Film review research

Not many magazines I have found purely contain lots of different film reviews. The ones that I came across during my film review research were:
- Empire
- Total Films
- Sight & Sound

Empire

• Blue or black title - draws attention to the reader
• A short plot - informative so people can quickly read what the film is about
• List of cast, directors, running time, certification - allows audience to quickly become aware on all of this information without having to look for the information in the text.
• Large picture - eye-catching to the audience
• Verdict - stating the writers opinion
• Blue font
• Informal
• Aimed at any audience - especially younger generations
• Clear star rating

Sight & Sound

• Not many colours used
• Large amounts of text
• Small pictures
• Formal 
• Aimed at older generations and students who enjoy reading analysis reviews

Total Films

• Red colour theme 
• Aimed at younger generations and middle aged people
• Slightly smaller pictures than Empire 
• Clear star rating
• Slightly informal
• Bold empire logo - recognition 

From comparing my research on different review magazines, I found that the review most suited for my short film would be Empire. I think this because my film targets an audience of a younger generation and the empire magazine is quite informal and targets young people also. Therefore, it is likely that my short film would gain more recognition if placed in 'Empire', rather than in ' Sight & Sound' or 'Total Films'. Even though 'Total Films' is also slightly informal, I preferred Empire due to its layout and how empire stands out more with having larger pictures and titles.

Horror Film Posters

Famous horror film posters

In this Sinister poster, you can identify a bold clear title to ensure that the film stands out to the audience. This title is in black which is a popular use of colour when it comes to horrors due to them being dark and mysterious. This colour connotes death which is a popular theme in all horror films. The title is also in a bold, clear and quite a scary font due the shadows or streaks coming from the bottom of the letters.                                                                            A key convention of a horror is used which is the blood running down the wall. This is what captures the audiences eye first as it is in the enter of the poster and is dark red causing it to stand out. Furthermore, as you continue to look at the blood on the wall, you soon discover that within the blood, there is an outline of a scary face. This is a very simple poster for a horror film due to the small amount of colours used, a plain wall, one person and blood which catches the eye of audiences more that a detailed and complicated poster would.

For this film poster, it is different from Sinister in the way that the poster is just of a scary face. The title is in a bold, white font which is a typical colour to use when placed on a dark background. The image on this poster is a scary face which seems to be made up of lots of small pictures which adds to the un-natural theme of horrors. This poster is more complex than the poster above but still has minimal colours.






This poster is simple with minimal colours being black, white and grey. The main image used is a chair with an unknown character sitting on it, facing away. This adds mystery and foreshadows what the film will hold. The title stands out brightly from anything else on the poster which is one of the main aims I hope for in my own poster.

Short horror film posters

- Large title which stands out
- Colour red, black and white is all used
- Clear title
- Titles in a bold font
- Black background
- Credits
- Face not shown

How short film posters differ from others:

- They seem to have less credits that famous horror films due to the famous films being full length and therefore having more actors
- They do not have a release date due to not being released in cinemas.
- They look less professional such as the creepy crawly poster
           

Titles and credits in short films

The time taken to display a short film titles and credits is hugely shorter than in a long film due to having less actors and people taking part in the production. I then analysed some short horror films and focused on their titles and credits.

Example One: I heard it too

Title - The title is shown at the end of the short film and does not show any institution logos which a normal, full length film would.
Credits - The credits are displayed before the short film starts and take up roughly 5 seconds of the overall running time. This is a very noticeable difference due to full length film credits being shown at the very end of the film and could also last up to approximately 10 minutes.

Example Two: Moonlight Man

Title - The title is shown at the very beginning and again, does not have the presence of any institution logos.
Credits - The credits also last a very short time in comparison to a full length film.

Example Three: Under the stairs

Title & credits - Both are displayed at the end of the short film.

Summary:

Overall I have found that the titles and credits can be placed either at the end or the start of any short film and the examples above have proved this theory. The titles are simple and are not presented on the screen for long. The credits take up less time of around 10 seconds to show everyone who is involved in the film. This is a huge difference from full length films but is purely due to short films not needing many actors or extras and also being a lot more simple to film so needs less help in that department. From this research, I plan to place my title at the beginning of the film to catch the audiences attention, and then place the credits at the end, lasting up to around 10 seconds only.

