Horror Movie Trailer Screenshots

- Mise-en-Scene

The three films I analysed are:

- Prisoners (2013)- The Purge (2013)- Scream 4 (2011)

Setting

The generic convention I’ve found with the setting is that an element of mystery and darkness is present in each screenshot. The shot from Prisoners (top left) shows a hooded figure walking in an eerie setting, showing the overcast weather can create a wintery, desolate effect on the story.

Costume

The generic costume in horror films are designed to look scary in order to frighten the audience. Commonly, masks are featured by the villain/s and look horrifying in order to fit in with the scariness of the plot. Sometimes masks are needed and simply facial hair can make a villain look more darker and more evil.

Lighting

The generic lighting in horror films tends to be dark in order to create a sense of fear and suspense amongst the characters and scenes, and the idea that something could be lurking in the darkness and in the shadows. The use of torches or candles is useful and effective as the lighting can show parts of one's face making it more scarier and eerier. Furthermore, low level lighting is very often used in horror films to create a creepy mysterious atmosphere.

Props

The props used in horror films are often those linked and related to crime and negative connotations. For example, knives and daggers etc. are common in slasher films and are the primary antagonist/villain’s weapon of choice, as are guns. As well as this films can include vehicles to depict an eerie concept or idea for example the old rundown camper van in Prisoners (top left) to show the area where a supposed villain may operate and live.

Body Language / Facial Expressions

The general expressions shown throughout these films are a sense of despair, that the worst is going to happen This is done in order to make the audience feel the same feeling as those of the characters. Often characters will scream or exclaim loudly to increase the scare factor of a film scene. When characters are lower to floor and crouched, this shows an intimidating ‘looking-down-on’ perspective, again getting the audience to feel scared and feel what the characters feel.