Individual Research- Outline Description of the Genre Horror.

The typical definition of a Horror film is:

...Horror films are designed to frighten and to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a cathartic experience...

Horror films are based on nightmares and imagination. The way that directors and editors use the imagination of others to help develop there own film is very impressive. The way that this happens is the audiences mind plays on itself so that it makes you think about things that arent even in the film itself. However, this is used to an advantage to the director as there is less information needed into the film itself but still has the same effect maybe even more as each member of the audience will have a different interpretation. This technique has been used for over 100 years. From this time the viewers of a horror film use vivid imaginations to see ghosts in shadowy shapes and typically horror objects to be emotionally connected to the unknown and to fear things that are not likely to happen. 

Watching a horror film gives an opening into that scary world and sort of into fear itself, without actually being in danger. There’s a very real thrill and fun factor in being scared or watching disturbing, horrific images.


Here are some examples of trailers:

      The Exorsist

Coraline- This is a childrens rated horror/thriller film.


http://www.filmsite.org/horrorfilms.html - this website shows all the ways that the genre of Horror is seen and explains it using different techniques and  an in depth explanation and also showing the first Horror films made.