Demi Mason. Media.

Mr Raymond

Horror films
Conventions on horror films Horror Films are unsettling films which effectively centre on the dark side of life, they are designed to frighten and panic, cause dread and alarm, and to invoke our hidden worst fears. They do this often with a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a cathartic experience. The main conventions of the horror genre include: shadows, silhouettes, chiaroscuro shots, spooky music, night-time setting, deserted, shallow focus, deep focus, pulling focus, reincarnation, misty fog, death, gravestones, flashbacks, etc. 1920s In the early 20th century, the first monster appeared in horror film. Darkness and shadows, were and still today are such important features of modern horror, they were impossible to show in film during the 1920s, so the sequences, for example in Nosferatu, we see a vampire leaping amongst gravestones in what appears to be broad daylight, seems surreal to us now. These early entries to the genre established many of the codes and conventions still recognizable today. In the late 1920s silent films were made, the idea come about to combine motion pictures with recorded sound. They were described to cover Horror, Mystery and Suspense. They included shadows, disturbing and distorted quality, twisted alleyways, lopsided doors, cramped rooms, overhanging buildings, and skewed cityscapes. 1950s The horror films of the 1950s were more about science and technology; they include an accurate enough reflection of reality. The studios were too busy incorporating technical changes such as widespread colour production and trying to meet the challenge posed by TV to have much consideration with making quality horror pictures. Which is why Horror movies during this time, were related to the B movie category. 1960s The 1960s saw a great change in what the public perceived as horrible. As well as being more open to nudity, onscreen violence, the up rise in teen audiences of the 1950s, were growing up. They wanted horror, that was more rooted in reality, more believable, more sophisticated, that dealt with some of the issues they faced in a rapidly changing world. 1970s The horror genre received a huge revival in the late 70s early 80s, with Omen and Nightmare on Elm Street being so popular. Less money was spent in the 1970s due to the success of low budget gore films, and popularity. 1980s The 1980s saw a wave of "B movie" horror films. A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture. Early B movies were often part of series in which the star repeatedly played the same character. They were almost, always shorter than the topbilled films they were paired with, many had running times of 70 minutes or less.