere.
-Diegetic and non-diegetic sound are used.
All these conventions lead to the main purpose of why viewers
watch horror films; they thrive on the excitement of being scared but in a
controlled environment.
I will now analyse three different introductions of my chosen film type in depth to explore mise en scene, sound, editing and cinemotography qualities. This will influence my opinions through comparing introductions to see pro's and con's that I can then apply and use as a template for my two minute introduction. I can also develop an understanding of director's interpretations on the conventions of psychological horror films.
Analysis of three Psychological Horror opening sequences.
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Funny Games.Funny Games was directed by Michael Haneke in 1997.
The narrative and characters are both unconventional to a typical horror film but both contribute towards enigma; enigma is delivered by a middle-class family on a road trip/holiday. They are guessing the composers of opera songs being played in the car whilst laughing and interacting lovingly-as any ordinary family would, the relationships are assumed through the language used, such as ‘darling’ and ‘daddy’. The fact that the character’s relations are so ordinary and that the narrative is so pleasant immediately stimulates suspense and an uncomfortable atmosphere created for the audience. The characters aren’t revealed until later on in the opening sequence which enables tension to build with the anticipation of who is in the car. Tension is also created by the use of lighting. A natural, pure and high-key lighting is used to suggest safety and peace, presenting everything in daylight until when they arrive at an old, tatted gate a dim hue sets in, this contrast symbolises danger about to occur. The use of sound uses both diegetic and non-diegetic. Diegetic sound is used when pressing the CD buttons in the car and the car noise itself; however when the CD plays opera songs, the unexpected use of this sound in a horror film indicates luring the audience into a false sense of security. Then all diegetic sound is muted and non-diegetic scream-core music is placed over the top acting as a sound bridge. Middle-class music contrasted with young, angry music suggests the connotation that the youth are the underbelly of society, and maybe an introduction to other characters in film. The clash of music and dynamics used created a sense of being trapped and claustrophobic; this is unpleasant for the audience to tolerate. The unexpected and unconventional use of scream core music discomforts the audience as it is loud and aggressive which is a binary opposition to the opera music; this suggests a battle between middle class and working class, providing enigma alongside the binary opposition. Using the contrasting class' in society and applying them with enigma is conventional to a psychological horror however the middle class is emphasized more to create the convention by luring the audience into a false sense of security. Location is conventional to a horror film; they are driving along an isolated road, through woods and past a lake. We can gather this from the slow decrease in the number of cars on the road. We assume from this they are travelling to an isolated holiday house, the connotation is therefore that they will be presented as vulnerable characters, most likely victims. The boat on the back of the car symbolises wealth giving the sense that the characters may be wealthy before they are even revealed, the car is packed with holiday props suggesting the location that they are travelling to; an isolated holiday resort. The costume is contemporary to the time in which it was set, stereotypical to the character and neat, almost too neat yet real and therefore has a greater impact on the audience as they feel involved and existent. Camera work, editing and transitions enhance the atmosphere by using jump cuts and quick transitions to engage with a fast pace and a hurried impression. However there is a fade used in the first shot, alongside an aerial shot of the car on the road. Unconventional use of camera work is used when jumping from long shots into extreme close-ups as this makes it choppy and inconsistent to what we’d expect. Close-ups at eye level are used when identifying the characters, this makes it more intense and stimulates a sense of tension, with the majority of camera angles being far away and gradually creeping closer as this suggests they are becoming closer to their destination. I think that 'Funny Games' applied the conventions of a psychological horror in such a way that it appeared unexpected and absurd; this enabled to enhance fears through the use of enigma. It emphasized how the use of sound can suggest certain meanings and emotions and how binary oppositions of music can suggest matters. By revealing the characters near the end of the sequence was a good technique as it enhanced enigma and therefore emphasized tension. Overall I think that it was a successful opening with the main objective playing on the idea of mystery to present fear. |
The Omen.The Omen was directed by Richard Donner in 1976.
