- Jump scares?
- Paranormal Activity?
- Spiders?
- Clowns?
- The living dead?
- The anticipation of a bad event?
Everyone is afraid of something. Horror movies exploit these fears, and vulnerabilities. So why have they become so successful?
Some people like the adrenaline, others like to watch them as a challenge, to see how long they can last. Groups of teenagers also like to watch horror movies as a joke. They are also used in secondary schools and 6th forms, for subjects such as English, and Media.
Horror movies use typical things, such as colour, clothing and camera angles, to create the feeling they want the audience to feel. The audience doesn't realize this, because it is automatic. for example: If you see someone walking in the shadows wearing dark clothing at night, the audience will immediately assume that they are a shady character / the bad guy. If you see someone wearing bright coloured clothing, in the sunlight with other people, we will get the sense that they are a good / innocent character. However, all of these things will depend on the context of the movie/film.
Horror movie screenshot analysis: Nightmare on Elm street- Nancy's nightmare
This scene is based in a dull corridor in, what appears to be a secondary school. The hallway and lockers are blue, which implies a cold, depressing feeling of the environment. The door behind her has been painted a brownish red, which creates a feeling of danger, as the colour red in horror movies usually relates to blood, danger and death. The hallway is slightly blurred, and the main object is in focus. They've done this to attract the audiences attention to the main object. The main object in the picture is a girl who appears to be in her mid teen years. She is wearing bright coloured clothing, that is typical of the time the movie is set in, implying that she is both innocent and good. she is wearing a Pink top, with the sleeves rolled up, as well as light trousers. Her facial expression tells the audience that she is some what nervous, or afraid, which, during the film, would create a feeling of fear and anticipation as well as allowing the audience to see that she is vulnerable. The angle her body is slightly tilted to the side, which creates a sense of caution as she is walking down the hallway, she looks like she is ready to turn and run away from something/someone. This is also creating a feeling of anticipation and fear for the audience, as the film is foreshadowing that something bad is about to happen to her.