Panic Attack Short Film - Two Step Flow Theory

Panic Attack is a short science fiction film which is directed by independent filmmaker, Fede Alvarez, in 2009. In this film, giant robots appear and try to destroy a large city called Montevideo. This film contains a lot of weapons and shooting at the buildings. It soon becomes a huge war between the robots and military. The ending of this film is the robots coming together, forming a sphere and engulfing the city in a fireball. This is the cliffhanger the audience is left with.

This short film applies to the two-step flow theory. The two step flow theory is the communication of ideas that flow from the media to opinion leaders, and then to a large part of the population.
In this case, the opinion leader for this short film was a famous music artist, Kanye West. This brought larger exposure and attention towards this short film.


From looking at this example, it shows explanation as to why independent filmmakers choose to distribute their film online. Therefore, I have chosen to distribute my film online to introduce a slight possibility of being apart of the two-step flow theory.

Editing in horror/thriller films

Match on action - This is an editing technique for continuity editing in which one shot cuts to another shot portraying the action of the subject in the first shot.

Transitions - This is when a scene fades into a black screen. This is used to convey mystery which is a key aspect to include when making a horror film.

Splicing - Fast shots which are edited together which creates a sense of fear and tension.


Filters - These can be used to portray a particular mood. This mood is usually dark due to the films being a horror genre. 

Shot-reverse-shot - This is usually used when filming a conversation when one person talking is being filmed, and then it switches to the other person. Then returns back to the original person to film them talking or to capture their reactions and facial expressions.

Cuts - There are a variety of cuts that are used. These can be:

• Jump cuts - dramatic edits which happen when the camera suddenly jumps quickly to a dramatic point in the film to create tension within the audience.
• Cross cut - the camera will cut away from one action to another action. It is often used in films to establish action occurring at the same time in two different locations.
• Cutaway shot - the interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else.

Continuity edits -  Scenes which have been shown out of sequence however the narrative can still come across to the viewer and they do not seem out of sequence

Fast/slow pace shots - The certain speed can trigger fear amongst viewers. More fear tends to be due to fast pace shots whereas slow shots can be used to show the victims life flashing before their eyes.

Mise-en-scene in horror/thriller films

Props:
Props used in a horror film can vary from a weapon such as a knife, to a spiritual artefact. An example of making use of props to highlight the genre can be a bloodly knife used in a slasher horror such as 'Scream'. These props may not only be used to kill someone, but can also play a role in iconography and a way of foreshadowing an event.. Other props such as crosses, spiritual artefacts and bibles can would be used in a film which includes someone becoming possessed.


Setting:
A typical location where the horror is based would be in a abandoned buildings, a forest, dark mansions, cabins in the woods etc. This is due to it being able to portray the feeling of isolation. If the area were busy and full of people,  this would cause the audience to feel safer and less scared. All of these areas are perfect for creating a suspenseful and tense atmosphere. Also, filming in darkness in these places makes it more tense and scary due to limited vision.



Costume and makeup:

These are important aspects to think about in the making of a horror film as it can determine what caharcter the audience thinks in the protagonist and antagonist. The costumes can show a stereotypical version of a character. For example; a little girl dressed up in a pink dress, pig-tails, frilly socks  would portray her as the protagonist. The antagonist can be identified by the audience immediately according to their appearance. For example, in the film 'Scream', the murderer is dressed in all black with a scary mask.
Make-up can be used in different ways in a horror film. It can be used to make the antagonist scarier or used for 'battle scars' on the protagonist.

Lighting:
The lighting in horror films is usually dark in order to create a scarier environment and to create more successful jump-scares. A character could be walking alone in the woods at night time and the villan jumps out at them from behind a tree. Due to the audience having a lack of vision, it can make them jummp eve more. It is also a very common fear for someone someone to be scared of the dark. This can be because of the 'unknown' and not knowing who/what is there. If the scene would have been filmed in daylight, it would not have the same effect on the audience as it would at night or in the dark.

