Research into Horror Genre.

Genre- Horror

Characters in Horrors:

There is always a typical amount of characters who are in EVERY horror film. Some examples of this include the blonde, the one who usually dies first. After this comes the athlete; the person everybody 'looks up to'. And finally the virgin, the character who survives and is pure so is not affected by evil. 

Sound in horrors:

Audio is key whilst editing, using Foley sound will help to build up suspense. If exaggerated diegetic sound is included, it will allow tension to be created in the film. Fast and Loud, non-diegetic sound can also add to make the audience jump or feel scared.For example within the shower scene in Psycho the music is like this. 

Mise en scene: 

Horrors are usually set in isolated areas where there is no help for the characters and no hope in finding somewhere to run to. There is also the use of pathetic fallacy which consists or thunder and rain, used to enhance on the use of isolation.

The use of props include weapons or antiques, also paintings are a big prop used to create a dark and sinister scene. The colours typically used within a horror are red, black and grey as they suggest danger and death. 

• Lighting 

Lighting is used in horrors to give the effect that something bad is about to happen. For example shadows and flickering lights cause the demographic to feel scared and nervous. As well as this, lighting can be used to give mood in horror films, usually when someone is scared it is dark and raining outside. It can also be used to create a personality of a character by casting shadows across their face to create a sinister minded character. 

• Costumes

Costumes vary in horror films because they have stereo typical characters which are dressed differently, creating juxtaposition. For example the bad guy in the film will be dressed in black, maybe with ripped clothing as appose to the protagonist.

• Props

 Many props are used within horror films, some examples are:

• Bibles 
• Crucifix 
• Paintings 
• Candles
• Weapons 

The props such as Crucifixes are used as a sign of religion and symbolising the devil. Also this is used as a sign of defence from god because people believe that it protects them from paranormal beings.

Iconography

• The visual images and symbols used in a work of art or the study or interpretation of these.

Symbolic images which recur throughout the history of horror films include:

• the haunted house (forbidden chamber)
• Symbols of death
• The disfigured face or mask
• The screaming victim (in modern horror ‘the final girl’
• The phalic murder weapon: knife, stake, chainsaw
• Binary oppositions of good and evil eg Dracula/Van Helsing
• Darkened places where the ‘monster’ lurks: woods, cellars
• Blood and body parts (body horror)
• Paranormal horror films such as paranormal activity have iconography such as ghostly symbols, dark places, and unusual things happening such as doors slamming and swinging lights in houses. 
• Other conventions are trying to frighten the audience with jumpy scenes, making things pop up and creating loud sounds. 
• Other typical conventions are things like wind, creepy shadows and unexplainable noises.