...A Scary Addiction Since the early beginnings of modern film, horror movies have been a very popular genre in societies all around the world. Despite the fact that these types of films have caused many people countless sleepless nights, millions of people wait in line every weekend and pay to see and enjoy the newest horror movie. The immortal popularity of horror movies may be contributed to the fact that they cause their viewers excitation, pleasure and a set of feelings that are uncontrollable and at the same time enjoyable for horror movie fans. Some people enjoy voluntarily anguish, fear and suffering as long as it is not actually happening to them so when they watch these kinds of movies even when they mostly know what to expect during the film, the amount of suspense of how cruel and crude each scene could be, heightens the viewer’s feelings of fear and anxiety, and for many of us the more bloody and terrifying the movie is what makes it so exciting. Stephen King establishes in his writings that “we are all mentally ill.” I think that what they like is the feeling that they can experience strong emotions and fear with the certainty that no harm will come to them because it is the character in the movie that is facing the danger. Also, with this kind of film, they can let their imagination run free and put themselves in the place of the actors to look for a way to escape or trying to find some solutions so they harm will not come to them and in some situations...
Words: 904 - Pages: 4
...Horror films, throughout the years of its existence, have taken over as one of the most influential and popular genres of all time. From killer to paranormal to monster movies, horror films have created the “counterculture” aspect of the ideal in hollywood. The ideas of “the hero”, “the happy ending”, and overall “everything will be fine” idea is challenged and experimented against in these films. People enjoy the idea of being scared because for the same reason people laugh and cry, people get scared which is okay because these are FEELINGS and they need to be expressed. Even Though Horror films are exciting and give a cathartic vibe, they have been criticized(especially in the 80s) and portrayed as violent, terrible films that are created...
Words: 315 - Pages: 2
...Aspects Of Your Chosen Horror Film Make It Horrific? In the following essay I will focus on the horror genre as well as horror aspects from the film, "An American Werewolf In London," (D. John Landis 1981). Whilst "An American Werewolf..." isn't one of the most horrific films made, and is at heart a black comedy, it still includes a lot of codes and conventions of the horror genre which makes it not only a horrific film, but one of the most memorable werewolf films in movie history. Using special effects and filled with bloody gore, "An American Werewolf" still looks as horrifyingly real as it did 27 years ago. Opening on the eerie Yorkshire moors, "An American Werewolf" centers around two American backpackers who are attacked by a werewolf after leaving a small village in the middle of nowhere. Having been warned by mysterious locals not to leave the road or go onto the moors, the two ignore the warnings and pay for it when one of them is killed and the other bitten by the wolf. In these opening fifteen minutes, the follows many codes and conventions used throughout the horror/monster genre. The first convention is the gothic setting of the opening that is the yorkshire moors. Typically of the horror genre, the setting is shown to be damp, cold, dark and full of mist. Preying on the audience's fears of being alone in the middle of the wilderness the film displays the truly horrific nature of isolation. Like any typical horror film, the setting for the attack...
Words: 851 - Pages: 4
...Point of view shot or POV, where the viewer or audience is looking through the eyes of a certain character. POV shots are common in horror and thriller films, which Aronofsky classifies Requiem for a Dream as a “urban horror film” and Black Swan as a physiological thriller. By changing the traditional camera shot to POV shot, it allows a change in the viewing experience of the film becoming more personal for the viewer. This personal experience is heightened by the view of the scenes through the subject’s eyes. The audience is seeing the events of the story as the main subject is seeing and experiencing the action of the scene. In Black Swan, during a rehearsal scene, we see through Nina’s eyes. She is practicing a spinning ballet move, and...
Words: 350 - Pages: 2
...FAMILY TIME combines dark comedy with a horror tale. The premise is somewhat familiar in regards to the idea that a deranged man terrorizes several victims. Some die and some live. There are solid themes about survival and family. Some of the techniques that make for a good horror film are used, such as an isolated setting, being cut off from communication, the use of darkness, and grisly murders. However, because this type of story has been done before, to be successful, the story truly requires a strong hook and it requires unique characters. While some of the dark humor is appreciated, the script would benefit from more development. First, the story needs to open with a scene that sets the tone. This could be the backstory or some other...
