A2 Media Depicting horror

A2 Media Depicting horror

• 1.
  How is Horrordepicted through Advertisement? Deconstructing elements of horror from film posters Conventions: The expected ingredients in a particular type of media text usually associated with genre.
• 2.
  •White, Red orBlack text •Simplistic Imagery •Quite thin/slim writing not too bold or harsh •Pale Complexion •Hidden messages •Off colouring/Dark e.g. Black, green or blue •Usually gormless expression of the main photo •Close up of main subject of film •Distorted affects on the poster •Some posters have a rim bleed effect around images, focusing on the main photo •Some unreadable expressions •An abnormal creature
• 3.
  Mise-en-scene •Isolated or domesticsetting generally at night •Dark surroundings expressionistic lighting giving more shadow’s •Items with a historical horror significance Camera and editing •Dramatic crosscutting for suspense •Fast cuts mainly for violent action •Handheld shots for chase scenes •Point of view shots e.g. Chase scenes Characters •Psychologically damaged adults •Hedonistic Teenagers •Victims becoming heroes •Monsters •Innocent girl/boy Narratives based on issues /themes emerging •Good over evil •Avenging unfinished business •Conflict acted out as a battle •Confusion with identity •Unsolved and unexplained events such as death Narrative structure •Victims use skills to solve the crime, overthrow the evil •Background information always given to audience •Edits contributes to confusion •Conforms to Todrov’s equilibrium , disruption ,restoration of equilibrium •Related oppositions e.g. Life and death, Good and evil, that lead to resolution of conflict , however change of events could change the ending Music & Sound •Suspense music •Loud noises e.g. Bangs and crashes •Creaking of doors floorboards , •Screams •Heartbeats •Diegetic vs Non-Diegetic Main Icons •Blood •Shadows •Deformities •Death •Supernatural world
• 4.
  •Off colour, thebrown tinge suggests the Horror is historical, along with the image effects with , some parts of the poster look worn out •The face is daunting, capturing the audience to look at the poster •The old photos of people , that make up the ghoul suggests that the film could be of domestic settings, and could be based on a family. •“The Most terrifying images are the ones that are real” The caption brings a chill and thought to the audience, also implying that the horror may be based on a true story, meaning that the elements of horror within the film may have more of an impact on the audience individually •The title of the film is “Shutter” and the effect that has been put on the image, suggesting that the horror storyline , could be some what hidden but in plain site , also meaning that there could be characters that discover or uncover the horror story •The title is put near the bottom right hand corner , making the audience pay more attention to the image •The font used for the title is not too bold , but has very sharp edges, suggesting the danger within the film •The ‘S’ and ‘R’ in the title shutter are significantly bigger, and have a slight effect which makes the title slightly glow, the two letters could possibly relate to what is in the film •There is also an image faintly behind the title, directly underneath the U and T which is a small circle with half of it white and the other half black, it could indicate a shutter of a camera , which could be a key prop to do with a film •The distorted face of the ghoul , suggests that it was once human and may be a supernatural horror
• 5.
  •The whole imageis in a dark filter, making the image look gloomy and dull, indicating the darkness of the film •There is a plain font across the top of the poster , that is showing simplicity, but indicating danger at the same time stating “There is something wrong with Esther.” This also suggests that on the outside things may be clean and pristine but on the inside there is a deeper problem, this may be a characteristic the main character is portraying •The little girl is obviously the main character as it is if she has a spotlight shining down on her , also the plain and dark background, it could look as if she is in interrogation •She has been made to look sinister, her eyes are darkened, as well as the space around it, along with parts of her face, making her look not so innocent •The expression the little girl carries is unreadable suggesting there may be a psychological problem with the girl •Even though she is young, certain parts of her face for example her cheek bones are sharpened, to those of an adults , she could have an adult mind •She is dressed in uniform like clothing , accessories like bows, and a velvet choker, however the dull colours are unusual for a small girl, the black ribbons in her hair, could represent death and darkness she is associated with and the red chocker could represent the danger she may carry in the horror film •The way her hair is styled , can suggest her age and how young she actually is •The child like font in the title “Orphan "shows some of the innocence carried by the child, perhaps some of the vulnerability, she could possibly be the orphan •The caption at the bottom “Can you keep a secret?” links to child like behaviour such as sharing secrets amongst friends , especially young children that like to play games like Chinese whispers, this again implies her innocence
• 6.
