The Anatomy of a Scary Film

THE ANAGAY OF A SCARY FULM Hands clenched, eyes barely open and all the doors are locked...you must be watching a scary movie! Whether it is a movie from the 60s or a modern zombie film, the countless terrifying scenes stick with you and keep some coming back for more. The horror film genre is a complex one, keeping the audience scared involves everything from music to camera angles and physiological reactions. A lot goes into the creation of a successful scary movie, here is a look at some of the physical aspects that come together to scare the audience. Sounds are a crucial part of horror films, without them the films wouldn't be nearly as scary. The screeching sounds and eerie tunes invoke fear and prepare you for the terror that lies ahead. Sounds of Horror Pinno Donaggio, a film music composer, believes that horror is expressed through music with dissonance. Bernard Hermann created the music for the well- known thriller Psycho. ALFED HITCHCock'S PSYCHO He created a chilling effect by using the highest registers of a violin. He used dissonances to create this sound, they were based on the shift from a weakened seventh chord to the minor-major one. A study was conducted to find out if music and sound (paired with the thrilling images) are responsible for scaring horror film audiences. SURVEY Survey participants were shown horror film clips, some with upbeat or calming music edited in, and some with the original horror music. Music Result Upbeat Calming Overall, they felt light heartedness in the edited clips and fear in the original clips, proving that sounds and music have an impact on the mood of the audience, and how they view the film. Horror Here are two unique instruments used in popular thrillers to create the perfect eerie sound. The Waterphone sends shivers down spines and has been used in Poltergeist and Let the Right One In. The Theremin creates the "ooooh-eeeee-o0ooh" sound used in many 1950s horror films, and the more recent Ed Wood (1994). A tuba was used to create the well-known sound of JAWS with a simple pattern of two alternating notes. Camera Angles Something as simple as the angle of a camera can dramatically change how the audience views a scene. The following are angles often used in horror films to create the perfect terrifying scene. Extreme close-up Shows one part of an object or characters face. Used to create Handheld Shot The operator carries the camera, allowing them to follow the an intense mood. action and create a sense of immediacy for the audience. Used to create a trembling effect. Oblique/Canted Angle When the camera is tilted it Seen throughout the entire Blair Witch suggests imbalance, instability or transition. This angle is often used as a point-of-view shot. Project. Low Angle Used to invoke fear in the audience. Used throughout The Shining. Characters In this genre of films, it's important to create compelling and believable characters. If you care for the character, you are more likely to react when they are in danger When the audience identifies with the lead characters they become more believable and in turn create more suspense. THE VOM THE WAICH THE MASTER Filmmakers make the characters more believable by getting the audience to feel for the characters, whether it's pain, fear, happiness or wanting. Characteristic: "usually vulnerable When other areas of the film The audience feels: Sad, Pain, fear, hysterical fear are limited, like a one-room setting, the believability of the characters become even more important. The Art of the Scare There are many techniques used by horror filmmakers, here are two popular ones that they use to scare you. The Jump Scare The Jump Scare is a technique used in nearly all horror films. w ne It occurs when the character feels like they are safe, only to be abruptly attacked by the film's 'monster'. This technique catches the audience off guard, sometimes making them jump!. PARANO RMAL In the 80s this technique was overused, but films like Poranormal Activity have brought ACTIVITY NIGHTMARE it back. There are three steps involved in this technique: 2 HLED The pledge: The character is put into a dangerous situation where they hear something like rattling in another room or voices when they're home alone. The turn: The character no longer hears the sounds, or they find an explanation for it. Everything seems calm at this point. The prestige: Now that the viewers have let their guard down, the jump scare occurs and the character is attacked or frightened by something. This usually occurs with a sound effect or music. For a perfect example of this, watch A Nightmare on Elm Street. - The Found Footage Approach Some filmmakers use the found footage approach and are wildly successful, like in Cannibal Holocaust and Paranormal Activity. If the audience feels threatened themselves, they are fascinated by things that are violent and frightening. LAN NISAL HOLOCAUST The lack of privacy with social networks and YouTube videos may lead to this fear. LE FILA LE PLUS CONTAVERS PARANORMAL ALTIVITY The audience is familiar witih this world and feel like they could be the victims, allowing them to be frightened more easily. THE ART & SOPNCE BEHIND WHY WE WAICH SCARY NOVIES While watching a scary movie, our bodies have many physical and emotional reactions. Most people that watch horror movies love them and keep coming back for more. But why? What is going on