Contemporary Examples
- The Rite Mikael Håfström, 2011
- Paranormal Activity 2 Tod Williams, 2010
- Saw (6 films in franchise) James Wan, 2002-2009
- Blair Witch Project Daniel Myrick + Eduardo Sánchez, 1999
- Dog Soldiers Neil Marshall, 2002
- Urban Legend Jamie Blanks, 1998
- I Know What You Did Last Summer Jim Gillespie, 1997
- Hostel Eli Roth, 2005
Codes and Conventions
- Split into sub genres (see below), often hybridised
- Primary target audience – male, 16-24, Mainstreamers
- 15 or 18 Certification (promises of pleasure) – debates on passive consumption
- Uses and Gratifications (active audiences) theory can apply
- Extensive use of Narrative enigmas
- Exploration of Narrative Themes
- Slow pace of Editing, builds tension. Long takes
- Three act narrative structure
- Predictable narrative content (follows format)
- Clear binary oppositions e.g. good v evil
- Use of low key lighting
- Use of CGI, FX
- High production values but many low budget horror films
- Dominant, hegemomic representation of gender: The Female Victim
- Extensive use of close up
- Incidental non-diegetic sound
- Distorted diegetic sound
- Extensive use of narrative off-screen space
- Young/teenage characters
- Use of hand-held camera: audience identification/realism
- Point of view shots
- Low angle shots
Horror Sub Genres
Horror can be split into sub genres:
- The Monster Scare
- Psychological Thrillers
- Slasher Pics …