Facial expressions and body language:
Using facial expressions and body language shows the fear of the character in the scene. This is important and it is the only way the audience is going to believe the character a truly terrified with what is occurring. Their body language and movement reflects their shock, fear and desperation.



Iconography:
These are elements that represent the genre. For example, the colour red represents blood, gore and anger. The colour black represents death and evil. Props, costumes, settings and credits can all show iconography such as bloody knives.

Visual effects:

These are used to scare the audience more by getting them to believe that its real and that it isn't just actors with fake blood and props. Digital effects are sometimes used when the effects could not be accomplished on screen without the use of some "smoke and mirrors". For example, in a slasher and gory film, body parts being cut and limbs being detached from the body will be shown. But to make it look realistic digital effects are used. The traditional visual effects will be used to such as fake blood is still used.

Camera angles and movement in horror/thriller films

Point of view shot - This is when the audience can see through the eyes of the character and can see what they see. This can make the audience feel more involved and scared. For example, if the antagonist was pointing a directly gun at them.





Close up - Used to emphasis the characters facial expressions and emotions to what is occurring. it is also used to capture and make sure that the audience does not miss something important in the scene. For example, in 'Scream' the important prop is the phone.

Zoom - This adds to the dramatic effect and creates elements of suspense and gear as you don't know what you are going to see next. It could also be used to zoom into something gory. One other use could be that you zoom into see something you wouldn't off spotted before like a supernatural being.

Bird eye/ high angle - These are used in a horror in order to make the figure or object that is being looked down on appear vulnerable and powerless.






Low angles - These shots emphasis how intimidating and frightening the villain is. This can make the audience themselves feel weak and insignificant.







Hand held camera shot - This is used often to add a sense of reality as it can make the audience feel involved and adds to the horror of the scene as you feel like you are there.



Tilted angle - Tilt shots add a lot of dramatic tension to shots, and could simplify a supernatural being. It is also a great way to get a different shot of an incident across to the audience. Another great use for a tilt shot is to act as though the camera is a victim on the floor, and you are seeing what they are seeing.





Panning/Tracking shot - These shots connote movement. This is used a lot in horror films as it can give the audience the idea that the character is being followed, watched and in chase scene. It can also be used to show the audience the characters surroundings.

Over the shoulder shot - This is one of the best shots to build tension. This is used a lot in horrors and thrillers to add suspense, and is used around mirrors and reflections so the audience can see what is happening as soon as the character does. This is used a lot to show a figure stood behind a victim.



Reverse - Can be effective in horrors as it can show the consequences if they were to go back in time and change their decisions. It is a great way of showing flashbacks also and captures the characters undergoing realisation about something.

Sound in short horror/thriller films

Sounds in short horror films are the most important aspect as it creates a specific mood and atmosphere for certain scenes in the film. By making use of sound this adds more suspense to the scene and promotes even more emotions to the audience.

There are two types of sound, diegetic and non-digestic.
Diegetic - Any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world. Digetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame. 
Non-diegetic - Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action. It is represented as coming from a source outside of the story space. It can be:  

• narrator's commentary
• sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• mood music

Some of the common types of sounds are:
- Isolated instruments instead of a big orchestra are often used before an important event occurs to promote the vulnerability of the character and audience.
- Long notes tend to create more suspense rather than short and sharp notes. This is because they portray the shock of characters.
- The use of long notes that suddenly change has an impact on the viewers emotions as they will become tense and scared immediately.

Voices in horror films should reflect fear, tensions and panic. The voices are generally low and mysterious where as if the voices of the antagonist sounded friendly, the audience would not be very scared. Also, by using a deep voice, it portrays as sense of intimidation and power. 

The sound effects used can be classic sounds which connote the horror genre such as owls, bats, crows, church bells etc. Echoed voices can also be used to give the audience a sense that a ghost or spirit is present.

Funding and Financing short films

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Horror and Thiller Films

As shown in our pitch, we are yet to decide whether our short film will be of the horror genre or a thriller. Horror and Thriller films are not the same. However they can be fairly similar in the audience that goes to watch them, their certification and their intentions.


What is the difference between a horror and a thriller film?


