Titles

These are our opening titles.
The font used for the names of people is Face Your Fears and the font colour is red. We have used this font because it resembles blood (which is often linked to slasher films) that has been used to write the individual letters, this is also why we have used the colour red to make the audience more aware of that. 

The font that is used for the movie title is Agency FB, we have used this because it looks modern which shows that the movie is based in the current time. This then gives the feel of the film being more dangerous since the protagonist is not able to save herself even living in the highly technology based society where it is very easy to call for help.

 
 

 

Horror Opening Credits

Director: William Friedkin

Screenplay: William Peter Blatty

Production Company: Warner Home Video

Based on: The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

Staring: Linda Blair

            Ellen Burstyn

           Jason Miller

                  Max von Sydow

            Lee J. Cobb

            Kitty Winn

                      Jack MacGowran

Cinematography: Owen Roizman

Edited by: Jordan Leondpolous 

        Even Lottman

      Norman Gay

Production Company: Hoya Productions 

Distributed by: ITS Entertainment 

Audience Research

Horror film audience

'Slasher' Horror Audience:
Slasher film target audience is usually young couples or young males. The target audience's age is between 15 and 24 because people at this stage are still developing and therefore experiment with different feelings and emotions. Young people often jump into life without guidance looking for a thrill and horror movies gives them that thrill. Young people are also less likely to be put off by the violence in the film or the unnatural images which older audience may view negatively. Also young people are more likely to relate to the characters in the film which makes the audience form stronger emotional connection with the characters which therefore creates a stronger effect of horror.

Mood Board

This is the mood board we made of our final task, it is used to show the theme through pictures. This will help us later on since we will be able to look back for inspiration and to also see what camera shots were used and what shots could I use for our project.

Iconography

BBFC

Bbfc from gertruda12

Film Production Companies

Setting Analysis

'Paranormal Activity' is set in a suburban house. It is a scary setting because it is relatable to everyone because home is supposed to be a safe place where people can relax and not worry about anything. The film is also set in a suburban town. This is also unsettling because a suburban town is not very populated and is usually away from help, this creates a sense of isolation. The film is also set around Halloween, a day that all the 'scary' things happen which links to the film where 'scary' things do actually happen and this is effective because people usually have fun during this day and do't think much about this or actually believe in the supernatural and the fact that something is happening during this time might be scary to the audience.       

Prop Analysis

                                              'Scream'

The killer in 'Scream' uses a hunting knife to kill his victims. The hunting knife, as the name suggests, is used during hunting and thus making the victims look like animals which then gives a very violent image of the killings. The top of the handle is white which makes it look like bone which represents death, and it may represent death of the victims or the fact that the killer is dressed as death and thus is death. The killer is using a knife which means that the killer will have to get really close to his victims to kill them. This shows that the killer is really vicious and maybe even that he wants to get really close to the victims because he enjoys killing and wants to see his victims suffering up close.

Director Case Study

Wes Craven from gertruda12

Costume Analysis

Slasher Conventions

Slasher films typically involve a psychopathic serial killer, sometimes wearing a mask of some sort, who kill adolescent victims in a random, unprovoked manner, usually many at a time.

 A slasher film also has the 'final girl' character who live to tell the story; Anti-heroic characterisation of the villain by following their efforts rather than the victims' and thus this idolisation of the villain creates an anti-hero.


The Final Girl:
The final girl is usually a virgin and innocent how starts to build confidence throughout the film. She usually wears clothes that would seem unattractive and she is most likely not blond. She is the last character to be alive in the film.


The Monster/Killer:
the identity of the killer is usually hidden either be a mask or creative lighting techniques to keep audience guessing and on edge about who the killer is and to hide the killer's identity which is most likely to be revealed at the end of the film. The weapon of the antagonist is most likely to be a hand held weapon such as a knife or a chainsaw, and most likely jagged. Killer is also most likely to be male. Most commonly, the reason behind the killer's actions is a childhood trauma which explains the killer's choice of victims and the choice of weapon, this is done so that the audience understand and pity the killer. As this sub-genre developed, some stated to argue that the star of the film is the killer and not 'The Final Girl'.


The Location:
The location is usually a suburban town. This generates fear into the audience because it is relatable and that home is supposed to be a safe lace. The location is usually low in population because it creates a sense of isolation. The killer also sometimes destroys victims' means of escape for example, a car, so that he can kill his victims easier.  

The Lighting:
Lighting is usually dark and is used to create shadows to establish the feeling of mystery and fear. This is one of the most important conventions of this genre.

There is the first girl who die and is there to set the film and establish the killer.

There is also a benefactor who gives hope for the final girl and the audience and who giver information about the monster/killer or how to kill it and may even give a weapon to kill it with.


      

Camera shot/angle/movement Analysis

                               'The Blair Witch Project'

After production logos the first shot is a shot telling of what the movie is about and where the footage is from. Then 'the camera-man' zooms out from her face to a mid shot of the girl so that the audience can see what the main character looks like. Then there is a close up of a book 'How to Stay Alive in the Woods' which is a foreshadow to what is going to happen as well was an old-looking book which looks suspicious and the girl says that it is ''very important'' which means that that specific book will come into play later as well as it may be the reason why horrible things happen to them.  