inside our brains that causes us to enjoy the fright? How Horror Affects Your Body When a smoker sees a character in a movie smoking, their urge to smoke increases. Watching a scary movie can increase A study found that smokers have an even higher urge to smoke while watching a horror film containing characters that smoke. your white blood cell count and heart rate. The way our body reacts to scary films protects us. When we are scared our body goes on high alert, an immediate response to a possible danger. Adults usually scream then laugh once they realize they aren't really in danger. Young children aren't able to gauge the danger and can experience true fear, causing them to cry or cling to something. Once our brains realize there is no real harm, the fear is experienced as an enjoyable adrenaline rush. Watching a horror film can help you lose weight. A study showed that watching a 90-minute scary movie can burn up to 113 calories (equal to a 30-minute walk). Horror Brings Out Many Emotions ADRENALINE JUNKIES There are a few different reasons and ways that we enjoy being terrified by horror films. We love to learn. Even if it is something tragic, ugly, painful or frightening, we still learn from it. People with a calm lifestyle seek out excitement through horror films. The more fear, worry and anxiety the audience experiences during the film, the more they enjoy it. There is a difference in how we react to the guts and gore in a car crash we drive by and the guts and gore in the horror films we watch. When driving by an accident, we think with actuality, and have to make a decision about how we should respond to the emotional stimulus. When watching a film we think fictionally and are able to enjoy the danger and fear in the film knowing that we don't have to do anything about it. There is a sense of catharsis once the movie is over. People like the feeling of danger and fear during the movie and the sense of accomplishment and survival once it is over. Fear isn't exactly a happy emotion, but it sparks that feeling for many people. When we are scared, epinephrine and dopamine are released causing a feeling of relief after we are scared. About 10% of people actually enjoy the high levels of physiological arousal that horror films cause. FEAR Excitation Transfer Theory Scientists have found that the grim and abrupt sounds used in horror films imitate the screams of scared When the audience member feels fear and anger towards the antagonist of the film. animals. This triggers an instinctive response of thinking that our young (or animals) are being harmed and leads to us being scared. At the end of the movie they will feel positive emotions, whether it is a happy or sad ending. Pep Coun THE CUDDLERS Researchers have found that men enjoy scary movies more than women. Not letting a scary film bother them is socially gratifying. They like the "cuddle effect" that allows them to be the strong, brave ones for women to cling to when they are scared during the film. LIFE AFTER THE SCARING Researchers found that people enjoy abstract art more after they have watched a horror film. While you watch a horror movie, you are constantly anticipating what comes next. This action makes you more alert in your life outside of the movie. SCARIEST MOVIES Boston.com ranked the top 50 scariest horror films of all time based on the following: IS THE FILM SO SCARY THATY IT L WOULD LEAD ONE TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR? I IS IT LIKELY THAY THE FILM WILL CAUSE NIGHYMARES? DOES IT STARTLE YOU, CAUSE ANXIETY, INCREASE YOUR HEARY RATE OR GROSS you OUT? Here is a look at the top five and why they are so scary. # 生 1. The Thing (1982) There are a number of things leading to this being one of the scariest movies of all time: Fear of complete isolation An invisible enemy in freezing temperatures THINS Not knowing if your friends are who they say they are...or aliens. JAWS #2 2. Jaws (1975) This movie definitely changed the behavior of some. A It's hard to go in the ocean and not wonder where the shark is. The infamous soundtrack and convincing actors add to the terror. 3. The Exorcist (1973) Linda Blair's powerful performance is enough to make some believe in demons. The religious aspect of the film makes it more daunting for many. The details of the film also help to make this one of the scariest movies. A 22-year-old woman experienced cinematic neurosis after watching The Exorcist. EXO This happens when an audience member identifies with the narrative and/or cultural factors of the film. She claimed to experience "intrusive thoughts of demonic possession and flashbacks of the film." 4. Poltergeist (1982) When the film was released it was rated PG, making it available to a younger audience that were more easily frightened. #4 If you've seen this movie you are probably Therir ke haunted by the static on a TV or the words "They're here." The film was scary to most because it gave you the feeling that it could happen to you. Real skeletons were used in Poltergeist because they were cheaper. POTERGEIST 5. Ju-on (2002) This haunted house ghost story features very creepy children. The children's actions in the movie are sure to cause nightmares. The low-key soundtrack adds to the terror in this film. ERODGE DECADES OF HORROR Horror films have changed dramatically throughout the years, more gore, more special effects and more zombies! Scary movies existed long