Horror Genre Research

Today I researched the background as well as many techniques used in horror films that my group might use in our film opening. I simply looked up keywords in google such as

Background

First I'll begin with some background as I think it's important to see how the genre has evolved and why. Probably the first ever horror film was produced by George Mellies. Although it was more of a wondrous movie, it was the first film to include the supernatural, for example, animated skeletons, ghosts, transforming bats and an incarnation of the Devil. You can read more about this movie here.

Notice that early horror films were usually about supernatural things. Some examples of these movies are Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Mummy. These characters are all supernatural and it is not possible for them to exist in real life. This is the main difference between old and new horror films.


Newer horror films are usually about events that could happen in real life. Some examples are Scream, Halloween, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Although these movies are not the latest, they are relatively new compared to the other movies mentioned. These films are definitely some of the most memorable of all time. I think that this is due to the fact that any of these story lines could happen in real life. This causes us to remember the plot long after we've seen the movie.

Techniques

Other than history, I also researched techniques in order to determine if the genre is even an option for my group. If we do a realistic horror, I think the genre is definitely doable. If we were to decide on a supernatural horror film, it would probably require special effects that are out of reach for us. 

Here are some common techniques used in horror films:

- A relatable/realistic plot is scarier  

As I mentioned previously, a relatable plot is scarier because it will stay with you even after the movie.

 - Unsettling/unusual angles

Scary films tend to include unsettling angles such as the dutch tilt. This simply gives the viewer an uncomfortable feeling.

 - Red key lighting

In some cases, red key lighting could give a scene the vibe intended by the director. This would give any actor a sort of red outline. 

- Fog

Similar to the previous technique, in some cases, fog could be the perfect tool for creating a creepy environment. Fog could transform a set completely.

Here is a link to more techniques that are very common in horror films.

Within the next few posts, I will definitely let you know what genre we end up choosing, this was just one option.