Why have we chosen to do horror for our final coursework genre?
We have decided to choose the horror genre to produce our coursework task of creating an opening titling sequence. Although it requires great skill and creativity, it is also easy to create the genre with a small budget and scare the audience with limited resources. Also location for us will not be difficult to find, especially as horror requires a location that is quite eerie and dark, which we have easy access to, for example an empty house. Also in regards to our mise-en-scene, our costumes are relaxed in terms of what a teenager would regularly wear, so there is no difficulty. The advantage of a horror film is that it is set to be realistic and like everyday life. The more the viewer can relate to a simple house setting, the more they’ll be frightened. Also not many characters are needed in the genre, as the more isolated one is; the more dramatic tension is built. Also the idea that anticipation can be created through slow paced shots means we don’t have to use many shots, unlike when making an action packed film.
Target audience research towards the horror genre
Through internet and survey research, we have established that most horror films are usually aimed around teenagers till mid-twenties. We though t it is probably due to the idea that they are most curious and daring to go and watch a film that is presented to scare them, and feel put up to the challenge. Also the characters within the films relate to the viewers, of naive teenagers being victimized by the antagonists. It has also been researched that women are in higher proportion to watch horror movies than men. Through these statistics, helps prove and back up our research and theory:
We have decided to choose the horror genre to produce our coursework task of creating an opening titling sequence. Although it requires great skill and creativity, it is also easy to create the genre with a small budget and scare the audience with limited resources. Also location for us will not be difficult to find, especially as horror requires a location that is quite eerie and dark, which we have easy access to, for example an empty house. Also in regards to our mise-en-scene, our costumes are relaxed in terms of what a teenager would regularly wear, so there is no difficulty. The advantage of a horror film is that it is set to be realistic and like everyday life. The more the viewer can relate to a simple house setting, the more they’ll be frightened. Also not many characters are needed in the genre, as the more isolated one is; the more dramatic tension is built. Also the idea that anticipation can be created through slow paced shots means we don’t have to use many shots, unlike when making an action packed film.
Target audience research towards the horror genre
Through internet and survey research, we have established that most horror films are usually aimed around teenagers till mid-twenties. We though t it is probably due to the idea that they are most curious and daring to go and watch a film that is presented to scare them, and feel put up to the challenge. Also the characters within the films relate to the viewers, of naive teenagers being victimized by the antagonists. It has also been researched that women are in higher proportion to watch horror movies than men. Through these statistics, helps prove and back up our research and theory:
This is a screenshot of our survey that we have given out, in order to acquire important information in regards to our target market. It also helps us understand what is enjoyed by viewers as they watch horror films. We handed out our surveys through random sampling, gaining 15 respondents. This is what our results stated:
Through these results it helps us to specifically identify our target audience, making us aware of what thinks the viewers like to see within a horror film such as killings, suspense and blood. It has also helped us to enable which type of aspect of horror to play with, supernatural/paranormal, as that is what the viewer is likely to enjoy more and feel scared and engrossed towards. Although our results state the popular aging is between 15-17, this may be a non reliable source as our surveys were mainly handed out to school sixth form students. Therefore the bracket may lead to a higher age if it was done with a wider age range of respondents, and not so restricted.
- 47% of those who responded were male, while 53% were female
- 87% of people were between the ages of 15-17, while 6% were between the ages of 18-25, and 7% were over 25
- 20% of people answered no when asked if they liked watching horror films, while 80% answered yes
- The most common horror type that our respondents liked was supernatural/paranormal, with 9 out of our 15 choosing this
- Through an average between everyone, the suitable age to watch a horror film came to about 15 years of age, and the ages ranged between 12 and upwards
Through these results it helps us to specifically identify our target audience, making us aware of what thinks the viewers like to see within a horror film such as killings, suspense and blood. It has also helped us to enable which type of aspect of horror to play with, supernatural/paranormal, as that is what the viewer is likely to enjoy more and feel scared and engrossed towards. Although our results state the popular aging is between 15-17, this may be a non reliable source as our surveys were mainly handed out to school sixth form students. Therefore the bracket may lead to a higher age if it was done with a wider age range of respondents, and not so restricted.
History of the genre
The term ‘Horror’ is known to be an intense, painful feeling of repugnance and fear. The genre has been shown to change over time, through the use of more popular conventions that appeal to the viewer. It is known to be an ancient art form that is to have started back in the late 1700s, from the idea of ‘gothic horror’. Stories in this aspect were portrayed to take place in such eerie locations such as: dungeons, graveyards, castles, forests etc. Also through the early creation myths, horror has been shown due to the incorporation of demons and darkness in the stories. Whilst from Egyptian mythology is where the idea of worlds beyond the physical, expressing the realms of spirits. The horror term was famously used in Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel, ‘The castle of Otranto’. In this novel, elements of supernatural shocks and mysteriousness were greatly inputted within. The first great horror classic is ‘Frankenstein’, that was written by Mary Shelley. In the early 2000s, it is known that many horror films were remakes of old classic films, using developed conventions to make them better and advanced. Modern horror is now approximately 200 years old.
