KNGS Foundation Portfolio Megan Hubbard: March 2012

As a group we have decided to focus on the genre of horror, specifically the sub- genre of slasher film. In order to fully understand the conventions of a slasher film we needed to do a detailed research into watching openings of various films that come within our specific genre. Through the research we have developed, we know that slasher film it is a type of horror typically involving a psychopathic killer who stalks and kills a sequence of victims in a very graphically violent manner.

From watching different openings of slasher films, we can start to define the typical conventions of the sub genre, a main example of this being the setting. Setting is most commonly conveyed through an establishing shot at the very opening of the film, this is clearly portrayed through most of the films we researched. The strangers for example, we saw a selection of houses in which we could interpret to be the setting. All of which were different sizes, when we finally did reach the destination; the setting was enhanced by the darkness and the space. Slasher films are set in isolated locations and this is evident as most of the openings within the films we had researched conveyed a secluded house, or a secluded setting such as a dessert. The locations are generally low in population, sometimes could even have no inhabitants this is similar to the setting used in the ‘chain saw massacre’ the young group of people travelled through a dessert in a car, desserts typically have no inhabitants and the setting itself could be seen as a danger. This immediately sets the narrative up as long shots are commonly used to enhance the isolation of the setting re-enforcing that civilisation is not present this creates complications and a sense of suspicion almost immediately towards the film. For example the setting in Scream was in a house, which is positioned in a very secluded area and surrounded with pitch black, this setting is a typical convention of what the setting should be like in a slasher horror film.

Killers in slasher films are often, but not always, unknown. Sometimes when they do present the killer on screen but a mask hides their identity. Typically in slasher films the murderer is male, this ties into specific stock characters within the sub-genre as the males are physically very strong and sometimes very big, making the character almost impossible to kill. The larger part of slasher villains are portrayed as mentally deranged or physically deformed individuals who are traumatized at an early age. The genre itself tends to focus more on the returning villain than on surviving victims, effectively transforming this type of villain character, who was once viewed as a sick psychopaths into a sympathetic antihero.
Slasher villains tend to prefer hand held weapons such as knives, axes, machetes or chainsaws opposed to fire arms. This is evident as through all the films we researched hand held weapons were specifically used. Within the opening of the films we researched, we were mostly introduced to the villain through a point of view shot this introduces an enigma to a narrative. As well as building the suspense it also once again shows evidence of hiding the killer’s identity as in the point of view shot we are physically in the killers perspective without even seeing the killer himself. Examples of films which used this effect was ‘Halloween’ and ‘Black Christmas’ we specifically saw through the killers perspective and this gave the audience a sense to what was going through the mind of the killer.

Victims within slasher films tend to be young, attractive, high school or college aged adolescents. In the first 2 minutes of the films we are not physically introduced to the characters; we are mostly presented with happens to them within the narrative of the movie. For example within the first 2 minutes of ‘Texas Chainsaw massacre’ it involves a narrative explaining what happens to the students and how they all eventually get killed horrifically, by doing this is could build empathy for the victims before we actually meet them. The choice of young victims within a slasher movie is important as some theorists claim that within these types of films young people are punished for indulging in vices such as pre-marital sex or illegal drugs. Additionally to this the violence and killings of victims are often taken place during or after sexual activity. This view is shown within the movies ‘The strangers’ ‘Black Christmas’ and ‘Texas chainsaw massacre’. Here the victims are young, and are shown to be partying, indulging in sexual acts and taking drugs before they are killed. Levi Strauss’ Binary opposites are made clear within the genre of slasher as the portrayal of Adult vs. child is clearly conveyed as often the killer is an adult, similarly to the binary opposites of ‘male vs. Female’ due to the killer typically being male the victims are often female so this presentation of binary opposites is made clear. The narrative of slasher films support the theory of Todorov as he suggests that stories begin with equilibrium or status quo where any potentially opposing forces are in balance. This is disrupted by some event, setting in chain a series of events. Problems are solved so that order can be restored to the world of the fiction. Although this theory has some relevance to the sub-genre of slasher different types of slasher films mix around with the narrative structure by placing the murder first in order to create a more intense atmosphere or intense story line. Propps eight character roles can also be applied to the sub genre, for example the villain within this type of sub genre is typically the murderer.

