Nosferatu opening; links to the genre and themes

1. The scene is delightful and there is an essence of romance in the mise en scene with flowers and music. however this period makes the viewer suggest what could go wrong? and what's up with the seemingly perfect town? building tension.
2. A couple are introduced appearing to be the main characters but the scene still does not connote horror.
3. Embracing each other then man hands the woman flowers connoting life.
4. however she only see's plucking the flowers as killing them. This sis first horror connotation and symbolises death is to come.
5. when the dark magic is introduced in a letter the non diegetic music becomes low and there are sudden changes in the tone making the viewer unsettled as a dark suspense builds, warning the viewer the letter brings no good.
6. this scene leaves the viewer in worry as it leaves many questions unanswered  although very  important to the plot. what do the contents of the letter say/mean? the estate agent is presented as shift and suspicious  should he be trusted? and what is so mysterious about the building the scene highlights?
7. when choosing a house to sell to Nosferatu the camera quickly pans to a deserted building as the idea struck the audience is left reeling at its relevance and is presented as another warning of this deal.
8. the camera slowly fades preparing the viewer for a softer scene. Depicting the girl extremely upset by her partner's leaving, the scene strikes the viewer emotionally presenting feelings of loneliness and loss preparing the viewer for the loss and pain much worse to come.

Some theme's used here are;

• fears and myths of foreigners (at the time Transylvania was known as the 'land of the ghost'.
• fears of strangers
• fears of separation
• fears of loneliness
• an uncertainty of trust
• playing on the unknown
• corruption and greed
• the fragile nature of love 
• abandonment and female abandonment during this time

Horror sub-genres and hybrids



A sub-genre is for works which fall into a specific class within a genre which

is a larger category, in this case horror films whilst a horror hybrid is a combination of horror film aspects and conventions of another genre.




Alien (1979) Is a classic example of a science-fiction horror film, another example I have looked at is The Thing (1982) both use an extraterrestrial antagonist which is conventional of sci-fi horror but can also extend to the threat being mad scientist or scientific advances.

 

I Am Legend (2007)

A post-apocalyptic science-fiction horror film

Zombie film this sub-genre also contains categories within it such as ‘zombie apocalypse’ a break down in society due to a living dead outbreak, I Am Legend is also an example of this, so is  Shaun of the dead (2004) though this also fits into the category ‘zombie comedy’.

Shuan of the Dead's (2004) UK release poster provokes a humorous response whilst being in the zombie horror genre.

Frankenstein (1931) is classed as a horror monster film

The Faculty (1998) a science fiction horror is also an example of teen horror which is usually based around a ratable teenage/youth lifestyle with the main protagonists being young or teenagers.

Slasher films are a popular sub-genre of horror and can usually be identified by the icons such as knives, axes and other killer weapons being frequently shown to elicit violent murders, the antagonist of Slasher films are commonly psychotic serial killers.

 

Psycho (1960)  is a forerunner of the Slasher sub-genre when comparing this film to Sceam (1996) athough the theme remains there has been a definate evolution in Slasher films as they push new limitations and break expectations of the sub-genre.



Blair witch project is both a psychological horror; which threatens to uncap the protagonists  fears and mental stability and a splatter film which purposefuklly focuses in on gore and gruesome violence to horrify its viewers.

supernatural horrors films are constantly reacurring throught time as they play on the timeless fear of the unknown.

Horror film timeline

This timeline roughly shows the evolution of horror films according to fears in society at the time.

Themes and fears in society examples

Horrors reflect fears in society at the time.Whilst films in the 20’s may have used monsters to be scary, they have become too predictable for our generation almost. But new fears in society arise which also changes the themes and dynamic of horror film altogether.

Films which themes play on fears in society nowadays would be apocalyptic films such as; '2012' (2009) and 'The Day After Tomorrow' (2004). They have amplified peoples concerns about the suspected end of world in 2012. After diseases such as types of influenza creating a state of panic, films such as; 'I Am Legend' (2007) and 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' (2011) use disease as a probable cause of the post-apocalyptic state in which the films are set. They also contain a theme of science going too far. This has been a common Horror theme since early films such as 'Frankenstein' (1931).

The Final Destination film series 
The final destination film series is a great example of exaggerating viewers everyday worries. everyday aspects of life such as lifts, roller coasters breaking down, heavy weights, lorry control on the road, glass, average sports and even tanning beds become a way in which a protagonist will or could easily die. This is hard hitting as although  these incidents would rarely happen they are realistic.

Eden Lake (2008)
relates to the fears of a 'broken Britain' and the hoodlums the next generation of teens appear to be becoming.

Parts: The Clonus Horror
A science-fiction horror film in which living clones of people in society are made, then harvested for organs for the originals. This plays on peoples concerns of medical, scientific and technological advances. The storyline touched on taboos such as cloning, someone having to die for someone to gain an organ and the lengths people are willing to go to for immortality. These concerns still remain and an imitation of the film was made as science-fiction thriller 'The Island' in (2005) it too depicted the elite being able to do as they please.

Horror themes

Horror themes tend to play on or amplify fears in society. By exploiting the viewer’s worst nightmares and paranoia of the unknown writers and directors create horror as it gives frightened emotional reaction from the audience. Recurring themes in horror films are supernatural and macabre. Horrors themes also often link to other genres such as thrillers and supernatural.

Boogeyman (2005)
Is a take on the childhood fear of 'the boogeyman' who hides in closets or under beds. reviving past or hidden fears and provoking paranoia in the place the viewer may feel most safe; their room yet most vulnerable; asleep at night.

Examples of conventional horror camera techiniques



Mother's Day (1980) horror-thriller film
The low angle shows the mother’s power over the girl in the shot.






Michael Jackson’s thriller music video  

The music video uses horror conventions such as this extreme close up.

 


Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960)
Psycho also uses a extreme close up in the shower scene as Marion screams.

  


 Cloverfield (2008) monster horror-thriller film

Cloverfield is filmed all in hand held camera and from the characters point of view making the viewer feel they are living the experience and that the events could actually have happened.

 

horror conventions; camera work

·         Hand held camera's make the situation seem more realistic and frantic.

·         Point of view shots allow us to see from the villains perspective view this could mean we know the victim is being snuck up upon without revealing the antagonist to the viewer which tends to be more scary. Or the point of view could be from the protagonist making the viewer feel they are also under threat.

·         Close ups allow us to see the characters reaction to the horrific situation this works well with an eyeline match. Whereas extreme close ups can make the viewer uncomfortable which is ideal for an unsettling horror film.

·         Slow panning and zooms build tension in a scene.

·         Low angle and High angles help to amplify a characters dominance of helplessness in a scene.