Words: 1316 - Pages: 6
...Do the monsters and the victims in horror films have any connection to contemporary social issues? Answer with reference to one or two horror films of your choice. Name: Leopold Riess Course: IR 140 Global Communications, Citizens and Cultural Politics Word Length: 1902 Story telling is an art that has been part of the human civilizations since time immemorial. In the different parts of the world, be it in Africa, the Caribbean or the European nations, the early human societies would use narrations for a variety of purposes such as entertainment, passing time or more importantly to communicate the values, traditions and principles that governed the specific society (Tudor, 1997). With the emergence of different religious schools of thought, narrations and later film work developed an inclination towards the depiction of evil versus good. The descriptions of the horrific nature of hell and the terrible demons there in was meant to scare shaky religious affiliates from deserting their faith. Since then the development of the horror film genre has advanced. According to Hogan (n.d) the first ever horror film to be produced in America was Frankenstein by Thomas Edison. In the contemporary day, the production of horror movies has been exaggerated with hard headed teenagers being the most preferred characters. As a matter of fact, some horror movies such as Friday the 13th and Freddy Vs Jackson were so popular that they made 234.6 and 224.8 million US dollars respectively...
Words: 2102 - Pages: 9
...This document of HUM 150 Week 3 Learning Team Assignment Film Matrix Horror contains: Complete the following matrix by filling out each category. Provide a brief description of how each component was used in the film you selected. For example, if you selected the film The Shining, in the first column, you would explain how the film General Questions - General General Questions · Resources: University of Phoenix Material: Film Matrix; University of Phoenix Material: Comedy and Horror Films List; Week Three Electronic Reserve Readings; and Microsoft® PowerPoint® Tutorial · Select one comedy and one horror movie from the list to watch as a team. · Watch, as a team, the selected comedy and horror films. · Discuss, as a team, both movies. · Complete two matrixes, as a team, one for the comedy and one for the horror film. · Create a 10- to 12-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation, explaining the team’s findings. Include detailed speaker notes. Address the following: o How did the film’s components match with the horror genre? o How did the film’s components match with the comedy genre? o Was the film you watched typical or atypical for the genre? Why or why not? · Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines. Review my comments on PowerPoint in the Class Materials Room. · Present your Film Matrix: Comedy and Horror presentation. o For Online and Directed Study students...
Words: 356 - Pages: 2
...first notable horror films, Nosferatu (1922) Horror is a film genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's primal fears. Horror films often feature scenes that startle the viewer; the macabre and the supernatural are frequent themes. Thus they may overlap with the fantasy, supernatural, and thriller genres.[1] Horror films often deal with the viewer's nightmares, hidden fears, revulsions and terror of the unknown. Plots within the horror genre often involve the intrusion of an evil force, event, or personage, commonly of supernatural origin, into the everyday world. Prevalent elements include ghosts, aliens, vampires, werewolves, curses, satanism, demons, gore, torture, vicious animals, monsters, zombies, cannibals, and serial killers. Conversely, movies about the supernatural are not necessarily always horrific.[2] Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 1890s–1920s 1.2 1930s–1940s 1.3 1950s–1960s 1.4 1970s–1980s 1.5 1990s 1.6 2000s 2 Sub-genres 3 Influences 3.1 Influences on society 3.2 Influences internationally 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External links [edit]History [edit]1890s–1920s See also: List of horror films of the 1890s, List of horror films of the 1900s, List of horror films of the 1910s, and List of horror films of the 1920s Lon Chaney, Sr. in The Phantom of the Opera The first depictions of supernatural events appear in several of the silent shorts created by the film pioneer Georges...