The themes and iconography of a slasher film are important, as they are specifically different and recognizable when compared with other sub-genres of horror. The main iconography of a slasher film with widens and sets it apart from other horror sub-genres is the type of weapon that the killer will use. Slasher films will often use a phallic murder weapon that is generally used as a cutting tool and once again is handheld emphasizing the power and control that the killer has. For example in ‘Halloween’ the killer is shown to use a very large knife as the murder weapon, this builds the power and image we think the killer therefore has which causes much more surprise when we actually find out the killer is in fact a young child. Likewise ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ later shows the use of a chainsaw as a weapon once again illustrated and building the power of the killer. Another key factor of a slasher iconography is that through many of the films of which we researched specific colours are always used for aspects like subtitles and text shown on the screen or even just the overall image colour of the scene being presented. These colours usually tend to be either red black or white and through each of the films we researched are almost always used. This is due to the fact that these colours are dark, which reflect upon the atmosphere and theme of the film but also can be presented with negative connotations e.g. red for blood and danger.

The themes of many slasher horror films are usually similar to many other horror sub-genres for example to theme of violence and revenge, however slasher themes also have many notable differences. The main theme of slasher films that differentiates it from others is the theme and idea of bloodshed and graphic murder. Slasher films, unlike many other horrors, concentrated specifically on putting across the harsh graphical violence and murders fo the audience usually de-emphasizing the plot and character development as a consequence.

Lighting with the first 2 minutes of the films tends to be very low key creating very strong shadows. The murders are often set at night and the killers are always hidden amongst the darkness, for example in ‘Halloween’ where the killers shown to be hidden outside in the pitch-black night.

The typical camera shot and movement that are usually used in the opening of the slasher horror films we have researched where establishing shots used mainly to introduce the setting, for example in the opening of ‘Black Christmas’ an establishing shot is used to show the setting of the big house which is surrounded by darkness. Another typical camera shot that we found was used is a panning shot this is were we can see the villains view, for example this is used in Scream when the female character is on the phone and also in Black Christmas when the villain is moving around the house.

The pace and rhythm of the scene is quite varied as slow edits are used at the beginning which holds onto the audiences suspense and tension, however in contrast to this the scene then speeds up towards the climax further building the enigma and pace of the film. One thing that separates a slasher from thrillers and murder mysteries is the level of violence. Slasher films typically de-emphasize the plot and character development in place of terror and violence. Plots are constructed around giving the audience the sense of watching the murderer kill his victims.
Another key factor that was commonly shown through many slasher introductions is the use of non-diegetic music. The music is commonly used to build up towards the climax of the scene. The type of music used is commonly high-pitched and very eerie to create enigma and a creepy suspense within the scene.

Overall our group found out that slasher films typically choose the use of graphic violence and building the enigma for the audience over other aspects such as getting to know the characters. Therefore all of the typical conventions within a slasher film are made to fit this purpose, for example the use of non-diegetic music and low-key lighting, which are both used to build the suspense towards the audience. The way in which the plot and narrative is overall built is through factors such as the premature revealing of the plot. This not only engages the audience straight from the beginning of the film but also builds sympathy and empathy for the characters, which is important, as character development is often submissive to the very violent and graphic deaths portrayed.

From looking at the results that we gathered from our questionnaires and our research of the specific sub-genre, being slasher horror, we are able to construct a clear idea of what a typical audience for our film would be.

If concentrating on the information and gathering we have found from our questionnaires then the typical age of the audience towards our film would be from the range of 16 to 20 year olds, with the main age being that of 17 year olds. Its important to bare this in mind whilst making our film as different age ranges would of expected different outcomes and iconographies of the film. For example the majority of those ages 16 to 20 stated that their ideal and typical expectation for a slasher horror film is that of a secluded house or a forest/woods. Both of these settings are isolated and secluded locations which fits in with the typical codes and conventions of a slasher horror film as locations are often shown as being very far from any form of a community.

The majority of those that answered the questionnaire stated that they prefer it when the plot or narrative of the film is not revealed at the beginning. Therefore when creating our film, by concentrating on the audiences specific wants and needs others aspects such as music and lighting can be used to build the suspense and enigma that the viewers feel instead of revealing the narrative. This is shown as in question 15 the majority of people said that music and lighting work most effectively in building up the suspense in the film leaving the plot being revealed and a voice over to a minimum. This is also further shown in question 10 as over half of those that were questioned said they would prefer the narrative of our film not to be shown, the main reason for this being that it gives away too much information and they like to make guessing as to the final ending of the film as an audience member themselves.