Locations and Properties Research

By Nicole McClelland

Houses

Houses are one of the key locations for filming a horror film. Especially for paranormal activity like films whereby the same location is effective, but different things are happening which keeps the audiences attention. Other older styled houses with historical backgrounds also have a great influence in horror films. Making the scarier.

Hotels, Asylums, Mansions

Big areas increase the riskiness of the film in relation to the killer as its more on edge that they might get caught more easily. In my opinion the more big a space/ location to more tension is created due to that fact of the killer could be anywhere.

Wooded Areas, Lakes etc…

One of the key stereotypical locations for a horror. Wooded areas are great due to their natural enclosure and camouflage, big areas and natural scary sound effects which is great for unintended tension on the audience. Many films have benefited from using this as a location and been extremely successful, for example Eden Lake, The Last House On The Left, Friday The 13th etc…

Abandoned Places, under run places

Abandoned places are naturally scary and have an bad sense about them. This is great for filming paranormal happenings and your usual psycho killer films. A very successful film in using a location like this would be Boo which used the location of an abandoned hospital block, a very good film in my opinion it constantly kept you on edge and the location was great in increasing the creepiness.

Stereotypical Horror Props

Usual convention of a weapon in a horror movie, inflicts more pain and blood, is more terrifying

Not usually used but would be great as a challenging convention

Used for older type films including scream. Usually used in paranormal films as a flash back for example seen in the Conjuring and The Skeleton Key.

Used as a quick, unplanned weapon either by the killer of victims. Simple but effective and also leaves the audience to wonder sometimes if the people are really dead.

Mostly used by victims oppose to killers as a failed attempt to kill the supposed killer. Usually used and unsuccessful hitting the wrong, innocent person.

Stereotypical Horror Props

Usual convention of a weapon in a horror movie, inflicts more pain and blood, is more terrifying

Not usually used but would be great as a challenging convention

Used for older type films including scream. Usually used in paranormal films as a flash back for example seen in the Conjuring and The Skeleton Key.

Used as a quick, unplanned weapon either by the killer of victims. Simple but effective and also leaves the audience to wonder sometimes if the people are really dead.

Mostly used by victims oppose to killers as a failed attempt to kill the supposed killer. Usually used and unsuccessful hitting the wrong, innocent person.