Research into Idea Mise-en-scene, Shooting and Editing Style

Looking at wide range of horror films, found that many adhere to certain conventions and techniques. I plan to focus on these conventions in terms of mise en scene, ways in which scenes are shot and editing. Following these conventions means that genre is clearly defined and thus attracts an audience.

Mise en scene

Mise en scene is the arrangement of everything that appears in the framing which includes actors, lighting, décor, props, costume – is called mise en scène, a French term that means “placing on stage”

One of the main visual aspects of horror films when looking at mise en scene is the colours used often blacks and reds are used as they connote mystery, danger and death these are the syntactic elements of the production. Often you will see red titles for example Nightmare on Elm Street use red to connote the foreboding gore.

The mise en scene denoted the genre through props such as knives and axes. The use of these props helps create an threatening atmosphere for audiences. These props are often symbolic of certain themes that denote the genre e.g. knives are symbolic of death. This can be seen in films such as Halloween.

Another horror convention displayed through mise en scene is chiaroscuro lighting. Often horror films will use a blue filter which almost washes out the colours which makes it appear darker and more mysterious, this is also a convention in many thrillers. Lighting and colours in a film are massively important as they set an unsettling atmosphere for audiences and these colour connote mystery and fear rather than using bright natural lighting which connote happiness. 

Another convention in relation to mise en scene is isolated locations, something we plan on incorporating into our trailer these isolated locations are heavily symbolic of vulnerability and make the audience feel on edge. Horror films are most likely to be set in a desolate area such as an abandoned house, creepy woods or a mental asylum. Often these locations are used to make the victim all the more vulnerable as it appears no one is around to help them thus making the antagonist all the more powerful which in return puts the audience more on edge. 

Shots

In horror films the shots are typically varied  to keep the audience on the edge of their seats and makes the scenes all the more intense. These shots range from extreme close ups, where the audience can truly see the fear in the victims face, this is demonstrated within the shower scene in Psycho. Point of view shots are also used both from the antagonists and protagonists perspective it is especially effective from the victims view as it appears as if the audience is really a victim. The effectiveness of point of view shots is demonstrated in the film Evil Dead where Ash the protagonist is chased through the house from the point of view of the killer. Long shots are used to connote a sense of foreboding it’s as if the antagonist is working it’s way up to the attack which puts audiences on edge.   

Edits

Editing is used to create suspense and fear in audiences the use of fast paced editing puts audiences on edge and creates a sense of thrill. Also audiences can never suspect when an intense scene is coming up as editors usually create a sense of complacency by making the scenes prior to it slower which makes the shock of the next scene even greater.