The History Of HorrorBy Tom Royston

Icons

• Icons are a main part of the content in Horror films, looking at many different varieties of Horror films such as Halloween, which is a psychological horror/thriller, has one specific weapon the butchers knife. Then the films like Friday 13th and Nightmare On Elm Street, these also have one weapon that is almost a part of the villain, the machete for Jason whilst Freddy uses the claw on the gardening glove. Looking at each individual Horror villain they all have an icon that can either be part of them or the weapon, a mask or facial scar is an icon such as Michael Mayers’ mask and Pinheads face.

Narrative Devices

• This can be any of the following; Flexi Narrative, linear narrative, multi narrative or more. Generally, the narrative structure of any work can be divided into three sections, which is referred to as the three-act structure: setup, conflict, resolution. A non-linear narrative is one that does not proceed in a straight-line, step-by-step fashion, such as where an author creates a story's ending before the middle is finished. Linear is the opposite, when narrative runs smoothly in a straight line, when it is not broken up. An example of a non-linear narrative is the 1994 film Pulp Fiction. The film is ostensibly three short stories, which upon closer glance are actually three sections of one story with the chronology broken up. An example of a straight narrative is the Exorcist as it follows one persons story throughout the entire film.

Codes And Conventions

• The codes and conventions of horror

• Horror films are generally designed to scare the viewer, to show the darkness and evil that can be in our world whilst keeping the viewer safe from danger, open your eyes to the vulnerability of certain places or people.

• Horror films can use a wide variety of shots and angles but more often than not they use high angle shots to make the villain look more menacing and use point of view shots or tracking shots to show where the person you are following is heading or looking toward. Extreme close ups are used to show emotion and emphasise the subject. Tilting the camera can be a way of portraying disorientation, whilst using the dollying shot to make the character and viewer seem like they are being following or following someone.

• In horror films they will most likely use a dark setting and a house that is old and not used anymore. This gives the feeling that this can either be haunted or used to be part of the villain and this is absent from their lives showing that they lose things from their lives, often showing how this is a connection between the place where the film is set and the villain.

Iconic Sounds

• Using the music from Halloween this is the

beginning of the era of horror music this is used to

create tension and build suspense it is relatively

plain and simple rather than complicated composed

music. This gives a horrible eerie feeling to the

viewer and is used when someone if being followed

or sneaking around.

Certificate Ratings

• Often a horror film will be an 18 depending on the content, the shining, the exorcist, Friday 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street are all 18 Certificated. The omen and the ring are both 15.

• A 15 rated film must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour. Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable. Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised. Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised. Anything that breaks the boundaries of these may break into an 18 film or even an R18 film.

Institutions

• New Line Cinema produced many horror blockbusters, these include;

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

• Friday the 13th (2009)

• The Final Destination (2009)

• A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

• These films making over $450 million in box office alone.