Alongside the opening title, a silhouette of a boy and his shadow as a religious cross appears; this is a highly symbolic image, introducing the religious theme with an abnormal and mysterious portrayal. The narrative is then exposed in the opening sequence by establishing a busy city at night, to following a man in a car, then into a building which is revealed to be a hospital. The man is then given a baby. This is totally peculiar as the man isn’t with a wife, or seen witnessing a birth, but directly given a child. Suspense is built through the vagueness of why the man has been given a child; a child also symbolises the future and potential so this contrast in a horror film stimulates tension. The characters include the man, a nun and a reverend; a small cast including religious characters, they confirm the religious element of the film. Mise en scene is used to enhance the themes, symbolic references and create the intensity that the psychological horror requires. Costume is used to symbolise the individual statuses, jobs and power. They are stereotypical, normal clothing for the job types that they have; this therefore makes it more real and suspends belief. The location is conventional to a typical horror film, the hospital is not busy and completely quiet; this gives an eerie atmosphere as hospitals normally have a frantic, hectic environment. This stillness also contrasts the busy city the man travelled through to get there, with many activities going on outside then cuts inside to pure silence in a spacious hospital. Lighting is also conventional to a horror film by using low-key lighting. The connotation of the lighting used in the opening sequence gives a dim, cold and lonely hue by having a slight tint of blue. This is mimicked in the location as the still building gives a lonesome essence to it, which is uncomfortable for the audience to endure. Non-diegetic sound is used in the opening credits of the film, where religious choir music with opera features is used as a sound bridge. This sound creates a serious and creepy tone, introducing a connotation of religious elements and vision straight away through the music; this also builds tension by the unexpected but conventional use of choir music for a horror film, religious choral music is normally related to peace, purity and forgiveness. The music enhances and plays on the idea of Catholicism; exposing their fear of God and the belief that the Devil does exist. After the opening credits only diegetic sound is used which gives a completely realistic feel to the film, therefore this makes the narrative more convincing and the audience more involved. The camera work mainly involves aerial shots, peering down on the two men whilst including the environment around, this gains the context of the shot, interaction, surroundings and the implication that they may be victims. Close-ups are also used to capture detailed expression which encourages intensity, enhancing the tension in the narrative. Continuity editing is used which provides fluent transitions; this sets a hurried yet steady pace to the film, giving a certainty and consistent atmosphere. The relation between realistic features and the horror aspect of film sets an uneasy tone and suspenseful atmosphere. This opening sequence focused on the religious aspect of people's fears to create the psychological horror. I liked the use of the Ariel shot as I feel it added an element of mystery to it and gave the sense of being watched; which builds tension and relates to the conventions of a psychological horror. I didn't really like the use of continuity editing as I feel for this sub-genre the fluency didn't create tension and therefore fear. Imagery is another feature that I think was effective as it incoorperated symbolisation in an artistic portrayal. However overall I felt this was the weakest opening of the three due to the lack of tension. |
Watched up to the first five minutes. |
Time of the Wolf.Time of the Wolf was directed by Michael Haneke in 2002.
