Opening sequences in horror-teen slasher films always have
the signifiers of genre to connect with the audience to make them aware that
they are watching a horror film. The conventional settings that usually appear
in horror films are mainly small communities or isolated places. These are
present in the 5 texts I’ve seen; Friday the 13th (2009), Prom
Night, I know what you did last summer, Urban Legend and Sorority Row. However,
Friday the 13th is the most typical of the lot, as it includes a
large variety of settings typically conceived with horror films. These include
a small community that is isolated in the midst of dark woods, and that this
community has an abandoned cabin near a lake, also this small community holds a
‘dark’ history. These types of settings are used to connote isolation or the
mere idea of ‘being alone’ or ‘helpless’.
The conventional technical codes used in horror films are there to create tension and suspense. The typical camerawork that is used is POV shots, as they allow the audience to see the world through the characters eyes and this creates a suspenseful atmosphere as the audience don’t know what to expect; an example of this would be in the opening scene of Urban Legend in which the character Michelle looks out of the windshield around the ‘isolated’ gas station. In addition, handheld shots are commonly used to arouse feelings of fear and terror and expecting the unknown. Furthermore, extreme close up shots on the characters or in this case ‘victims’ face can portray to the audience the characters emotions which can identify fear and horror. Also, editing is a large factor in promoting unsettling tensions and suspense to the audience – the editing is mainly quick cuts. In horror films, the audio codes are one main factor as the film wouldn’t be scary without them. Disturbing diegetic sounds such as screaming or fast paced footsteps can create uncertainty within the audience. Also, non-diegetic sounds such as heart beats and loud thunder can cause audiences to grip their seats with suspense or jump out of their seats with horror.
Typically used iconography can help the audience identify the horror genre. Props such as a weapon most commonly identified with the villain of the film include weapons and masks. These are all true to the 5texts I’ve seen as they all include a symbolic weapon used; such machetes, axes, knives, bear traps and masks that typically cover up the villains face. For instance, in Prom Night, the villain’s choice of weapon is a knife.
Moreover, the characterisations of teen slasher films often live up to the conventional expectations. For instance, the main protagonist who either ends up as the ‘victim’ or ‘hero’. A group of teenagers who are seen as immoral and live up to negative representations perceived by audiences through media texts; as in teenagers who are seen as ‘stupid’ for going into unknown places, often involved with taking drugs, binge drinking, and having casual sex. What follows’ after, is the villains who in teen slashers are mainly serial killers which links in with the narrative structure of a villain who has experienced a distressed childhood or has some sort of medical issue.
http://www.filmsite.org/horrorfilms.html
http://prezi.com/gyiyvk3ap08-/codes-conventions-of-thriller-films/
The conventional technical codes used in horror films are there to create tension and suspense. The typical camerawork that is used is POV shots, as they allow the audience to see the world through the characters eyes and this creates a suspenseful atmosphere as the audience don’t know what to expect; an example of this would be in the opening scene of Urban Legend in which the character Michelle looks out of the windshield around the ‘isolated’ gas station. In addition, handheld shots are commonly used to arouse feelings of fear and terror and expecting the unknown. Furthermore, extreme close up shots on the characters or in this case ‘victims’ face can portray to the audience the characters emotions which can identify fear and horror. Also, editing is a large factor in promoting unsettling tensions and suspense to the audience – the editing is mainly quick cuts. In horror films, the audio codes are one main factor as the film wouldn’t be scary without them. Disturbing diegetic sounds such as screaming or fast paced footsteps can create uncertainty within the audience. Also, non-diegetic sounds such as heart beats and loud thunder can cause audiences to grip their seats with suspense or jump out of their seats with horror.
Typically used iconography can help the audience identify the horror genre. Props such as a weapon most commonly identified with the villain of the film include weapons and masks. These are all true to the 5texts I’ve seen as they all include a symbolic weapon used; such machetes, axes, knives, bear traps and masks that typically cover up the villains face. For instance, in Prom Night, the villain’s choice of weapon is a knife.
Moreover, the characterisations of teen slasher films often live up to the conventional expectations. For instance, the main protagonist who either ends up as the ‘victim’ or ‘hero’. A group of teenagers who are seen as immoral and live up to negative representations perceived by audiences through media texts; as in teenagers who are seen as ‘stupid’ for going into unknown places, often involved with taking drugs, binge drinking, and having casual sex. What follows’ after, is the villains who in teen slashers are mainly serial killers which links in with the narrative structure of a villain who has experienced a distressed childhood or has some sort of medical issue.
http://www.filmsite.org/horrorfilms.html
http://prezi.com/gyiyvk3ap08-/codes-conventions-of-thriller-films/
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