Characteristics Of A Screen Genre

HORROR

Horror Films have very specific characteristics to it, characteristics which relate to other genres such as thrillers and even science fiction movies. These include the use of disturbing atmosphere’s, the surprise factor and of course, the accompanying sound. It has a crippling ability to reveal our deepest fears and nightmares, whether we know it or not. (Characteristics of horror movies, 2018)

Horror movies tend to design their sound to elevate levels of agitation, anxiety and fear using effects like creaking doors, whispering voices, loud stabs or hits etc. (Horror Films, 2018) These things all work coherently to create a flow of sentiment throughout the film, building and demolishing heart rate and blood flow in the viewer.

Horror films did not always incorporate sound, they relied solely on the visual aspect to create the sensation of fear and terror. Audio in horror film has been around for nearly a century (1930’s-present day). Thinking of a horror film, or any screen genre, not having sound to accompany it in the modern era is so absurd because most (if not all) iconic movies are so symbolic due of the audio that’s present in the significant scenes. Sound in Horror is so necessary because it has become a prerequisite for the genre and the viewer presumes that the unexpected hits and stabs will complement well with the vital scenes and jump scares.

References:

• Horror Films. (2018). Filmsite.org. Retrieved 5 July 2018, from http://www.filmsite.org/horrorfilms.html

• Characteristics of Horror Movies -【6 Main Characteristics】. (2018). Caracteristicass.de. Retrieved 5 July 2018, from https://www.caracteristicass.de/en/characteristics-of-horror-movies/#Creepy_sound

• Carroll, N. (1990). The Philosophy of Horror. New York: Routledge.

• Why Do We Like Watching Scary Films? . (2018). Psychology Today. Retrieved 5 July 2018, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/in-excess/201510/why-do-we-watching-scary-films