Words: 4774 - Pages: 20
...Japanese film Ring can be compared to a big tsunami wave that not only became highest grossing horror film in the country, but also shuddered Taiwanese, Korean, Hong Kong film markets. Following years many publications included it to the numerous symbolic "top 10 most scary films" lists. And when Steven Spielberg bought the rights to make the Hollywood remake it was seen as official evidence that Japanese horror cinema became new trendsetter in this genre and gained cult status in the West. Nowadays with numerous follow-ups within the Ring franchise and triggered a trend of Western remakes "Ring" is viewed as exemplary illustrative Asian horror movie. I will argue that the wide success of the movie is caused not by its deep cultural ties with Japanese cinema and Japanese horror movies in particular, but because on the contrary "Ring" has little to do with its traditional background. Hideo Nakata deliberately cut off all the cultural traces in order to make cinematic language of the movie universal and cosmopolitan thus giving a way for its intercultural translation and to be easily replicated. In order to do it first I will analyze different Japanese merchandizing strategies and study the film as a media product. Second, I will briefly overlook history and main stylistic traits of Japanese horror movie genre. In my general overlook on Japanese horror cinema, I will focus on two main horror film sub-genres kaidan and ero guro and will give few examples of classical horror films...
Words: 5256 - Pages: 22
...Oppressive and repressive social institutions, value systems and codes of behaviour are central to the horror, science-fiction and fantasy genres. Focusing on 1-2 examples of your choice, consider how these genres mediate the ‘problem’ of the social. How significant is ideology, as well as genre theory, to your case-study? This essay will explore the ways in which the horror genre perpetuates repressive and oppressive social institutions, value systems and codes of behaviour surrounding the homosexual subject. It will be suggested that the generic conventions of horror films sustain repressive understandings of the normative order which position the homosexual subject as a threatening ‘other’. This essay will offer the opinion that it is through these representations that the horror genre produces the ideological figure of the ‘monstrous homosexual’. The discourses and ideologies explored will primarily be those relating to coding of the homosexual subject as predator and paedophile. This essay will engage with genre theory in order to demonstrate how narrative repetition in the horror genre mediates the homosexual subject as a disruption to the social order which must be eliminated in order to restore the heteronormative order. The methodology of genre theory will first be outlined, and the generic conventions of the horror film will be explored. The methodology of discourse analysis will also be employed in order to expose the ideologies at play in the case study. This essay...
Words: 2857 - Pages: 12
...Cabin in the wood 500+words short essay During the film Cabin in the woods there were many distinguished visibility in different rooms throughout the film. The two main ones were the control room and the cabin. In the control room there was high key lighting. In this room the three point lighting system came into effect. The key light was the primary source of light used in room. The fill light was to soften some of the shadows. Also the backlight was to intensify the feeling of death more for the audience. In the room the film directors also used a white light so we could relate to the place more. The film used these lights because they wanted to let the audience know everything was getting better. In the cabin there was low-key lighting. Candles and very dim lights lighted up the cabin very minimally. This is because low-key lighting is generally used to make the audience feel the sense of enigma and mystery. The film directors also used yellow lights in the cabin. The use of high key lighting system and low-key lighting system was used throughout the film to show different moods throughout the film. There were many elements of mis en scene in the film Cabin in the woods. One of the elements of mis en scene was the old cabin. The cabin helped show the main place where the film will be taking place. This also lets the audience know that this is not a normal cabin in the woods. Another mis en scene was the control room. This place gave the audience a hint that this is where...
Words: 533 - Pages: 3
... but is now regarded as a landmark film. Please discuss some of Romero’s aesthetic choices (lighting, camera work, casting) and the ways in which they reflect the reallife horrors of the time. Night of the Living Dead (1968) by George A. Romero was heavily criticized at the time of release for its uncensored content, but it revolutionized the horror film genre while influencing many horror directors. When this transitional film first premiered in 1968, renowned film critic, Roger Ebert found it as “an expression of acute nausea”. Ebert was disgusted and wondered how someone could make such as horrifying movie (Hoberman and Rosenbaum, 1991, p. 123). In 1960’s, the scary monsters or evil villains such as the Frankenstein were typical in the horror films but this Romero cut has been associated with the term of “splatter film” used to describe horror genres that depict graphic violence and gore for many years (Williams, 2003, p.21). After the end of Civil War, 1968 was the most violent year in American history (Hoberman and Rosenbaum, p.125). It was in a time of very high tensions in both international Cold War politics and social turmoil; domestic racism, gender stereotypes and patriarchal nuclear family. Also the civil rights movement was beginning to blossom along with the protestation of the Vietnam War, which many believed was unnecessary and entirely avoidable. Romero has successfully delivered a “message” in this political film, highlighting the frustration, anger...