Mise-en-scene Analysis

                                            'The Ring' 

The girl in the opening is wearing a school uniform looking outfit suggestion the she is a young teenager. Her blouse is white which makes her look innocent and therefore vulnerable. She is also showing a lot of skin on her legs and she is bare foot which also makes her look vulnerable.
The TV turning on and off creates tension and suspense because no one is in the room with her to turn the TV on also the opening of the fridge also creates a similar effect. As she walks up the stairs there is water on the floor which makes the audience confused thus having an element of mystery. 

Font Analysis

                                      'Sixth Sense'

Sixth Sense title font looks like it was written by a child because it is lightly messy and child-like. This type of font is effective because it fits with the story and the fact that the main character and protagonist is a young boy. The title is also written in white which is fitting because the person who wrote it was a child who is clearly innocent and pure, which white usually represents, because he is so young it also makes him seem vulnerable.

Editing Analysis

          'A Nightmare on Elm Street' Opening Scene 

In my opinion the opening scene of A Nightmare on Elm Street is filmed in a montage type of style because the opening of the film establishes how the villain, Freddy, is devised in a series of short shots, of him making his glove, put together in a montage type of way. This is effective because it paints a clear picture of this intentions as well as the origin of his evil and establishes how he does so and because the montage is short it gives some time so show why he made his glove and see him 'in action'.  In the opening cutaway is also use from the girl being attacked to her waking up effective because it shows the audience how the concept of how the whole thing works and how people get into these situations, which in this case is by dreaming. 

Sound Analysis

                              'The Shining' Opening Scene 

The first sound that you hear an the beginning is the low sound of a trombone which is very mysterious and almost as is someone is prowling on its pray. However, this strongly contrasts with the scenery that is show, of a car calmly driving through a mountainous read. This is effective because it makes the audience feel like something is not right. In addition, there are eerie, almost scream-like which might suggest that something dreadful is happening and maybe even causing pain to them or someone they know therefore they are screaming. But again, because it is such a big contrast between the sound and the scenery this makes the audience feel confused.

Also, it is a non-diegetic sound because there is no source of music on screen and therefore is a background music.

Mise-en-scene

 

                                       

 

The fact that the girl is lying shows that that she is vulnerable. Also her red duvet  that she is lying on might be a foreshadowing that she is lying in her own blood and that she may die. The boy in the background is all shadows and no decipherable features and blurred out shows that he is mysterious and evil and not human because he does not have clear features. Dark lighting shows danger and that something bad is there. This scene is effective because it is set in a bedroom which is supposed to be a safe place and also it is relatable to everyone which makes it even more scary.     

History of Horror

                   

                        

video from: http://filmmakeriq.com/lessons/a-brief-history-of-horror/

From this video I have learned that horror genre is unique because of its recognisable pattern. All of the horror films made go through Horror Cycles such as remakes, reboots, sequels, etc. The first horror ideas came from monsters, demons, beasts and murderers and the genre was an extension of literature and was named Gothic Horror because of its medieval settings of old creepy castles and dark forests. 

The first horror film ever made is considered to the 1896 'The Manor of the Devil' 
In the 1900's and 1920's they were still exploring the Gothic horror genre with Thomas Edison's 'Frankenstein' in 1910. After World War 1 Germany started exploring expressionism over real world. one example of this is 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and was thought to be the grandfather of all films.                                                      
In late 1920's the film industry made a great leap when sound was developed.


Post World War 2 to 1950's was the most difficult time for the film industry due to the end of Classic Studio System and Battle with Television. During this time there was a great boom of pulp science fiction such as 'The Thing from Another World' in 1951 and the famous 'Godzilla' in 1954. 

In the 1960's and on the was a great freedom in making movies due to the elimination of the restrictive Production Code in 1964 and so nudity, gore and psychology was introduced. One result of this explosion of freedom was the iconic 'Psycho' made in 1960 directed by Alfred Hitchcock who was the master of this cycle. Hammer Gothic Horror cycle was being rebooted in the UK in colour. 'The Curse of Frankenstein' made in 1957 showed nudity and blood on screen in its true colour. 1959-64 was the Edgar Allen Poe cycle with films like 'House of Usher' 1960 and 'Tales of Terror' 1962.

After this came the occult cycle with films such as 'Rosemary's Baby' 1968 and one of the most well known 'The Exorcist' made in 1973 and 'The Omen' made in 1976. 1980's 'The Shining has defied any category or imitation with its uniqueness. 'The Evil Dead' made in 1981 a blood soaked horror never intended for cinema.

Throughout the 1990's and 2000's psychological and thriller were very popular alongside torturous violence such as the film 'Saw' 2004. Furthermore, 'The Blair Witch Project; made in 1999 was the first in its sub genre of 'found footage' 



In the modern day zombies have become a popular sub genre and films were made such as '28 Days Later' 2002 and 'World War Z' 2013. However, this genre is starting to fade out as comedic versions of this genre are being made such as 'Zombieland' 2010.