Planning and Research
Horror film director: James Wan
James wan is a film director, producer and screenwriter. He was also director of the horror film Saw and creator of ‘Billy the puppet’. He then went to produce to sequels of the ‘Saw’ Saga. Although he was also the writer behind the original short film ‘Saw’ as well as the 2004 debut of the full length Saw film, then later on writing the sequel Saw 3. Furthermore he wrote and directed Dead Silence, also directed the 2007 action drama ‘Death Sentence’. In addition to this he directed the famous blockbuster of 2010 horror film ‘Insidious’.
Conventions of Horror
In terms of setting, horror genre conventions have very similar scenery. For example, the film being set in an rural environment, which shows in films such as ‘Friday the 13th. Although in these urban environments the scenes will usually be shot in isolated areas or in a small community. Furthermore conventions of horror also occur in having dark scenery, such as dark alleyways and streets. On the other hand if the setting is of an urban environment (i.e. town or city) the conventions of horror will often present the historic side of the city, such as asylums, estates and abandoned houses. They will also present the city as run down or as an abandoned ghost town. A good example of this is ’28 days later’ which was filmed and had many scenes in the city of London main attractions, although the film was still present the city of London as an abandoned town, with additional props to make the city look run down.
In addition other location settings which show conventions of horror are: countryside’s, barns, woodlands, farms, dungeons, haunted and abandoned houses; abandoned hotels and motels; graveyards and cemeteries; basements and attics; underground stations, all these locations and setting connote being isolated or alone
Lighting also has a main factor in the convention of horror. Such as low-key lighting, which is a technique used to set the tone of the scene and also create a distinctive mood. Low –key lighting is often used in horror to create suspense. In result low-key lighting can create effective shadows which give a tone of suspense and a more brooding atmosphere. A good example of low-key lighting being used is in the horror films sequels ‘Saw’.
Another main factor in conventions of horrors is the female victims, especially the ‘final girl’. Which usually carry a number of similar factors, such as the final girl having a unisex name (e.g. Billy, Sidney, Alex, Ashley etc). The ‘final girl’ is also represented as an ‘angel-like’ character, which separates her from her friend’s regular lives of sex, drugs and alcohol.
There are also a number of themes which occur regularly in conventions of the horror genre. Themes such as the classic Good versus Evil (for example films like ‘Bless the child’); the theme of betrayal and revenge (films such as ‘I know what you did last summer’); the clashes of the normal and supernatural species or worlds (such as ‘Freddie versus Jason’); theme of twisted childhood issues (for example in the ‘last exorcism’); extreme scientist (such as ‘The human centipede’)’ Dreams and nightmares (e.g. the ‘nightmare of elm street’).
There is also a number of occurring character types, in conventions of horror. One of the main examples of this is the main protagonist, which is presented often as a victim or hero during the film. Usually the ‘hero’ or ‘good-person always survives or defeats the ‘so-called’ villain, although the conventions of horror occur to represent this in a more twisted and mind boggling way, to constantly put thoughts in the audience minds on who is the real villain and hero.
Another popular character type is the villain, which is usually a monster, serial killer, alien or a mutated freak. Furthermore the villain always occurs to having a trademark characteristic not the way he kills his victims, such as the specific weapons he uses, or the way he lures his victims to there death (for example in the saga’s of ‘Saw’ victims usually end up killing themselves through extreme situations).
Another character type is the stupid/immoral teenager, which always results in being killed. Although audience can usually suss this out themselves due to they’re stupidities in life threatening situations (examples of this or movies such as ‘Scream’). Example stereotypes used are characters such as the ‘blonde-bimbo’, ‘dumb-slut’ etc.
Other less important characters types also still do occur a lot and are still conventions of horror such as, the good or bad policeman. Science fiction characters such as ghost, zombies, werewolf and demons. Furthermore having characters with human psychotic disorders, such as psychopaths, ‘weirdo’s’ and stalkers.
In terms of narrative the conventions of horror follow either of the two of the narrative structure. Either bringing the horror film to a close with just a ‘one off’ film, or leave room for a cliff hanger to continue a sequel. Which would then result in more of a larger franchise (films such as ‘Scream’ and ‘Halloween’). Other conventions of horror are the ‘hero’ protagonist, man or ‘final-girl’, which would always be included in the narrative of the genre. Furthermore they would usually be a problem to solve during the film, from a killing or kidnapping of some sort, or the characters set on a mission or quest.
