Horror

The second genre that I will incorporate in my film will be Horror. Yes, the film will have a noir also incorporated into it. But with the dark setting and the striking action, horror will also be expressed. The typical audience for horror is not specific to age but to who is interested in the genre.

Horror is usually set in isolated areas where there is no help for the characters and no hope in finding somewhere to run. The films usually use the sound of thunder and rain to enhance the feeling of isolation. Props that they use are usually weapons or antiques to create a dark and sinister scene. Colors used within horror are usually reds and blacks because they suggest danger and death.

Lighting used in horror give the effect of something bad going to happen. For example, shadows and light flickering causes the audience to feel scared and nervous. Lighting usually sets the mood for the movie. To give the movie an eerie feel, the lighting is dark and creates many shadows. Lighting can also be used to create a personality of character by casting shadows across their face to create a sinister minded character or a split mind personality. Costumes also create a personality of a character. Usually, in horror movies, the costumes are stereotypical to the character. For example, the jock will be wearing a jersey and the nerd will be wearing big glasses.

Sound is huge in horror films. Audio is key when editing, using Foley sound will help build suspense. Exaggerated diegetic sound will allow tension to be created in the film. Fast and loud non-diegetic sound can add to making the audience jump or feel scared. For example, the music in the shower scene in Psycho.

Many props are used in horror films to suggest horror for example Bibles, crucifix, paintings, candles, and weapons. The props such as a crucifix represent religion and the devil. It can also be used as a sign of God protecting them from the evil spirits. However, it usually just causes anger in the demon and more bad things happen.

Horror films have the typical icons that represent either the bad character or thing. It could be ghostly symbols, dark places, and unusual things happening like doors slamming and swinging lights. Horror films also have jumpy scenes with loud abrupt sounds to frighten the audience. These films also use wind, shadows, and unexplainable noises. There is normally a character that doesn’t believe or a priest that just upsets the bad thing even more.

One example of a great horror movie is “The Shining.” This movie is one of the top horror movies of all time. With the intense scenes and the loud abrupt music, the movie was an extreme hit. In this film, a family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future. This film embodies the horror genre with the loud slashing music, the terrorizing murders, and the low lighting.

Another example of an amazing horror movie is “Psycho.” This film is an iconic horror movie that is the headline of being the most known. “Psycho” is about a Phoenix secretary embezzles forty thousand dollars from her employer's client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother. The black and white scenes and loud scary music really embody the horror genre. The remote hotel gives the sense to not only the characters a sense of helplessness but also the audience, by making them feel like there is nowhere to run.

Other great Horror films are:

Alien

A Quiet Place

Get Out

Halloween

The Exorcist