before the 70s, but that's when the genre saw a huge growth in production and popularity. POPULAR HORROR FILMS EYOLUTION OF HORROR FILMS 1970s The 70s saw a boom in horror films, The Exorcist (1973) Dawn of the Dead (1978) Halloween (1978) Alien (1979) Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) more than 460 scary movies were produced (up from 210 in the 60s). This decade set the tone for modern horror films. DEAD 1980s The Shining (1980) The Thing (1982) An American Werewolf in London (1981) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) The Fly (1986) Technology advanced in the 80s, allowing for more close ups and realistic characters. This led to more gruesome and gory films. SHINING OHE FLY 1990s Wes Croven's New Nightmare (1994) Scream (1996) The People Under the Stars (1991) The Blair Witch Project (1999) Candyman (1992) The focus of horror films shifted from the gore and guts in the 80s to serial killers in the 90s. Bigger budgets allowed for special effects and even more realistic Nw NTMAR characters. SCREAM CANDYNAN 2000s The tragic events that occurred on September 11, 2001 put a halt on horror films until around 2005. People were not ready to see scary films, they wanted happy ones Drag Me to Hell (2009) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) 28 Weeks Later (2007) Shaun of the Dead (2004) Joy Ride (2001) 28 TATER DEND 2010 -2013 Recent horror films are full of The Conjuring (2013) Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) 100 Bloody Acres (2012) You're Next (2011) V/H/S/2 (2013) vampires, werewolves and zombies. CRING N DIOUS VHS2 How To GRAE A HORROR BLM FOR INDER $ 1K Follow this guide to produce your very own horror blockbuster and keep your production budget under $1,000. The Story When writing your script, keep it simple, between 3-5 pages. Write the narrative so that you will be able to film the movie in one location. Cost: Free Mort. E 2 OF 5 The Setting: Film your movie somewhere easily accessible, and if possible, free. Save money by filming everything in one location. UNKNOWN DEV Devil (2010) was filmed in an elevator. Unknown (2011) takes place in a warehouse. 1408 (2007) takes place in a hotel room. Use the forums on locationtalk.org to help you find a cheap or free location. Cost: Depends on location, buy try to keep below $200 Props Stor Save money by using fake weapons: 10rdo Make your own weapons (use craft foam and paint to make a knife). Buy them at a toy store or second-hand store. Find props on sites like hauntedprops.com or gadgetsandgear.com. Gadgets HAUNTED PROPS.cOM and Gear Cost: Depends on how many weapons you need, but can be kept below $250 Characters Store Ask friends and family to be a part of your film. To keep them happy, provide food Give your monster a personality that can easily be put into costume. hand stores and your own Instead of giving your monster three heads, make him a zombie costumes, raid the stores or something easy to disguise. Look for costumes at second- closet. If you need scary as a payment. after Halloween and catch the sales. Cost: Depends on how many characters you have, but can also be kept below $200 Be Prepared Create a storyboard and draw out your scenes. Time is money, by being prepared you can save time during filming and not have to pay your actors as much (if you have to pay them at all). Equipment Rent a quality video camera for round $140 a week. Use your home video camera, still camera, or smartphone. If using lower- quality cameras like this, make sure most of your shots are static. Final Cut Pro Final PARANORMAL ACTIVITY THE PLAIR WITCH PROJECT The Blair Witch Project was filmed with an RCA A Sony FX1 was used to film the first Hi-8 video camera. Paranormal Activity. Edit your video with iMovie or Final Cut Pro. To save on Final Cut Pro, sign up for a 30-day free trial. Cost: Under $200, depending on what type of camera you choose, and how long you use it. Music Create your own music with a program like GarageBand. Find royalty free music that will work in a scary film using a website like audiojungle.net Dark Feed, Part Three directors took a chance and asked composer John Kusiak if he wanted to be a part of their film. Try asking a musically-inclined friend if they would be willing to help create the music for your film. OHN CARER rite ARE DARK FEED Cost: Free Sound Effects Create your own sound effects using household items: KIHUNPL VRACIA Blow to the head: Crunching and breaking bones: Freeze lettuce, carrots and celery then break them. Heartbeat: Push in part of a plastic trash can, it creates a controllable pumping sound. Ştick cream crackers to a watermelon then hit it with a hammer SCREETHL! RUP Life's Beder GROWMS A spear piercing flesh: Bite into an apple. Ripping an alien in half: Chop some cabbage with a large knife. Monster vocalizations: Canned dog food (not chunky) makes gushy, sucking sounds when opened. Lighting Save on lighting by filming at night, then adjust the levels in editing. Use a flashlight when shooting in a dark room. It can create shadows and highlight characters or objects. Cost: Less than $20 (that's for a nice flashlight!) Total Cost: Based on these estimates, you could spend about $900. That gives you a little wiggle room in case you need to pay your cast, purchase more costumes and props, or rent your camera for a longer period of time. 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