In terms of iconography there are many conventions of the horror genre. For example the use of common props used in horror films such as use of religious and supernatural icons (e.g. candles, cross figures and religious paintings). Also the use of masks, which has proven very effective and made iconic to certain films, such as ‘Scream’. Furthermore the use weapons are quite key iconography in the horror genre, especially the types of weapons that are used by characters in the film. Moreover specific weapons used by the villains, might allow audience to identify them (weapons such as the machete used be ‘Freddie’ in ‘Friday 13th’).
Visually iconography can be indentified from horror genres. As there are often regularly dark colours, such as red and black, which have colour connotations in the UK and US linked to darkness, evil, blood and danger (due to western world cultures). Also with the use of low-key lighting, this helps identify relatively quickly the genre of the film is horror.
Horror Films
The Last Exorcism
is a PG-13 Horror movie, directed by Daniel Stamm and was released on the 27th of August 2010. The story involves a troubled Reverend, Cotton Marucs who comes face to face with a possessed girl, performing his last exorcism bringing a film crew to showcase as a documentary.
Scream
is an 18 rated horror movie, directed by Wes Craven and was released in the UK on the 2nd of May 1997. The story’s involves a unknown killer called the ‘ghost-face’ which continues its teenage killing streak throughout the movie, except from the ‘final-girl’ character Sidney. As Sidney tries to get over the history of her mother brutal rape and murder, her mother’s murderer has come back a year later to kill her, friends and family around her. During this time Sidney goes through some trust issues in the friends around her, which maybe the killer (e.g. boyfriend). During the film Sidney and her friends start to consider the so-called ‘rules’ of horror, as they find out they are living the reality of it.
Saw
is an 18 rated slasher horror movie, directed and written by James Wan and was released on the 29th of the October 2004. The story involves the evil mastermind nicknamed the ‘jigsaw’, trapping two men in a secure liar with a various amount of rules and objectives to follow. That’s if they want to survive and overcome the deadly mind twisted games.
James wan is a film director, producer and screenwriter. He was also director of the horror film Saw and creator of ‘Billy the puppet’. He then went to produce to sequels of the ‘Saw’ Saga. Although he was also the writer behind the original short film ‘Saw’ as well as the 2004 debut of the full length Saw film, then later on writing the sequel Saw 3. Furthermore he wrote and directed Dead Silence, also directed the 2007 action drama ‘Death Sentence’. In addition to this he directed the famous blockbuster of 2010 horror film ‘Insidious’.
Conventions of Horror
In terms of setting, horror genre conventions have very similar scenery. For example, the film being set in an rural environment, which shows in films such as ‘Friday the 13th. Although in these urban environments the scenes will usually be shot in isolated areas or in a small community. Furthermore conventions of horror also occur in having dark scenery, such as dark alleyways and streets. On the other hand if the setting is of an urban environment (i.e. town or city) the conventions of horror will often present the historic side of the city, such as asylums, estates and abandoned houses. They will also present the city as run down or as an abandoned ghost town. A good example of this is ’28 days later’ which was filmed and had many scenes in the city of London main attractions, although the film was still present the city of London as an abandoned town, with additional props to make the city look run down.
In addition other location settings which show conventions of horror are: countryside’s, barns, woodlands, farms, dungeons, haunted and abandoned houses; abandoned hotels and motels; graveyards and cemeteries; basements and attics; underground stations, all these locations and setting connote being isolated or alone
Lighting also has a main factor in the convention of horror. Such as low-key lighting, which is a technique used to set the tone of the scene and also create a distinctive mood. Low –key lighting is often used in horror to create suspense. In result low-key lighting can create effective shadows which give a tone of suspense and a more brooding atmosphere. A good example of low-key lighting being used is in the horror films sequels ‘Saw’.
Another main factor in conventions of horrors is the female victims, especially the ‘final girl’. Which usually carry a number of similar factors, such as the final girl having a unisex name (e.g. Billy, Sidney, Alex, Ashley etc). The ‘final girl’ is also represented as an ‘angel-like’ character, which separates her from her friend’s regular lives of sex, drugs and alcohol.