Character wise the film shares a similarity to the opening sequence of ‘Funny Games’ and also echoes part of the narrative in the fact that it is a family driving to a holiday destination. It involves a middle class family arriving at what appears to be a holiday lodge in the middle of the woods, to find a man standing in the lodge holding a gun; the audience at this point share the shock with the family, especially when the man holding the gun appears to be with his wife, young son and baby. A baby symbolises innocence which contrasts the gun symbolising violence, this contrast sets an uncomfortable tone. as it is an unexpected image. There is also a contrast between the lower class family with the gun and the middle-class family being threatened, this creates the connotation of a divide in status and introduces binary oppositions. The lower class woman is crying, the baby screaming and the man trembling with the gun; the instability of their emotional states creates a shaky atmosphere for the audience to endure, with a definite divide to the calm middle class family. Mise en scene is all conventional to a psychological horror film. The clothing is stereotypical to the classes they represent; the lower class have shabby and dull coloured clothing whilst the middle class have neat, appropriate and characterized clothing. These appearances expected in that period of time engage with a realistic style, making the film more believable and therefore have a stronger impact on the audience. The main prop, being the gun, feeds the impression of violence and therefore an anticipation of danger which stimulates tension. Location is typical to a horror film due to the isolated holiday lodge; it is established to be isolated by the car driving through the woods with nothing around, delivered through a tracking shot. The isolated location, especially in the woods, immediately gains the connotation of the family being in a vulnerable position; this also contributes towards the tension. Low-key lighting is used to produce a bright but cold blush, dim and unsettling tone to the piece. The low-key lighting creates shadows in the woods that play on the audience’s imagination and control what is revealed. All the sound used is diegetic (speaking, baby crying, screaming, car door, gunshot) therefore this makes the audience focus on the connotations of the scene and relies on the acting to portray the tone, mood and atmosphere. This makes it natural, real and therefore more intense by capturing the audience in the dialogue; the use of natural transitions through fading also conveys this. Tracking is used to establish the surroundings and environment in which the film takes place, whilst panning out was used to follow the car, and present the journey to the audience. Close-ups were used to show specific emotional and symbolic detail in order for the audience to gain a full perception and in result make the opening more extreme. A long take was used to build suspense without breaking tension through any cutting through the whole of the opening but mainly when following the journey through the woods; this set a controlled pace to the film and implied action would occur. The scenes were held for a little too long, building suspense and tension through the uncomfortable length of shots, this is unsettling for the audience as it creates a forceful eerie effect. Light inside the holiday cabin and light outside the holiday cabin are binary oppositions which emphasize the sense of safety and danger through the use of light; this is a convention to psychological horror. The elements used created a completely realistic opening sequence which built tension through belief. The location in this opening sequence is not only conventional but also really effective as it joins the two class' of people together through a holiday location that normally involves happiness and peace; I would want to use an isolated yet idyllic location to enhance binary opposition of the context of a psychological horror and the set to create tension. I liked the use of binary opposition in lighting to suggest safety and danger as that is a clear indicator for the audience to retaliate towards. The uncomfortable extra length of shots was also a technique I would consider using as it stimulates the audience to feel uneasy and builds suspense. For me, the techniques and features used in this opening sequence made it my favourite out of the three as it focused on the conventions and conveyed them in a way that intensified the scene by making it real and therefore even more frightening and tense. |
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Evaluation.
After analysing these three opening sequences I have been able to gather the features and techniques that I like and dislike, and therefore what I would want to consider using for my own two minute opening sequence. - The binary opposition of lighting to symbolise light being safety and darkness suggesting danger, this acts as a clear indicator to the audience relating to the thrill of being scared but in a controlled environment. The light acts as a warning. - I liked the use of binary opposition of the class' in society, as it enabled the audience to stereotype and gain an understanding of the characters due to the short amount of time provided (two minute opening). I therefore liked the use of contemporary clothing and props to enhance the stereotype and believability making the identification of characters easier. - An isolated yet idyllic location proved effective as it included the convention but also included a contrast that built tension; tension is crucial for a psychological horror, therefore I want to incorporate an isolated or abandoned location to cause discomfort. - The extended shots were really effective as the awkward extra length on the scene builds suspense, emphasizes the tension and captures an uneasy atmosphere that makes the audience feel discomfort and anticipation. - I liked the idea of revealing characters or objects later on as it contains an element of mystery and most importantly enhances fear through enigma. Enigma is not only a convention of psychological horror but it also emphasizes the suspense and stimulates anticipation which gives the audience a thrill. - Aerial shots were effective as it added an element of mystery and gave the sense of being watched which relates to psychological fear and built tension. Close-ups were also effective as they enhanced emotions, making the scene more tense and building anxiety. -Although the continuity editing helped set an uneasy tone through the contrast of the fluent transitions of reality and the context of horror, I feel that it didn't provide enough tension for a psychological horror. Therefore I would prefer to use other editing techniques to set a certain pace in order to stimulate a frantic and tense atmosphere where appropriate. This analysis have allowed me to evaluate what worked best and therefore suitable to experiment with for my two minute opening. |