Media Studies Portfolio: Genre #2- Horror analysis

Main purpose is to create fear but entertain the viewer as well. The protagonist is usually the hero/victim. The villains are usually monsters, demons, serial killer, etc. Even though scary moments might really scare a person, the scaring part is also inserted to make the viewer be more involved and into the film. Films that fall under this genre are made to panic and frighten their audience. Most of the time, they take place in lonely areas where the characters are far away from help. Pathetic fallacy is also used as well to enhance the characters’ bad surroundings. Examples can be like thunder and rain. To add into the feeling of fear, wind, creepy shadows, and unexplainable noises are integrated. A main characteristics in these types of films is when characters go where they are not supposed to or towards danger. Often conclude in a crazy and unexpected finale.

Lighting is used in horror films to give a feeling that something terrible is about to occur. This can be done by light flickering and use of shadows to show the evil is present. Diegetic sound is used to create more tension and exaggerated scene. Sometimes, these sounds can change to really loud to scare the audience. Also, there’s use of colors like red and black which suggest danger and death. Point of view shots come extremely important depending on the situation which can show a visual through the monster’s eyes. Depth of field is also important for the audience to lose sight of the monster coming: a shot taken far from the action.

Paranormal activity 2007 - Katie and Micah move into a house and notice a weird presence. In result of this, they decide to set up video cameras around the house. They find out about many paranormal activities that happen during their sleep and horrible events approaches them. This movie falls under horror because of it’s scary scenes like for example when Micah’s body is driven super quick into the screen, which is a scene that tends to scare some people. It also falls under this genre due to the fact that the movie takes place in a house surrounded by the evil (really hard to get out). Knowing that the movies that take place in places where help is very far, not at all, or hard to access, it fits in with horror. Also, it has many pop up like for example when they show Katie’s face really close to the screen while she’s possessed.

Psycho 1960 - The movie Psycho, starts with a women working on her desk and is so stressed she decided to go take a shower. While this is happening, a shadow starts forming in the background behind the curtains of the bathtub. The killer approaches and begins stabbing the women in the shoulder. As soon as they show the serial killer—who’s wearing a costume and is holding up a knife like a lot of horror films— a foley sound is adjusted to create more intensity. With the use of quick cuts, the film doesn’t need to show the girl being stabbed because the quick cuts help the audience know what has happened.

6. “Friday the 13th”