Researching Genre (Emma Mitchell)

Our genre of film is horror, as it aims to inflict fear and terror to viewers from many mise-en-scene elements, such as music, special effects and trailers. Horror movies have changed through out the years, as the range of technology used has increased, enabling the film industry to use more special effects and sound quality to heighten the viewers fear. However, these are also greatly needed within the film industry, as the amount of terror in reality has also increased, therefore the audiences are less likely to be scared by watching a simple film.

Here we have a range of horror films throughout the years which include different techniques to scare the viewer.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY - 2009


This film uses supernatural to scare the audience, and to add realism to the film it includes
hand held camera to represent "found footage". This film was very successful, within the
horror genre. This could be used in our 2 minute opening to suggest an unidentified character,
which would add a cliffhanger for our film.

THE STRANGERS - 2009


This is an American horror film with elements of a slasher film. This film also was very successful, as
the film was marketed as being inspired by a true story. This could link to our film, as we are using a
the form of kidnapping, therefore we are able to relate our storyline with the one featured in this film.
THE EXORCIST - 1973


This is also an American horror film but this is adapted from the novel of the same name
"The Exorcist". The genre Horror has many sub-genres and therefore the ways in which they
become successful in the industry differ. However, this particular horror film has remained one of the
scariest of all time, and still remains one of the most famous horror films in history. Although we
are not aiming to produce a horror film aiming at the genre supernatural , this is a film in which
there is a high level of acting, therefore we should aim to make our acting as real as featured in "The Exorcist".

FRANKENSTEIN - 1931


This is also an American horror film which is based on the novel of the same name. Perhaps one
of the most recognizable named films in history, this film (although in modern times the filming
seems poor) was very successful and scared audiences around the world and it is thought to be
one of history's horror classics. Although our film will not feature any of the suggested elements
which are portrayed in this particular film, many of today's horror films are influenced by
"Frankenstein", as it is one of the first horror movies ever made, therefore it is important to
research both today's horror films, but the history of horror films, for wider knowledge of what the
genre consists of.