Stereotypical characters presented in horror films
Through research, we have been able to highlight the stereotypical characters that contribute to the success of a horror film:
FEMALE CHARACTER:
Vulnerable and in need of protection
Usually young blonde attractive (appeal to wider male audience)
Presented as annoying and stupid, usually not first but killed in gruesome way
Character helps builds suspense and puts viewer on edge as they are normally over-dramatic about situations
THE INNOCENT ONE:
Sensible
Common sense
Usually only one to survive as they’re of ‘purity’, which isn't associated with evil
THE NON-BELIEVER:
Often male
Presented cocky and convincing that nothing bad is going on and everyone is over reacting
Normally overconfident – first to be killed normally
HERO:
Mainly strong male
Normally brave, young going after antagonist
Shows little emotion – want to look and stay strong
EVIL CHARACTER (ANTAGONIST):
Serial killer, demonic possession, ghost, monster etc.
If human, normally disguises appearance, identity and emotion – fear of unknown on viewer and characters
Biggest impact on audience and strikes fear to viewer
Conventions of a horror film
The horror genre has many conventions associated to it in order to portray a negative and emotional reaction upon the viewers, by trying to get them scared and frightened. An element that is a major convention is the idea of setting. Setting in horror films are mostly in isolated places, whether it be in a dark alleyway or abandoned houses. The idea of isolation alone helps portray effect on the viewer, making themselves feel isolated as there is nothing they can do in that situation. Typical locations examples: abandoned houses, farms, cities, cabins, graveyards, basements. Things that lead to the conventions of a horror film are always done to frighten and panic the viewer, evoking their hidden fears and captivating and entertaining them in an unbinding experience. Horror films are created to make the viewer feel vulnerable and have extreme terror of the unknown. Sound also plays a big part in the genres conventions. Diagetic and non-diagetic sounds are a major part in creating effect on the viewer to build tension and make them feel jumpy and scared. The genre also follows the conventions of:
Target audience of 16-24
Slow pace of editing (building tension)
Dominant gender representations
Extreme close up used a lot
Non-diegetic sounds
Distorted sounds
Young/teenage characters
Point of view shots (viewer feels in the characters shoes – realism)
Common themes in Horror films
These films are commonly the bases of a plot within a horror film:
Good vs Evil
Religion
Childhood issues
Supernatural
Revenge
Insanity
Envy
‘Self-consciousness’ – whether it’s all real or not
PAGE BY TEMITOPE SIJUADE
The term ‘Horror’ is known to be an intense, painful feeling of repugnance and fear. The genre has been shown to change over time, through the use of more popular conventions that appeal to the viewer. It is known to be an ancient art form that is to have started back in the late 1700s, from the idea of ‘gothic horror’. Stories in this aspect were portrayed to take place in such eerie locations such as: dungeons, graveyards, castles, forests etc. Also through the early creation myths, horror has been shown due to the incorporation of demons and darkness in the stories. Whilst from Egyptian mythology is where the idea of worlds beyond the physical, expressing the realms of spirits. The horror term was famously used in Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel, ‘The castle of Otranto’. In this novel, elements of supernatural shocks and mysteriousness were greatly inputted within. The first great horror classic is ‘Frankenstein’, that was written by Mary Shelley. In the early 2000s, it is known that many horror films were remakes of old classic films, using developed conventions to make them better and advanced. Modern horror is now approximately 200 years old.
Stereotypical characters presented in horror films
Through research, we have been able to highlight the stereotypical characters that contribute to the success of a horror film:
FEMALE CHARACTER:
Vulnerable and in need of protection
Usually young blonde attractive (appeal to wider male audience)
Presented as annoying and stupid, usually not first but killed in gruesome way
Character helps builds suspense and puts viewer on edge as they are normally over-dramatic about situations
THE INNOCENT ONE:
Sensible
Common sense
Usually only one to survive as they’re of ‘purity’, which isn't associated with evil
THE NON-BELIEVER:
Often male
Presented cocky and convincing that nothing bad is going on and everyone is over reacting
Normally overconfident – first to be killed normally
HERO:
Mainly strong male
Normally brave, young going after antagonist
Shows little emotion – want to look and stay strong
EVIL CHARACTER (ANTAGONIST):
Serial killer, demonic possession, ghost, monster etc.
If human, normally disguises appearance, identity and emotion – fear of unknown on viewer and characters
Biggest impact on audience and strikes fear to viewer
Conventions of a horror film
The horror genre has many conventions associated to it in order to portray a negative and emotional reaction upon the viewers, by trying to get them scared and frightened. An element that is a major convention is the idea of setting. Setting in horror films are mostly in isolated places, whether it be in a dark alleyway or abandoned houses. The idea of isolation alone helps portray effect on the viewer, making themselves feel isolated as there is nothing they can do in that situation. Typical locations examples: abandoned houses, farms, cities, cabins, graveyards, basements. Things that lead to the conventions of a horror film are always done to frighten and panic the viewer, evoking their hidden fears and captivating and entertaining them in an unbinding experience. Horror films are created to make the viewer feel vulnerable and have extreme terror of the unknown. Sound also plays a big part in the genres conventions. Diagetic and non-diagetic sounds are a major part in creating effect on the viewer to build tension and make them feel jumpy and scared. The genre also follows the conventions of:
Target audience of 16-24
Slow pace of editing (building tension)
Dominant gender representations
Extreme close up used a lot
Non-diegetic sounds
Distorted sounds
Young/teenage characters
Point of view shots (viewer feels in the characters shoes – realism)
Common themes in Horror films
These films are commonly the bases of a plot within a horror film:
Good vs Evil
Religion
Childhood issues
Supernatural
Revenge
Insanity
Envy
‘Self-consciousness’ – whether it’s all real or not
PAGE BY TEMITOPE SIJUADE