Horror Genre

KEY FILMS

The horror genre is very popular in society due to its scare that adrenaline seekers love to watch and experience. There are four different types of films that I am going to be analysing below. I will analyse a certain few minutes in each All of which have been made using different topics which could be seen as scary, different techniques, decades and different budgets. Although, all seemed to be successful despite their differences. 

DRACULA

Firstly, we have 'Dracula' which was screened in 1931 by universal films. It was one of the first films that established the horror and monstrous genre. The scene where Dracula's wife awakens is one minute and forty seconds long. It starts out with a monochromatic frame, this was in the early thirty's where colour in films was not a thing. The quality is also very low in comparison to films today but the overall effect of the not so good quality actually benefits the opening of this scene as it promotes further eeriness. 

The camera then as an eye level angle gets closer and closer towards a coffin. The idea of the coffin being eye level makes it seem that is the audience or another character getting closer to the coffin, this add of suspense will bring tension towards the audience. 

The sound at this moment is just a faint sound of which that may be rain, this was most likely to have been added in for purpose, therefore, it is a non diagetic sound. As the coffin is opening, their is a creak sound which is coming from the coffin, this could mean that possibly the dead person was in there for quite some time. In addition, there are other sounds that are heard throughout, animalistic noises, this may show the area that they are in may be dirty.

Camera shots in this small scene intensify as the camera does a close up shot of the top end of the coffin, the lid lifts up and a hand moves out, slowly. The camera is focusing on the movement of a hand coming out of a coffin. This signifies a dead person has just been awoken from the dead.  In addition there is an extreme close up of a rat which was watching the process of the coffin opening and then it ran away. By this point we hadn't yet been shown the body of whatever is in the coffin, this extreme close up shows the expression of the rat which had run away. This may mean that the animal was frightened itself. The audience will then be curious to see what the person may look like.

However, an ironic thing happened, as the audience would have been feeling the suspense, the coffin opens and in a mid shot view, a women sits up in the coffin, looking content and beautiful. Even Dracula seemed rather shock in amazement, even speechless as the camera exaggerated his facial features as it zoomed in as a close up shot of his horrific amazement. 

As this short scene comes to an end, three women walk towards the camera using a wide shot showing the setting, with the mise en scene just showing a few cob webs and a dark void. The women look extremely white, even ghostly. This could have meant it wasn't meant to look as if Dracula's wife came back to life, but maybe her ghost just exited the coffin.  Dracula walked towards them in shock, whilst the camera being below him, this point of view angle is typically used to create a sense of power for a character. Dracula's goal may have been to awaken his dead wife and as this happened his egoistic powerful emotion struck through.

The second horror film that I am going to analyse a clip from is the psycoligical ground breaking horror which was produced in the 1960's. The director was called 'Hitchcock' and was famous for his tense productions. The most powerful scene was the one when the main actress was having her shower, it is of three minutes and twenty seconds long.

Firstly, the setting is monochromatic due to colour in films still weren't popular. The actress is closing the door which may imply that she isn't alone in her house.

The sounds starts of to be diagetic as her movements from closing the door and reaching into the bath make basic movement noises.  As the shower gets pulled the intensity of her movements are loudened indicating possibly that she wants the curtain closed, so that no one sees herself shower.

There is a close up shot of her legs are they move into the bath for privacy reasons. As the actress turns on the water their is a close up shot of her face showing her  clear expressions that she is enjoying her shower, she is relaxed and content as the water penetrates her skin. There is a brief bottom view of the shower head pouring down water, this could signify the power of the water as it is above her. Water can symbolise cleansing or even drowning. This may be a sign that something hazardous is about to happen.

The is a constant change in camera angles every few seconds. showing her expression from all angles. Then, as the angle changes facing the shower curtain we can see a black shadow getting closer to her as the camera zooms in. Horrifically the shadow opens the curtain and is holding a knife above the lady. The audience from our perspective, is below to knife showing the knife is powerful. nThe is a birds eye view of the actress being attempted by a man without facial features being stabbed. Shows his power and how much bigger he is than her. The device of not showing his facial features make everything much more eerie. We don't know who the bad person could possibly be.

