Gender Representation in Horror/Thriller (Research)

Gender is stereotypically presented. Women are presented through the media as objects, mainly emotionally orientated. Throughout the media they are presented to be more emotional compared to men, who are stereotypically seen as being emotionally and physically stronger.

Men are usually the heroes and tend to take on more active roles whereas women usually take on passive roles. Traditionally women are represented in horror films as the damsel in distress and are usually being attacked by the killer because they have committed a sinful act. Women are traditionally represented as the victims and men represented as the monster and hero. This was how women used to be treated before women had equal rights to men; so that was how they were portrayed in horror films.

Credits Analysis - Insidious (Research)

Lighting in Horror/Thriller (Research)

I watched the opening sequences for several films as part of my Horror research.

In these two horror films the main sources of lighting that is used throughout the films is darkness and bright but sharp lighting.

Daylight was present within the two films, which showed that it started as any other ordinary day for the characters. This made the films seems realistic. This links to Todorovs narrative theory as this is the equilibrium, the disruption will occur soon after this.

Darkness was also used in Saw as it captures the fact that it will be a scary horror film.  Darkness connotes danger and evil. The dark mise en scene immediately shows the genre of the film to the audience.

Harsh fluorescent lighting was used in Saw. This allowed the audience wonder about what is happening. It also sets the scene in terms of how scary the film going to be, and the types of weapons in will contain. Weapons are another convention of horror

Opening Sequence Analysis - Constantine (Research)

Colour in Horror/Thriller (Research)

The use of the colour red has been used strongly within all these films but especially in creep and misery where its used to connate danger by the use of red clothing (gloves) in creep and misery use typography as well as clothing and mise en scene to connate danger and blood. Overall within these films the use of red was shown by blood from where violence or an accident has occurred.

Black connotes darkness, evil, suffering and at times danger was used strongly in these films apart from Misery and Halloween for different uses. They use the colour mainly to frighten the characters more because in this case theses characters where already suffering and were scared, where in saw the characters where kept and tortured in claustrophobic and abandoned locations, so with the darkness it makes the situation more effective too.

White/cream clothing was used in scream to suggest innocence because white can be seen to connote holiness. But as well as this ghost where in Scream the mask is white and is stereotypical looking of a ghost. 

Opening Sequence Analysis - The Conjuring (Research)

Horror Production Companies (Research)

Narrative Theory - Scream (Research)

Mise En Scene (Research)

Sound in Horror/Thriller (Research)

Sound is one of the most important elements of a horror film as it helps to create a specific mood to a scene. An example is from a film called Haunted house. 

The effective use of the music will help to create more emotions to the audience. There is a large range of sounds that are used throughout horror film. These are some convention; 

Isolated instruments are usually used before a major event happens. this creates the idea of vulnerability to the audience.

Long suspenseful notes often create contrast with short sharp notes to help to shock the audience.

Change in the pitch. For example, low long brass notes which suddenly change to very fast high pitched notes to make the audience feel immediately tense. 

Voices within horror films are often used to reflect fear, tension and panic. For example, in the SAW films the jigsaw. The tone of his voice suits the part that it plays in as it creates fear and tension as its distinctive. This makes it stand out from the other characters. It also helps to create fear as it has a deep and husky tone.

Sound effects also help to create more tension. Some conventions are; 

Bats, owls, Church bells, Witches laughing. These are iconic sound effects that are recognisable, so have a horror connotation to them.

Horror Genre (Research)

Opening Sequence Analysis - Scream (Research)

Individual reflections on initial ideas

Once we had decided our groups, my group and I started to look at our research to decide what sub genre of horror we wanted to do for our opening sequence. We came to a collective decision of doing a thriller/slasher, however the slasher element would remain a mystery to the audience. Then we brainstormed our initial ideas of what the plot could include.

We decided the the plot line would be; a little girl playing in the garden, on the swing and at a table with her doll, whilst the babysitter would be baking in the kitchen. Whilst this is happening the babysitter would get a couple of calls. One where the other end of the phone was silent and the other, a manly voice saying weird/creepy/strange things. Then after this the audience will see a man jumping over the fence and walking towards the child. The babysitter then finds out that the child is missing and straight after this the title would appear.

We decided to call our opening sequence 'Half A Minute' as all the action will take place within the 30 seconds of the babysitter putting something in the microwave. Our title is short and snappy making it memorable. Also, the audience may wonder what can happen within half a minute which may create an element of curiosity and may want to watch the film because of the interesting title.

As at first the story line will be normal, we need to film in places that are also normal such as a garden and a kitchen. The garden is a good miss-en-scene as it fit perfectly with out poor. We wanted the child to be sitting on a swing and we wanted a gate for the villain to jump over, all which are easy to find. Also, the kitchen is also easy to find as we just need a basic worktop and a phone.

To make out opening sequence effective we need to include good actors and actresses as our opening sequence will be quite dramatic and will require good actors/actresses to do the role justice.

Overall, I think that our initial idea is very good as it has a very simple plot, but if shot right (including good frames, editing, camera movements and angles) it can be very effective making it interesting.