  •The image isan off colour like a blue/grey, suggesting it may an indoor setting for the film, especially with background which is a wall •The main image is a human body, which gives an idea of the narrative of the film of humans, and that it is to do with murderous activities •The body is pale , and the eyes have been removed, the body is of what seems a young girl , as the facial structure is still soft and not a sharp structure , the eyes have been completely removed and are just dark holes , this gives a sense of no mercy to the victims as the girl is quite young, and also vulnerability as she seems to be naked •The body is covered completely in wax, which is quite harmless, but in this way there is a new danger about it, as it as almost as she has been drowned by it , This also suggests the possible murder weapon in the film , especially as wax has to be heated before poured, the death may have been painful •The words underneath the image say “Prey, Slay, Display”, this pushes forwards the ideas that there is something ghastly or a psychologically disturbed human committing murderous acts in the image •The title of the film is “House of wax” this suggest the kind of horror film it will be , the horror will be discovered, possibly by humans or even hedonistic teenagers , as the victim is quite young •The font of the title is quite plain and bold , however is glows against the dark background , it is one of the things that stand out on this poster, “The house of wax” could be a place that stands out in the dark , but holds a lot of danger, it could be where the murders have been committed
• 7.
  • The masthead“Halloween” , suggests the time of year this film has been set and also the theme this film may carry •The main image has a slight glow on the background, with a colour scheme of black which connotes darkness and death, white, red and orange suggests danger and fire, which could be what is included within the film •The actual pumpkin is a symbol for Halloween , within the pumpkin there is a face with a hand holding a knife Connoting the danger within the film and the poster •“The night he came home !” The home is known as a place of safety, the ‘He’ tells us that the beast or psychologically disturbed person is male, and perhaps holds a domination of the people in the film
• 8.
  • There isclearly a “damsel in distress, who is in agony and is the victim •The masthead “Who will survive and what will be left of them” denotes the pain and agony of the victims face, especially as the masthead suggests the suffering, at the end of it “What will be left of them” •The mise-en-scene of the wooden frame looks like it is found behind somewhere, this suggests where the deed is taking place is isolated •The man in the photo is wearing a blood stained apron, which could be the blood of a previous victim along with the blood on the chainsaw • “America’s most bizarre and brutal crimes” convincing audience that these act could be real, in a way warning what will be shown in the film
• 9.
  • There isa dark and off colouring of the whole image of a grey •The mise-en-scene of the image is almost like a dungeon, indicating that the horror may be in a dark and hidden place, •The angle of gaze of the doll, is disturbing as it is turning around without the help of the woman sitting on the chair •The state of the woman does not look clean and sharpen , almost looks decaying and old, suggesting the historical factor of the film •The woman facing the wall in the rocking chair, suggest that something is not psychologically right •“Based on the true case files of the warrens” this quote is convincing the audience that the horror recorded in this film is true, enhancing the fear factor within this film
• 10.
  • The decayingteeth hanging from the rotten thread suggest the amount of victims over a length of time •The teeth also act as a memorabilia of the victims that the villain has caught and killed as they are hanging on a thread •The human teeth also suggest that it may be a human and human villain body mutilation , especially since there is a blade across the top of the image •“This Halloween, he’s pulling out al the stops” this quote is an anchor to the imagery on the film poster • The ‘W’ on the image is like a pitchfork which is linked with the conventional costume of the devil with his pitchfork, suggesting dark and demonic themes within the film
• 11.
  •The poster hasa red glow around the main image, red suggesting danger •“Check In. Relax. Take a shower” , this quote suggests the mise-en-scene of where the “danger” lurks in the film , especially since the image is of an trapped individual, making the quote very sinister •The stance that the person has been trapped looks like a plead for help and they are trying to escape , they are also naked increasing the vulnerability of the individual •The Black frame suggest the tightness of the space in the shower , which connotes that the attack may be harder to escape from •The filter on the main image makes the image partially clear , and indicates the steam of the shower especially on the victim’s face, it is almost as no one can save them, like they are hidden •The title of the film “Psycho” has an uneven cut through it, suggesting the style of horror and the cause of death to the victim possibly with a knife •The term Psycho comes from the word Psychopath, this could be a person with split personality , which anchors the split text