The music changes to the typically horror music when she is being stabbed alongside some screens. The screams were most likely to be diagetic.

After the bad character leaves, the music carries on as an extreme close up shot of her hands is shown whilst it gradually seeps down the side of the bathroom wall and the loud horrific music comes to a halt. All the audience can hear is the water running as the lady slowly falls to the ground. The water has a deeper shade added to it which is meant to represent blood, high angles are taken to show her complete surroundings. This type of shot portrays her loneliness as she has been left alone to die.

The are extreme close up shots of certain devices. The water plug hole, shows closely as a deep dark black hole where her blood is going to be just washed away. This could symbolise that she will be forgotten about and lost for a while, just like the blood which has gone down the drain.

Lastly, there is a closeup of her eye as she dies, after a few second it also zooms out so we can see the tears down hurt face, this makes the audience emphasize with the actress, as we see her pupil as she lays there dead. Looking into someones eye whilst they cry is a very personal matter. This view may make many feel sympathetic and saddened by the fact she was killed whilst being terrified herself.

Here is my own design of a film poster that will promote the movie that I am attempting to produce within the horror genre.

Here below are technical codes that I have incorporated as annotations around my film poster explaining the name of each device. 

My horror film

Actor names-

Walter- age 40

Sarah- age 32

Jess- age 9 

Lily- age 9 (Jess and Lily are real twins in life). 

All actors will be using there real names, no last names are used except their actual ones on the opening credits. All are infamous therefore, their wages will be much less but it will also provide new opportunities to new actors and audiences will be curious to view the new film without knowing any of the cast. 

Traits-

Walter- uncertain, smart but caring.

Sarah- gullible, loving, caring.

Jess- quiet, withdrawn, evil.

Lily- smart, scared, but down to earth.

Costume

This movie will be on a low budget therefore it is a better idea to make the actors were there own general clothes. Also this is another good idea because we are trying to make the movie as scary as we can and the thought of these people looking like everyday life people it could actually add suspense as well as save some money.

Makeup and props

Stage makeup will only be required for Jess for when she turns into her evil middle of the night demon. Whereas the others will not need it because the shooting will only be in nightfall and no one really wears makeup in these hours.

The stage props and makeup will include:

Brown eyeshadow- making bruises

Baby powder to make pale skin tone

Red contact lenses for Jess’ demonic moments

My budget approx.

$700,000.

I decided this price after studying and analyzing ‘Halloween’’ movie in 1978.

I researched how and why they came to this figure and I hope to produce my movie following in the same foot steps. Although I have just slightly raised my budget by a little over double because in this year of 2017, expenses are a lot more expensive than they use to be in the late 70’s.

Successful movies aren’t always because of how much money they put into a business. ‘’Halloween’’ has an example. They had a budget of 300,000 dollars but grossed a total of 70 million dollars.

I will need to spend my budget wisely and take into account:

-My local actors who are new in this career.

- location costs

-Makeup and prop costs

-Advertising

-Camera crew charges

-Editor charges

-Distributor charges

-Damage charges

and much more.

Due to using local actors who are new in the career, this would mean it would be a good idea to make my film an independent film, this is because there would be less expense to pay towards actors who are not top of the grade listed, same with location, the location. The location i will use will be the location of my own house in Doha. This is a very cost effective way. To make the eeriness strikes probe and lighting will be constructed.

My plot

1. Husband and wife have their twin nieces turn up at theres at dusk, due to the fact that the children parents had apparently passed away due to an unknown cause and reason. 

2. Lily one of the twins, seemed happy to see relatives even though she didn't know them she felt comfort in them.

3. Jess didn't seem to show much like of interest, she acted withdrawn and depressed.

4. The twins didn't pay much attention to one another, it was as if they didn't even see each others. complete strangers. 

5. As they prepare the two girls for bed, weird happenings happen, a cold chill in the house and many lightbulbs bursting.

