Since Halloween comes up in a few days, I'd figured I'd do research on the genre horror.
Horror is a genre which is meant to disturb, frighten, or scare any audience that interacts with content in this genre. Horror generally involves the unknown, supernatural elements, and humanity's dark aspects. Tales of horror often tell of terrifying creatures, eerie settings, and suspenseful plots. In this genre, shock, surprise, and the exploitation of primal fears are typical. The target audience are from ages 15-25, as most teenagers and young adults enjoy thrilling content, which are more likely to excite an audience between these ages more.
Content:
Jump scares, or sudden movement, or unexpected moments of shock to startle the audience, are used in horror. Jump scares are also used to build suspense, or release the tension building up throughout a scene. This is conveyed by having a long break/silence or stillness before the sudden event. It's also used to reveal a monster or threat that has been lurking throughout the scenes. This is done by suddenly making the monster appear closely on screen when the viewer is least expecting it.
Ex: In the 1976 film Carrie, which shows that a supposedly dead villain has lived, is said to have been inspired by the moment where Carrie's bloodied arm suddenly appears from the dirt at the end of the movie.
Special effects is another factor when it comes to horror content. The typical theme of horror fiction is the unknown, with elements of the supernatural, along with the darker sides of humanity. Most of the horror stories in literature are based on terrifying types of creatures, eerie locations, and a suspenseful manner of plotting. Shock, surprise, and the exploitation of primal fears are typical in this genre.Creating wounds, blood, and other body fluids to dramatize violence and injury. Designing and building costumes and prosthetics for monsters, aliens, and other supernatural creatures. Using low lighting is tenebrous because it gives shadows and darkness; these can be used to mask monsters and therefore make people feel uneasy. Distorted lights help in the creation of a feeling of disorientation and confusion.
Ex: The Thing (1982) This is a film quite renowned for many of its on-screen practical effects, one of them being a shape-shifting alien creature. All these changes in the creature, along with the disgusting forms it took, were created using detail-oriented makeup and animatronics.
Production Techniques :
The horror genre uses editing techniques to enhance it's meaning such as jump cuts, cross cuts, slow mo and fast motion. Jump cuts are sudden transitions between shots, which may be used to evoke feelings of shock and surprise.Crosscutting: Switching from one scene to another and back again in order to create suspense. Slow motion emphasizes a certain moment, and it is also used for the purpose of creating a dream-like feel. Fast motion-to give a person a sense of panic or chaos.Sound can also make the audience feel uncomfortable while watching horror content. Sound effects that are eerie-creaking doors, footsteps, and whispers-create uneasiness.Jarring noisse that occur suddenly-a scream or an explosion- may well startle your audience.Moments of silence sometimes create the desired level of tension and anticipation. Distorted sounds Creates a disorienting effect and confusion. Diegetic sounds are sounds that emanates from the world of the film; for instance, the tick of a clock, the ringing of a phone.
Ex: In the movie Jaws, the sound of waves lapping, the creaking of a boat, and faraway calls of seagulls create an eerie atmosphere that contrasts with the sudden, jarring sounds of the attack.
Marketing:
The horror genre is marketed in a variety of ways, such as virlaus, posters, social media teasers/trailers, and experiental marketing like VR.Most posters carry shocking images or cryptic taglines, or very few words to make one curious.The trailers are supposed to create a sense of dread and anticipation, mostly working on jump scares, creepy music, and quite unnatural visuals.Shorts, GIFs, and pictures are shared across social media platforms to build hype and interact with the audience. Experimental Marketing—Organizing immersive experiences in haunted houses, escape rooms, or VR experiences to promote horror movies.
