Horror Genre

In the horror genre, many techniques are used in order to create the right mood and atmosphere for the story. There’s the obvious, intense, dramatic music that is regularly played to create suspense and provoke a fright, (this is an example of non- diegetic sound), but then there’s also the less obvious, more subtle techniques, like the low key lighting, which causes the audience to subconsciously distrust a character.

Other techniques can be used to create the appropriate mood, like the use of camera shots. For example, a close up shot of a characters face in a horror film could result in either the audience trusting and feeling comfortable with the character, or feeling uncomfortable and intimidated by them.

Techniques like this set the tone for the characters. If a character is viewed with a low angle, with darkness surrounding them, or with shadows cast over their face, the audience will feel small, and consequently experience a sense of powerlessness and insecurity. As humans we are all instinctively afraid of the dark, so, if a character is associated with darkness, or has a lot of shadows or black around and on them- it is natural for the audience to feel scared and be fearful of them. In the same respect, long shots and medium shots with bright light is often used to provoke trust for the hero of the story. The light represents honesty and openness and purity- all trustworthy qualities. The medium/long shots show the characters in full- implying there is nothing to hide about them and that they are genuine. In contrast, the close up shots could mean they are open, and the intimacy could also mean they have nothing to hide- as even examining them up close, they are pure.

An angle that is commonly used in the horror genre to demonstrate instability and threat is the Dutch/oblique angle.  This is where the camera shows an uneven so consequently distorted view of the shot. This represents imbalance and is often used in regards to mental instability and danger. Hence its common occurrence in horror films, where sometimes the antagonist is mentally instable.

Another angle that creates a distorted sense of a familiar world is the high angle. This is commonly used to show characters getting swallowed up in their surroundings and seeming insignificant- putting the world into perspective.

Some directors incorporate the use of handheld cameras to create a jerky, ragged authentic effect that makes the audience feel a part of the action. This makes the film more real and consequently more scary- the action feels nearer and more intense, increasing the fear factor.

In most horror films, the focus of the camera is extremely significant. If the focus is on anything in the background, it is probably a clue, but when the focus is on someone talking, what they’re saying is important. Also, a common thread in horror films is the common occurrence of a cross in the background. This is symbolism- relevant because of satanic messages and un-holy themes. This is common throughout the horror genre.