Institution Logos

Dark Castle Entertainment

Blumhouse










Hammer Films

Miramax

Paramount




Warner Brothers















Me and my group chose the institution Miramax, and this is because Miramax is a very popularly used institution for horror films. For example the films that Miramax has produced Scary Movie 1,2 and 3, as well as Amityville Horror and Dracula.

Target audience for horror films.

Age -

The usual age for the audience of  horror film is etween 15-25. The certificate for most films are 15 and some are 18. Most yound adults in this age range ae wanting to explore life and wanting to learn new things therefor, in their developing age, horror films are good for helping them explore the world and what happens in it. This is because they want to experiment different emotions and feelings that they havn't had before and they want to seek all the thrill they can get. Therefore a horror film can help with gaining a thrill as well as triggering excitment that they  may of never had before, as well as affecting them  in a different way to what adults could be affected. A young audience is much likely to be put off by things like violnce and gore than adults and adults are known to have a negative opinion towards horror films.

Gender-

Males are the more-likely gender to watch horror films due to the stereotypical thrill seeker which is portrayed by men in the public. The male thrill seekers like to test their adult hormones by watching scary films that will stimulate them. Violence is also very popular in horror films and is one of the main features and conventions in a horror film, men also have a slight desire and long to be involved in a violent act therefore the scenes in horror films are more likely to entertain men. Male also like the thrill of violence, blood and gore due to there boisturous nature.

Class-

The class of the audience that mainly watch horror films are usually the working class of society. This is because of the level of thrill and excitment that you get from a horror film that will be able to be seen at a reasonabley cheap price. A higher class within society would usually go to watch a subgenre of a film such as an action or romance and this is because they have a higher level of expectation from a film therefore they expect a lot more satisfaction from the film that they are watching.

Certain groups of audiences-

There are many different types of family types that are more likely or unlikely to go to watch a horror film. A new, young couple would be more likely to go to watch a horror film, firstly because they are young therefore they seek thrill and excitment that a horror films helps to create. Secondly the comfort that is needed after the film is a good way in which the couple can connect with eachother as well as the conversation can be started by the horror film as it is a popular topic to talk about with someone of a young age. So horror films are popular within the young couple range. An unpopular type of family would be a family of four with young children, this would be inapropriate therefor a family with young children will go to see another genre of film like an actions or a kids film.

The Cabin in the woods- young couples

Strangers- young males

A nightmare on elm street- couples

Texas chainsaw-  males

Textual Analysis- Paranormal Activity

How institutions work in synergy for production and distribution and Institutions that mainly produce horror

Opening credits in own piece

Opening credits within a horror film are very significant. This is because they list the most important people who are in the film as well as who was involved in the making of the film. This includes the directers, writers and cameramen as well as the key main actors within the film. The title of the film is shown at the start of the film usually after the titles have been shown and this is to tell the audience what the film is actually going to be about as well as the genre, due to the font of the title. After the audience seeing the title, it will give connotations to them on what they will think the plot will include and will be like. Some examples of horror films that have significant credits and titles are;

Annabelle 2014-

The titles within this film are bright red and bold. The colour red is a connotations of danger as well as blood. This colour is used to let the audience know the danger that will happen in the film. The background of the title is black and this is done to connote the darkness of the film as well as to emphasise the importance of the title. It helps to make the title stand out.





Opening credits of our own piece- 

sound in horror

Music-

Music in horror films is very important. This is because it is very good at creating the mood of the scene. It is also Very good at contributing to the atmosphere in the film and adding to the emotion of the audience whilst watching it. There are commonly different instruments used to connote different feelings. For example- Isolated instruments are used right before a key moment in a horror film because this is to create Build in emotion for the audience and connote vulnerability of the characters.  Long prolonged notes can help with the contrast of the short sharp notes. This is used when a jump scare is about to happen. Also the contrast between the two notes are used help with tension or the action that will be happening in the scene.  

Voices-

There are many different types of voices that  are used in a horror film. Voices are used to connote the feelings of the actor within the film. For example in the Saw films jigsaw  has a very distinctive voice that is well known to many people. This can automatically cause fear because of the low tone that he speaks in. His voice is very unique therefore the audience will know who is speaking immediately. The voice is very husky, strong tone therefor this would cause a sense of intimidation.  Here is a video that shows many different types of voices that are used in the horror genre;

Sound Effects-

There are many well known used sound effect that are popular in horror films. examples of these could be-

-crows

-bats

-owls

-church bells

-witches laughing

-doors slamming

-footsteps

-bangs

Ghostly and echoed voices can become a well used sound effect in a horror film.This is because it will add to the eary atmosphere of the film as well as reinfoce the tension building within the film.

