Technical Aspects in Horror

    The goal of horror films is to scare the audience, as stated previously many times in older posts. As such, they must keep certain technical aspects in mind during film production that would convey a tone of fear or suspense. Horror films rely on other aspects that are not just camerawork, although it is an important factor in creating a terrifying scene. Today, I decided to look into the different aspects involved when creating a horror, and I'm hoping I can effectively incorporate these techniques in my opening so that anyone watching will feel like they are watching an actual Hollywood movie.

Editing

    Editing is used to emphasize the horror of a certain scene in a film. For example, a film might use slow motion to create a paranormal theme. It also builds up fear for the audience, because the slow motion creates tension among them, as they are getting anxious for some sort of jump scare that may or may not happen. 

The Final Girls (2015)

    Fast paced scenes, like action movies, will create suspense and excitement from the fast shots filled with action. Because of how quick the scene is moving, it is difficult for the audience to predict what will happen next, building fear within them.

28 Days Later (2003)

    Montage editing occurs when multiple shots are combined and assembled to play them into a sort of sequence. This allows the audience to understand the deeper meanings in the scenes of movies, rather than seeing single shots. An example of this would be in Saw I, when the man realizes how everything was connected within the "game". As the shots transition faster and faster, the viewers feel tense, as they see how the man's brain is quickly processing the events he went through.

Saw I (2003)

    Minimal editing is, as the name states, when a scene has little to no editing done on it. This is so that the audience feels like what is occurring is realistic and could happen in the real world. They became more terrified because that means that what they are watching could be them in the future if they happen to be in those same circumstances.

The Descent (2005)

Sound (Diegetic and Non-diegetic)

    Horror films use sounds that the viewers would be able to hear if they were in the scene, such as a doorbell ringing (diegetic), which makes the piece more realistic when we hear it. Sounds that can not be heard if you were there would include the background music playing over a scene (non-diegetic). This type makes can makes us feel tense or create adrenaline if the music is high pitched or fast respectively.

    A scene where the villain pops out at an extremely unexpected moment is often accompanied with a loud noise that grabs the audiences' attention. This makes the scene more scary overall because the people watching will jump in surprise from the scene.

    Sometimes scenes do not need sound to make it scarier. Sometimes, a scene is completely silent so that suspense is built, as silence is usually a good indicator that a jump scare will happen shortly. Other times, a simple sound such as a knock on the door will be heard, also making the audience feel startled.

A Quiet Place (2018)

Mise-en-scene

    The color in horror films are also vital in instilling a sense of fear and anxiety within the audience. Everything that gives the scene its color, from the lighting to the props and costumes the actors wear is called mise-en-scene.

    Lighting in horrors are commonly dimmed to create a feeling of the unknown and make the audience fearful of what is to come. Some parts will be completely pitch black, leaving the audience to interpret what is lurking in the darkness. Strobe lighting can also be implemented so that people can not fully see what is happening and brightness towards the end of the film can represent that the finale is coming to a close.

    Props in a horror film can be weapons such as a knife or creepy dolls given to little children that make the audience feel uneasy or off. In a movie revolving someone trying to escape from a certain place, props in that movie would probably have cages, which would give off a fear of claustrophobia in some people. In a film where the setting is primarily located in a hospital would have hospital beds, needles, bags of bloods, etc. to give that hospital vibe and provide a sense of realism.

    Costumes in a horror typically consist of the same getup. The villain almost always wears a creepy-looking mask to cover their faces and hide their true identity. The mask is also a dead giveaway to the viewers of who the antagonist is in the story. Other factors such as when a character has ripped, dirty, or just minimal clothing would be made to suggest that they are vulnerable and an easy target for the villain.

Michael Myers in Halloween (2018)