Analysis of Horror Films - Rosemary's Baby

Camera Shots and Angles

The camera shots are very slow, neutral and naturalistic. The opening shot is a panning shot over New York City in the 1960s, which sets the scene for the audience. After that we see a lot of medium head shots to show the audience the characters, and long shots so that the audience can see the apartment well, and the unnaturalness of the secret room.

Light

Opening Credits

As the camera pans over the city, pink, animated writing presents the credits of actors, directors and producers for the opening two minutes. The font has been chosen because it creates quite a girly and maternal feeling, and perhaps has been projected over a view of the city, to represent the fact that something innocent like a baby, cannot be raised in a city which can often represent evil.

Analysis of Horror Films - Gothika

Camera Shots and Angles

Close ups on characters faces, alternating from character to character. Aswell as alternating over the shoulder shots to create a contrast of points of view of the two characters.

Panning shots are used a lot, to allow the audience to see how the scene is set.

A rotating 360' shot is used with increasing speed to represent an increasing tension between the two characters.

Light

The first image also demonstrates a contrast in light, A light has been shone on the left side of the character's face, but her right side remains dark. This represents the border between mental stability and insanity that she is on.

The scene is shot in blue and grey tones which creates a sense of the paranormal, darker lighting is used on the character who is a patient of the mental asylum, to show the audience that her mind is darker than the doctor's. Although there is darker light on the left side of her face, the well light area on her left is much more stressed.

Characters

The mental patient is dressed very plainly andwith make up used to make her look unwell and unstable, by focusing on pale tones, which also compliment the film colour scheme. She is dressed in a white gown which symbolises innocence, contrasting with her dialogue discussing her experiences with rape.

The doctor is dressed in black, contrasting to patient, her top is a polo neck, this emphasises the fact that the doctor is not to be seen as a sexual object, differing from slasher contemporaries.

Film Credits

The names of the main actors are shown at the start of the film, butthe credits of producers and directors aresaved until after the opening scene. This is done to allow the audience to focus on the main characters and "stars" of the production, such as Halle Berry and Penelope Cruz.

Analysis of Horror Films - The Ring

Lighting

The opening scene of "The Ring" takes place in a teenage girls bedroom, a very typical American scene. The lighting used is very dark, focusing on blacks and greys to portray the melancholic mood of the scene. One light at the back is used to create a contrast with the opposite side of the

bed which is dark and shadowy representing the unknown. The light also highlights the mis-en-scene of the room, such as a chest of draws next to the bed with miscellaneous but typical items on, setting the scene for the bedroom of a teenage girl.

The television set ahead of them, unseen by the camera is reflecting onto their faces creating another light which highlights the faces of the characters.

Camera Shots

The camera shots are very sharp, using a lot of tracking and panning. Close ups and zooms are focused in on important objects to the plot such as television screens and telephones and the character's faces. Low level, point of view and birds eye shots. These shots highli

ght the psychological importance of the objects which are being zoomed in on for the audience, creating a feeling of fear.

Characters

The two characters are dressed in school uniform, this signifies their age, to tell the audience that they are teenagers. The uniform is a symbol of innocence, contrasting with the fact that in films of the past few years it has become something of a sex symbol due to horror and slasher films.

Film Credits

'The Ring' uses no titles to introduce the actors and film makers, this is so that the audience can focus on the plot of the introduction, and credits could distract the viewer from the scene.

Sound

Synthesisers are used to build up the tension for the audience, a lot of extended silence is used to create a scene that is "too quiet" so the audience expect something bad to occur.