6. Walter and Sarah then get in bed and try to ignore the worst of the audiences, after a few hours they heard a cry from one of the girls, although they were worried because the girls were twins and they could only tell them apart by their facial expressions. 

7. As Sarah runs to get the crying child, it seemed to be lily and she grabbed her and calmed her down in her room whilst Jess read an empty worded notebook, Sarah asked. ''Would you like to come to our room with your sister to keep safe?'' Lily bellowed. 'She isn't my sister, i don't have a sister''. 

8. At this moment in time, the adults believed lily was just struggling with the loss of her parents the most and her outbursts were nothing but immaturity.

9. After the happenings calm down and everyone gets tired, all but jess are sleeping in the adults bed. 

10, Walter awakens after a terrible nightmare. As he turns to check on his wife he sees that one of the twins who was looking demonic had her eyes staring deeply at his wife with her teeth gritted together looking like she was ready to attack, with the hall way lights flickering, Walter decided that it was to risky to move just incase she did something else.

11. Walter was filled with panic that he couldn't even move, he thought maybe Lily was right.

12. As the clocks start striking 12 when it was obviously much later, Walter jumps and the demonic twin sees him and heads towards him with her hands wrapped round his neck hissing at him, claws deep in his neck she was like an animal. 

13. The sun starts to rise and all of a sudden Jess dissapeared..

14. A few hours pass, Walter in horror still sits there distraught, his wife says to Lily, ' Go see if your sisters awake, lily'. Lily walks out the room saying, 'She isn't my sister,  and i am jess, who is Lily? 

15. Sarah says, 'ok jess, go check for lily.

16. To Walters horror he remains silent in shock and fear..

17. Scene fades out, written on the screen is, 'To be continued''.

Here below is my mood board regarding my horror film.

How I will distribute my horror film?

Because my film is an independent one, my budget is significantly lower compared to other big hit films. These films can be very successful but when distributing they need to be done to a great extent as at the beginning its harder to gain an audience especially as an independent film because studios will find less confidence in people with maybe less experience or budgets. However, quality isn’t always based on quantity of the money spent.

Firstly, there are some cinemas around the world which cater for independent film makers. Although these aren’t everywhere. I will need to investigate places which like to distribute independent films where my horror movie will be more likely accepted.

To make the film become noticed by the public I made previously a poster with the necessary conventions (tag line, title, important characters and colour features) to make the film attractive to the audience. This is a way in advertising the film. I used a great marketing skill of displaying an actors name in bold writing, this is sometimes used when someone really famous is taking part in the movie, It will persuade the audience that maybe someone really popular is starring in the show, when really this actor is only just starting her career.

I will also make some teasers on social media to interact an audience making them want to view more. If any distributors or companies see it they may decide they wont to look further in getting some rights to the film or distribution.

Social media and word of mouth will make distributors hear about my horror film and gain interest to see if it has the capability to reach the big screens.

My pitch

My USP- a USP stands for unique selling point. for a company to pick a movie to distribute it is better for a movie to be more unique than the common market being shown.  Independent films will be harder to achieve this because of their lower budget they will be more confined with ideas that can be used, a lot less filming features also, however, cameras today are usually of great quality and people can find good equipment at some good costs. 

To make my horror film more unique than the others in the market, i decided to make the whole concept very 'normal'. a realistic element of normal life, in a normal house makes the scare gain a much bigger intensity. Whereas, if the filming location was eerie, before the film even begins the audience will know what to expect. This happens in many horror films today, they are much to unrealistic and the scare level decreases much more. 

Moreover, children are often used as the main horror characters because they are possibly harder to understand than an adult. Therefore, i decided to keep with this typical theme but i complicated the story line by a little. I decided to use actors who were in real life identical twins. The use of actors who are identical twins was hard to find but these two young girls want to begin their career therefore i gave them the best opportunity to begin. Some mainstream films have used twins in movies and tv shows before, but there is a lot of the time only one person and the editing teams create that one to become a double as twins on stage. it is very hard to find identical twins who are both willing to create a career out of acting together. This saves my producing team a lot of time with making sure the edits are perfect.