1. HORROR GENRE ( CASEWORK)
Unit 11: Film Studies
HORROR GENRE ( CASEWORK)

2. Horror
“Horror is a genre that aims to create a sense of fear, panic, alarm, and dread for the audience”. – tsl (2016)
Horror films share similar codes and conventions in order to create that scare factor that the audience craves.

3. Nosferatu (1922) - F.W. Murnau
- see trailer

4. Nosferatu (1922) - Visual techniques
Iconography: monsters (vampires), gothic setting (castle),
Setting: isolated rural location
Narrative: drawn from traditional gothic horror literature - Dracula
Character types: doomed victims, misunderstood creatures

5. Nosferatu (1922) Technical techniques
Shot: tilt, close ups, high angle, est/long shot, low angle
Camera movement: very little movement due to heaving equipment
Editing techniques: seamless, parallel edit, continuity
Sound: music

6. The Exorcist (1973) - William Friedkin
- see trailer

7. The Exorcist (1973) Visual techniques
Iconography: supernatural entities (demons), sinister and isolated locations (the steep steps), screaming victims.
Setting: Seemingly sleepy town with dark secrets, isolated
Narrative: characters are menaced and threatened by supernatural forces
Character types: doomed victims, religious figures, disbelieving authority figures

8. The Exorcist (1973) Technical techniques
Shot: high angle, close ups, est/long, low, POV, OTS
Camera movement: tracking/panning, handheld
Editing techniques: seamless, parallel for most part, experimental
Sound: diegetic, dialogue

9. The Ring (2002) - Gore Verbinski
- see trailer

10. The Ring (2002) Visual techniques
Iconography: supernatural entities, sinister locations, screaming victims,
Setting: town that hides secrets
Narrative: ghost story where characters are menaced and threatened by supernatural forces
Character types: misunderstood monster, doomed victims, heroic survivors

11. The Ring (2002) Technical techniques
Shot: OTS, POV, high, low, close up, est/long
Camera movement: zoom, handheld, track/pan,
Editing techniques: seamless, montage , non traditional, experimental
Sound: non-diegetic, diegetic, dialogue

12. Themes – reoccurring thematic questions
From the chosen films there are thematic questions in common;
Is everyday reality hiding some sinister supernatural threat?
Is there life beyond that which we can see?
CCEA (2014)

13. References
Tsl (2016) Horror [Online] Available from: [Accessed on: 21/10/2016].
Slideshare (2016) camera shots and angles for a horror and thriller film [Online] Available from: [Accessed on: 22/10/2016]
ImDb (2016) The Exorcist (1973) [Online] Available from: [Accessed on: 22/10/2016]
ImDb (2016) The Ring (2002) [Online] Available from: [Accessed on: 21/10/2016]
ImDb (2016) Nosferatu (1922) [Online] Available from: [Accessed on: 21/10/2016]
CCEA (2014) Genre Fact Sheet: Horror