Here is an example of a door opening and foot steps, which is a very well known used sound effect in the horror genre-



Mise en scene in Horror films

Setting-

In the mise en scene of a horror film there are many different factors that contribute to reinforce the genre and its purposes. One example of a contribution to the mise en scene could be setting. Locations like a wood or forest and a cabin  could be a good contribution to a horror film. This would be because of how it can emphasise the tension that is being built throughout the film and cause a frightening atmosphere. The locations that are used are stereo-typically cut off from society with no contact and in the middle of no where. As there is no help that can be found in a fast period of time, this then adds to the alarming atmosphere of the film. If there was help available the film would be a lot less scary. An example of a film that's location is important for the story line and also the following films that were made after it would be 'Friday the 13th'. In this film the setting is a forest. By using the forest it creates a stranded atmosphere, and makes the characters feel as if they are lost and cannot escape. This particular location is mostly used at night. Due to the limited lighting it reinforces the atmosphere as terrifying and creates a more easy way of using the technique of jump-scares as there are a lot of trees that are in the forest that can be used to hide behind.  Some horror films can be set in haunted houses of the characters therefore this would be seen as a little more personal to the audience because they would be able to relate to the characters. 

Props- 

Props are used throughout the horror films and they are really important for emphasising the genre and atmosphere of the film. Different props are used for different sub-genre horror films because what props are used depends on the story line and the plot. Props can range from a weapon like a gun to a spiritual artefact like a cross or bible. In a possession film the props that are most likely to be used would be things like a cross or a bible. This is because  these props can contribute in the religion side of things throughout the film as well as the faith. An example of a possession type film that uses these kind of props would be 'The Exorcist'. This film is jam-packed with props to reinforce the loss of faith within the character. Another popular prop that is used in many different horror films could be weapons. Different types of weapons would be used in different sub-genres of a horror film. A weapon that would be used in an action horror would mostly be a gun. Guns would connote the violence that is taking place in the film and would add to the tense atmosphere. An example of a action horror that uses many guns to create a violent atmosphere would be 'The Purge.' Another type of weapon that is frequently used throughout other violent horror films would be a knife, a machete or a chainsaw. These weapons would usually be seen used in a slasher film to add to the gore affect. This type of weapon will associate with the antagonist in the film and would connect the weapon automatically to the villain. Weapons like this would not stereo-typically be used by the victim as it makes the antagonist look more crazy.  A prop like a gun could be used by the victim in a horror film and this would only be for self defence which would make the audience feel sorry for the victim as they are only defending their life.  An few examples of films that reinforce the weapon of a knife, saw of a machete could be 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre', 'Friday the 13th' and 'Halloween.'

Lighting and Colours- 

The lighting in horror films play a huge role into adding to the mysterious atmosphere of the genre. The most popular used lighting would be dark, dimmed or mysterious. This is used to create a sense of surrounding for the character and helps to emphasise and enlarge jump-scares that will occur in the film or scene. Darkness has a huge impact on the characters in the film as they are unable to identify what is lurking within darkness, which would then furthermore add to the unknown atmosphere. The dark is also a very common fear for many different people therefore the usage of it is a play off of the common and generalised fears of the public. Without the dark affect in lighting, it would not be as near scary as when it would be dark. A bright lighting would not contribute to the atmosphere that is created. 

For colours there are three main generalised colours that are used in different sub genre horror film. In a slasher horror film, the colour red will be used frequently. This is because the colour red connotes the amount of blood that appears in the film. It also portrays the danger in the film and foreshadows the death that is going to occur. In a stereo-typical horror film, the colours that are used most frequently are black and white. These colours are used to contrast the context of the horror film as good vs evil, pure and lost and hero and villain. The colour white on its own represents purity so when used in a horror film would portray a virgin character that is innocent and pure. Or it could represent the heroic character of the film. Lastly the use of black in a horror film clearly represents the the darkness side of the film which portrays the loss of soul. 

Hair, make up and costume- 




These three features all contribute into helping shape the character's personality and it will give an automatic representation whether they are good or bad in the plot. It will also determine the style of the character straight away for the audience. There is generalised costumes to suit frequently used characters in different horror films. For example a white dress will be worn on a little girl in a horror film. The girl will usually have black, tattered and messy hair that does not look washed or done. The make up in horror films also help tp identify the antagonist within the film. Certain features of the character can automatically identify the antagonist and proagonist. There is a lot of blood  used in make up in horror fims because this is a connotation of danger an death. Disfigured faces are used frequently within horror films to scare the audience and signify how the story is going to be layed out. Sweat, scars and cuts on a protgonists face can tell the audience that the character has gone througha journey and they will knw the struggles of the charater.

Here is an embedded video that has mise en scene that sets the scene of the film and shows the audience what the film is going to be based around- The Woman in Black;