PJ: Conventions of Thriller and Horror Openings

Horror: Ghost Ship (Beck, 2002)

Conventions of a horror film:

• Dark and eerie atmosphere created by the use of echo on the singer and the silence around the dance floor.
• Graphic scenes, typical of horror films is shown when there is a in focus, close up of the bloody wire after it has just gon through all the dancers.
• Creepy sound elements are used when the top halves of everyone's bodies start falling off.
• The slo-mo of the flowers being cut is typical of a horror film as it creates tension of what is to come.

Thriller: The Shining (Kubrick, 1980)

 

Conventions of a Thriller film:

• Very typical of a thriller film, The Shining has eerie music with very high pitched sounds juxtaposing the very low bass sounds.
• The birds eye view allows the audience to see how derelict the place they are driving to is. this is typical of a thriller because it sets the basis of the story line and thrillers aim to keep the audience on the edge of their seat.
• The helicopter shot of the hotel sets the scene for the film as large, mansion looking like buildings are typically haunted, this is also typical of thriller films.