Genre Research- Horror
HORROR
Genre conventions – content: In the horror genre, there aspects of content that make the film adhere to the horror genre. Specific aspects can be death, ghosts, and murder. The antagonist is usually hidden in plain sight while the protagonist usually known for being a victim that often have to face the horror that is in the plot. The movie "Get Out" directed by Jordan Peele is a good example of this. The antagonist Rose, is seen as a genuine girl throughout the movie as she starts to date the protagonist Chris. The couple meets each others parents and the family has certain behaviors towards this biracial relationship all wanted to kill him. As the movie progresses and more time spent with each other horrific discoveries led Chris to realize that Rose wasn't who she came out to be in ways that he could never imagine. This is an example of how the antagonist is hidden in plain sight because Rose ended up wanting to kill Chris throughout the entire movie even thought to him she seemed like a authentic girl.
Ex. Rose and Chris in Get Out
Genre conventions - production techniques : There are specific production techniques that the horror genre uses to make the audience want to jump out of their seats. The setting of a horror film tends to take place in dark and isolated places such as an abandoned house in the woods. This makes the viewers themselves feel as if they are isoloated themselves.The genre usually uses dark colors such as black, gray, and red to symbolize death, blood, evil, and danger. Low-key lighting is usually used in horror films to create dark shadows on screen. Horror films are usually shot with extreme close ups and mid shots to show a sense of emotion and how that character may be feeling. This helps create the mood of the film and make it seem as if you are actually present in the actors life. Sound plays a big role in this genre. Based on the background music in the film you can determine whats to come next. The tone of the music helps us understand the atmosphere on screen. There are also certain sounds that are repetitve and signify when something is about to happen. For example in the movie "Jaws" directed by Steven Spielburg, there is a certain sound effect that lets the audience know that there is a shark nearby and something is about to happen. Techniques such as the setting, lighting, sound, and camera angles lead to make a good horror film.
Ex. Sound in the movie Jaws
Institutional conventions – how is genre marketed: The target audience for horror films are usually the ages from 16-24. Mystery is a tatic that helps market this genre. Advertisement of the trailers of horror films leave the audenice thinking "what will happen next" or wanting to know the final solution of the movie. This leads in more viewers to the movie hooking in the audience. The genre also tends to make movies about our generation today which reels in teenagers to watch movies like this. To be specific, the new movie "Countdown" directed by Justin Dec is a movie about a app that predicts when you are going to die. In our generation today the cellphone usage and technology has increased so much this attracts viewers, especially teenagers social media and apps are realatable.
Ex. Countdown
The movie "Us" directed by Jordan Peele is a film that follows Adelaide and Gabe Wilson who take their two children to their childhood beach home. Adelaine is haunted by a traumatic experience in a mirror maze where she meets her twin Red. This experience is unexplainable to her realtives and feels trauma as something may happen to her family when returning to their beach house. A few days later they notice a family of four sitting outside their porch that end up being replicates of their exact family. The replicate family dressed in all red signifies danger and evil which is exactly what this other family is. Jordan Peele is successful in making the audience uncomfortable throughout this film. He tends to not use any music and uses non-diegetic sounds. There is a lot of symmetry throughout this film. The bible verse Jeremiah 11:11 would be a good and clear example of a horror convention. This film makes the viewers think they know the final outcome that Red and Adelaine switched places. But, the films twist serves an entirely different purpose that leave the audience in shock. Us is a horror film that wants the audience to look deeper into the purpose and message it is trying to give off. The movie is a good representation of the horror genre.
The 2018 movie, "A Quiet Place" directed by John Krasinski is about a family that must live in silence to survive from creatures that will come to hunt them if any sound is made. Not one movement or footstep could be heard, or their life is on the line. Evenlyn and Lee are the parents of Regan and Marcus. They are finding a way to protect their children and a way to survive this bizarre world and lifestyle. This film contains low-key lighting and no rarely any sound which adds suspense to the screen. There is a monster that comes about when any sound is heard of that will take your life if you are found. This relates to the horror genre as the suspense of the film arises as the lifestyle of this family becomes more and more difficult.
Ex. Orphan
Ex. Paranormal Activity
Ex. The Conjuring
Ex. Halloween
Ex. It
Ex. Rose and Chris in Get Out
Genre conventions - production techniques : There are specific production techniques that the horror genre uses to make the audience want to jump out of their seats. The setting of a horror film tends to take place in dark and isolated places such as an abandoned house in the woods. This makes the viewers themselves feel as if they are isoloated themselves.The genre usually uses dark colors such as black, gray, and red to symbolize death, blood, evil, and danger. Low-key lighting is usually used in horror films to create dark shadows on screen. Horror films are usually shot with extreme close ups and mid shots to show a sense of emotion and how that character may be feeling. This helps create the mood of the film and make it seem as if you are actually present in the actors life. Sound plays a big role in this genre. Based on the background music in the film you can determine whats to come next. The tone of the music helps us understand the atmosphere on screen. There are also certain sounds that are repetitve and signify when something is about to happen. For example in the movie "Jaws" directed by Steven Spielburg, there is a certain sound effect that lets the audience know that there is a shark nearby and something is about to happen. Techniques such as the setting, lighting, sound, and camera angles lead to make a good horror film.
Ex. Sound in the movie Jaws
Institutional conventions – how is genre marketed: The target audience for horror films are usually the ages from 16-24. Mystery is a tatic that helps market this genre. Advertisement of the trailers of horror films leave the audenice thinking "what will happen next" or wanting to know the final solution of the movie. This leads in more viewers to the movie hooking in the audience. The genre also tends to make movies about our generation today which reels in teenagers to watch movies like this. To be specific, the new movie "Countdown" directed by Justin Dec is a movie about a app that predicts when you are going to die. In our generation today the cellphone usage and technology has increased so much this attracts viewers, especially teenagers social media and apps are realatable.
Ex. Countdown
The movie "Us" directed by Jordan Peele is a film that follows Adelaide and Gabe Wilson who take their two children to their childhood beach home. Adelaine is haunted by a traumatic experience in a mirror maze where she meets her twin Red. This experience is unexplainable to her realtives and feels trauma as something may happen to her family when returning to their beach house. A few days later they notice a family of four sitting outside their porch that end up being replicates of their exact family. The replicate family dressed in all red signifies danger and evil which is exactly what this other family is. Jordan Peele is successful in making the audience uncomfortable throughout this film. He tends to not use any music and uses non-diegetic sounds. There is a lot of symmetry throughout this film. The bible verse Jeremiah 11:11 would be a good and clear example of a horror convention. This film makes the viewers think they know the final outcome that Red and Adelaine switched places. But, the films twist serves an entirely different purpose that leave the audience in shock. Us is a horror film that wants the audience to look deeper into the purpose and message it is trying to give off. The movie is a good representation of the horror genre.
The 2018 movie, "A Quiet Place" directed by John Krasinski is about a family that must live in silence to survive from creatures that will come to hunt them if any sound is made. Not one movement or footstep could be heard, or their life is on the line. Evenlyn and Lee are the parents of Regan and Marcus. They are finding a way to protect their children and a way to survive this bizarre world and lifestyle. This film contains low-key lighting and no rarely any sound which adds suspense to the screen. There is a monster that comes about when any sound is heard of that will take your life if you are found. This relates to the horror genre as the suspense of the film arises as the lifestyle of this family becomes more and more difficult.
Ex. Orphan
Ex. Paranormal Activity
Ex. It
No comments:
Post a Comment