Words: 1240 - Pages: 5
...Ju -on : The Grudge is a Japanese written and directed by Takashi Shimizu horror film , released in 2002 the film spawned an American remake titled The Grudge in 2004 , also directed by Shimizu. . The original was critically acclaimed for its unique structure , slow pace, and atmosphere. The remake however, was criticized for its cultural conflict , the evidence and the absence of violence. The only fear tactics and nonlinear structure of Ju -on : The Grudge won the most praise for the film. The use of psychological scares rather than conventional jump - scares is an element that is especially popular among critics . The film creates disturbing atmospheres and thus slow " deliberate rhythms have a numbing effect ," confirms New York Times critic Dave Kehr . For example , the haunted house in which the movie takes place is eerily quiet , with subtle crackle to be heard here and there ; This gives your audience an uneasy feeling in his presence in a quiet room while watching the movie . Another example would be that the slow pace leaves the audience in constant paranoia for a planned spectrum , similar to the long clips from running . David Kehr also notes that the structure of the film " gets viewers involved and riddles , as they have to reconstruct the time frame ." For example , the character of Rika has no direct relationship with the successive two bullets in the film, only to become a recurring theme , or character of the fourth bullet on Toyama . Another example is the...
Words: 464 - Pages: 2
...Ezekiel Mascuilli Comp 1 Dr. Poznar November 25, 2014 Psycho If the title hasn’t given a sense of mystery, then maybe an analysis could help shed light on Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror film Psycho. The movie had many characteristics that could be defined as classic horror. From the beginning of the first conflict that arose Marion it’s possible that the use of variety gave a feeling of mystery. The movies elements include Alfred’s use of plot change. However it can be a better argument to say that Alfred Hitchcock’s use of setting change has helped give an emotion that could horrify viewers. In the beginning of the movie we take a view at Marion’s first conflict. The setting of the movie changes from Marion’s work, giving the viewer an in depth look at her surroundings, to a scene of illegal fleeing. The problem arose when Marion’s stress caused rational thoughts over stealing personal cliental money. Marion has committed an illegal act which caused her to adapt to her choices and change locations. Alfred has caused a break in the conflict by having Marion stop at a small hotel called the Bates Motel. The transition from locations has helped Hitchcock with his depict of a feeling of alertness. The setting of the Bates Mansion is given a style that depicts an old Victorian view. From the staircase to the cellar, Hitchcock still gave unsure feelings when it came to safety inside the Bates house. The interior has a look that doesn’t give off too much emphasis. The idea...
Words: 1223 - Pages: 5
...The Descent The Descent (2005) is a horror film upon first appearances directed by Neil Marshall, who had previously had little work with the genre besides the 2002 film, Dog Soldiers. It falls under several categories in terms of subgenre; drama, action-adventure, horror, slasher and most importantly Urbanioa. It was built upon a relatively small budget of £3,500,000, but succeeded spectacularly with the box office and critics, grossing £34,400,00+ worldwide. The plot of the film is generally simple and generic of the Urbanioa genre, and can be summed up clearly. The main character, Sarah, suffers a tragic loss of her family in the introduction of the film that clearly impairs her mentally. One year later, her friends Beth, Rebecca, Sam and Holly, lead by Juno, to try and repair and return the group to its previous state by first aiding Sarah. They do this buy returning to what they love: sporting, and on this expedition, caving. When they reach a mark of about 3 kilometers underground, however, a rock collapses and blocks the access tunnel, trapping the group inside the cave. With limited supplies, they try to find a way out, but sooner they face an unknown and savage breed of predators. The Urbanioa genre is a recent phenomenon that deals with the conflict of clashing themes; the past and present/nature and the man-made society. Generically it follows a group or family of modern middle class white characters, each of which fulfilling a trope of sorts. They are usually...
Words: 1834 - Pages: 8