Thriller is a genre used in films which enables the audience to experience many different emotions through the use of suspense and anticipation. In a thriller, the audience are likely to experience feelings of suspense, excitement, worry, surprise etc. In these films violence is likely to be shown however, not a lot of blood and gory scenes will be included in great detail. Instead of this, they tend to require the audience to think outside the box and pick up on key elements or clues to work out an explanation for an event.  Thrillers also tend to be realistic in their narratives as the antagonist may be a criminal who has escaped prison, a kidnapper, a murder etc.


A horror film is different. These films target audiences who wish to be on the edge of their seat, frightened and fear the unknown. Horror films involve many violent scenes with a lot of blood and gore. They also tend be less realistic as the characters who play the antagonist are normally make believe and do not exist , such as a zombie, and the audience believes that it could never happen.


Both genres intensions are to scare audiences. However, they are scary in different ways as a thriller is more suspenseful whereas a horror generally scares the audience with the appearance or the antagonist.

History of Horror Films

1920s - 1930s

This was when the horror films became popular to the audience as the film gave them a satisfying adrenaline rush. Remakes of old classic horror films such as Dracula were made. Bram Stoker first made a novel in 1897 and he was popular for making many others such as 'The Mummy'

1940S

Due to the outbreak of World War II there was a steep decline in the success of the horror film industry. However, even during the war, some films were still made such as, 'Wolf Man', 'House of Dracula' and 'Cat People'

1950s

At the end of the WWII, colour in films was introduced which caused the horror film industry had a rapid increase. This was due to the colour being able make the horror film more frightening as the real colours of elements can be shown. For example; the colour of blood can be shown. In this decade, Great Britain became a main producer of horror films. After the war, rather than returning back to the classic gothic horror, films about 'outside' threats were introduced.These are films such as aliens, mutations and bugs.

- The Wasp Woman

- It came from Beneath the sea

- The Beast from 20,000 fathoms 

Durig the late 50s, the film company 'Hammer' focused of this genre and had great success from films involoving classic gothic horror characters in colour for the first time.

       

1960s

This decade brought a new genre of horror and the word 'thriller' was first used for a film. Alfred Hitchcock's film 'Psyco'(1960) was the first slasher film. He also made the horror film 'The Birds' in 1963. Some other horrors made at this time were:

- Night of the Living Dead

- Blood feast

- Carnival of souls

'Night of the Living Dead' (1968)  was a huge success as it brought horror into real life as it involved events that could happen in real life.

1970s

More films were released with the occult theme, starting with 'The Exocist' in 1973 which was then followed up by other films involving the devil. This decade also included gore and sexual overtones. Some of these films focus of family members such as the film 'Halloween' (1978) which is about a six year old boy murdering his sister and the is sent to sanatorium. Body horror was also introduced by the film 'Shivers' in 1975. Other films made during this time were:

- Jaws 

- Texas Chainsaw Massacre 

- Carrie

- The Omen

- Alien

1980s

During this time period, the horror film industry took a positive turn and the quality of the films got better. This was due to the new technologies, special effects, sounds, better graphics and costumes. This improvement then made the gory slasher films more detailed and scary for viewers. The 'Sam Raimi Evil Dead' films are a good example of the outcome. Other films made were:

- The Fly

- Nightmare on Elm Street

- The Thing

- The Shining 

- Hellraiser 

1990s

Due to the many slasher films being made in the 1980s, the horror industry declined. This decline was also due to the amount of vampire and zombie movies made which left the audience less scared. To bring the horror genre back up, the topic of psychopaths were introduced. This would lead to films about brutal murderers such as the one in 'Scream'. However, this would mock the original conventions of ordinary slasher films that have been made in the past decades. Some films from the 90s are:

- Se7en

- Silence of the lambs 

- Candyman 

- Sixth Sense

- Misery

2000

This was a quiet era for the genre as most horror films were remakes and extended versions of the classics such as 'The Exorcist' whereas in this era, the extended version was made. Zombie films returned with films such as '28 Days later' and 'Resident Evil'. Gore also became very popular so torture films like 'Saw' were well known. Other films made are:

- The Ring

- The Grunge 

- The Descent

- Final Destination Saga