There are also a number of themes which occur regularly in conventions of the horror genre. Themes such as the classic Good versus Evil (for example films like ‘Bless the child’); the theme of betrayal and revenge (films such as ‘I know what you did last summer’); the clashes of the normal and supernatural species or worlds (such as ‘Freddie versus Jason’); theme of twisted childhood issues (for example in the ‘last exorcism’); extreme scientist (such as ‘The human centipede’)’ Dreams and nightmares (e.g. the ‘nightmare of elm street’).
There is also a number of occurring character types, in conventions of horror. One of the main examples of this is the main protagonist, which is presented often as a victim or hero during the film. Usually the ‘hero’ or ‘good-person always survives or defeats the ‘so-called’ villain, although the conventions of horror occur to represent this in a more twisted and mind boggling way, to constantly put thoughts in the audience minds on who is the real villain and hero.
Another popular character type is the villain, which is usually a monster, serial killer, alien or a mutated freak. Furthermore the villain always occurs to having a trademark characteristic not the way he kills his victims, such as the specific weapons he uses, or the way he lures his victims to there death (for example in the saga’s of ‘Saw’ victims usually end up killing themselves through extreme situations).
Another character type is the stupid/immoral teenager, which always results in being killed. Although audience can usually suss this out themselves due to they’re stupidities in life threatening situations (examples of this or movies such as ‘Scream’). Example stereotypes used are characters such as the ‘blonde-bimbo’, ‘dumb-slut’ etc.
Other less important characters types also still do occur a lot and are still conventions of horror such as, the good or bad policeman. Science fiction characters such as ghost, zombies, werewolf and demons. Furthermore having characters with human psychotic disorders, such as psychopaths, ‘weirdo’s’ and stalkers.
In terms of narrative the conventions of horror follow either of the two of the narrative structure. Either bringing the horror film to a close with just a ‘one off’ film, or leave room for a cliff hanger to continue a sequel. Which would then result in more of a larger franchise (films such as ‘Scream’ and ‘Halloween’). Other conventions of horror are the ‘hero’ protagonist, man or ‘final-girl’, which would always be included in the narrative of the genre. Furthermore they would usually be a problem to solve during the film, from a killing or kidnapping of some sort, or the characters set on a mission or quest.
In terms of iconography there are many conventions of the horror genre. For example the use of common props used in horror films such as use of religious and supernatural icons (e.g. candles, cross figures and religious paintings). Also the use of masks, which has proven very effective and made iconic to certain films, such as ‘Scream’. Furthermore the use weapons are quite key iconography in the horror genre, especially the types of weapons that are used by characters in the film. Moreover specific weapons used by the villains, might allow audience to identify them (weapons such as the machete used be ‘Freddie’ in ‘Friday 13th’).
Visually iconography can be indentified from horror genres. As there are often regularly dark colours, such as red and black, which have colour connotations in the UK and US linked to darkness, evil, blood and danger (due to western world cultures). Also with the use of low-key lighting, this helps identify relatively quickly the genre of the film is horror.
Horror Films
The Last Exorcism
is a PG-13 Horror movie, directed by Daniel Stamm and was released on the 27th of August 2010. The story involves a troubled Reverend, Cotton Marucs who comes face to face with a possessed girl, performing his last exorcism bringing a film crew to showcase as a documentary.
Scream
is an 18 rated horror movie, directed by Wes Craven and was released in the UK on the 2nd of May 1997. The story’s involves a unknown killer called the ‘ghost-face’ which continues its teenage killing streak throughout the movie, except from the ‘final-girl’ character Sidney. As Sidney tries to get over the history of her mother brutal rape and murder, her mother’s murderer has come back a year later to kill her, friends and family around her. During this time Sidney goes through some trust issues in the friends around her, which maybe the killer (e.g. boyfriend). During the film Sidney and her friends start to consider the so-called ‘rules’ of horror, as they find out they are living the reality of it.
Saw
is an 18 rated slasher horror movie, directed and written by James Wan and was released on the 29th of the October 2004. The story involves the evil mastermind nicknamed the ‘jigsaw’, trapping two men in a secure liar with a various amount of rules and objectives to follow. That’s if they want to survive and overcome the deadly mind twisted games.