Horror Movie Techniques

Charles Papert · August 4th, 2009, 06:13 AM

p.s. couple of posts mentioned John Carpenter--today I start working on a movie with the man, should be interesting!

Jacques E. Bouchard · August 4th, 2009, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher Kondys

I agree, one or two jump scares add to the tension (I'm thinking of in the Ring when the loud bang occurs when he closes the filing cabinet right after they cut from outside, scared me half to death!)

But that's startling, not thrilling or scary. Most of the movies released nowadays should be called "Startle movies". They only way they know of scaring you is splitting your eardrum. It's stressful, not scary.

It's what filmmakers do when they can't come up with a compelling story. It's no substitute for building (and sustaining) a sense of dread.

J.

Kelly Goden · August 4th, 2009, 11:06 AM

Carpenter used a jump scare a couple of times in Halloween, and in the Fog.

I dont think the Shining used any.

The last hollywood horror movie I saw was 1408 which I found very unscary.

The hand on the shoulder thing--best use of it I saw was in Dr. Terror's House of Horrors in which an art critic kills an artist and his severed hand is haunting him. The art critic is in a bar and this hand falls on his shoulder, and the critic freaks out--then we see its a very short guy friend who wants a free drink.

It is a very artificial kind of scare set up.

"why announce myself by talking when I can put a hand on your shoulder and spook you?"
lol

Matthew Overstreet · August 6th, 2009, 01:48 PM

Has anyone read or browsed through the book "Film Directing: Shot by Shot?" It has a good section on how you can manipulate shot order to achieve different effects.

Other than that decent sound will do it ... but easy on the music ... I get the feeling that a lot of films overuse it ... especially when they have big budgets. No Country For Old Men had a very creepy feeling to it ... due to the lack of music. I think it was Sydney Lumet that said a lack of music adds realism. Wouldn't horror be scarier if we found it more "realistic" rather than just pure fantasy?

Also, let's not forget good old-fashioned character driven stories ... I think with horror, realism is very important. We probably want to do everything in our power to avoid letting the film feel like a fantasy.

Jacques E. Bouchard · August 6th, 2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter Sandison

If after the noise turns out to be the cat you return to a balanced framing the viewer will subconciously relax a little. A balanced frame means alls right in the universe. Hit them with the scare after you balance the frame and your shock effect will be maximized.

I totally disagree. This has become such a cliché that EVERYONE expects the "unexpected" scare. It's like the bad guy having to be killed twice at the end.

J.

Brian Standing · August 6th, 2009, 04:15 PM

I love this thread. I'm going to show this to my 8-year old son, who's a huge horror (not gore) fan. He and I made a horror short earlier this year. My son wrote the script, directed and starred in it, while I did the videography and editing. Some of it's unintentionally funny, but that may be unavoidable when you have 8-year olds in the primary acting roles.

It's both of our first venture into this genre. Overall, we were both pretty pleased with the fairly creepy feel. Check it out, if you like. Flash and downloadable versions in a variety of formats are available here:

Prolefeed Studios Video Catalog: Inside a Car

Comments welcome.

Bill Thesken · August 6th, 2009, 04:31 PM

In 1972 'The Other' played at the local theatre and scared the hell out of me when I was 14. I didn't even know it was a scary movie so it probably took me by suprise. I still remember the slow crawling fear during that movie. I saw it again with my kids on DVD this year. Didn't have the same kick as in the theatre, but I'm older and more jaded, plus I knew the ending. The technique they used is like a novel in a way, making you come to the obvious terrifying conclusion in your mind rather than showing the gory details.

Jacques E. Bouchard · August 6th, 2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Standing

Prolefeed Studios Video Catalog: Inside a Car

Comments welcome.

"AAAAAAAH!... freaky..."

Your kid drives a nicer car than you!

Does he have an agent yet? ;-)

J.

Brian Standing · August 6th, 2009, 09:35 PM

Yeah, he surpasses his old man in many ways. Knowing him, he'll probably be his own agent. Does everything else himself, why not that, too?

Glad you liked the short.

Heath McKnight · August 7th, 2009, 07:25 AM

@Charles I was surprised out how great and scary Exorcist 3 was. Chilling stuff. Even the beginning when the doors to the church open and the statue of Jesus' eyes open. Frightening!

Heath

Eric Emerick · August 11th, 2009, 09:08 PM

I concur with you guys about E 3. Are there any bad movies with George C. Scott in them? That scene in the hospital with the scary hoody creature got to me, so I made a short homage to it called "Night of the Headsman". Be kind, it was my 1st attempt at a short, used the XL 2. Campfire - Home

August 4th, 2009, 06:13 AM	#31
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	p.s. couple of posts mentioned John Carpenter--today I start working on a movie with the man, should be interesting! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

August 6th, 2009, 01:48 PM	#34
Matthew Overstreet Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Whitman, Massachusetts Posts: 168	Has anyone read or browsed through the book "Film Directing: Shot by Shot?" It has a good section on how you can manipulate shot order to achieve different effects. Other than that decent sound will do it ... but easy on the music ... I get the feeling that a lot of films overuse it ... especially when they have big budgets. No Country For Old Men had a very creepy feeling to it ... due to the lack of music. I think it was Sydney Lumet that said a lack of music adds realism. Wouldn't horror be scarier if we found it more "realistic" rather than just pure fantasy? Also, let's not forget good old-fashioned character driven stories ... I think with horror, realism is very important. We probably want to do everything in our power to avoid letting the film feel like a fantasy. __________________ Late December. A feature film by Matthew Overstreet & Christopher J. Adams.

August 6th, 2009, 04:15 PM	#36
Brian Standing Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 621	I love this thread. I'm going to show this to my 8-year old son, who's a huge horror (not gore) fan. He and I made a horror short earlier this year. My son wrote the script, directed and starred in it, while I did the videography and editing. Some of it's unintentionally funny, but that may be unavoidable when you have 8-year olds in the primary acting roles. It's both of our first venture into this genre. Overall, we were both pretty pleased with the fairly creepy feel. Check it out, if you like. Flash and downloadable versions in a variety of formats are available here: Prolefeed Studios Video Catalog: Inside a Car Comments welcome. __________________ http://www.prolefeedstudios.com/blog/ Documentary for the masses!

August 6th, 2009, 09:35 PM	#39
Brian Standing Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 621	Yeah, he surpasses his old man in many ways. Knowing him, he'll probably be his own agent. Does everything else himself, why not that, too? Glad you liked the short. __________________ http://www.prolefeedstudios.com/blog/ Documentary for the masses!

August 7th, 2009, 07:25 AM	#40
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	@Charles I was surprised out how great and scary Exorcist 3 was. Chilling stuff. Even the beginning when the doors to the church open and the statue of Jesus' eyes open. Frightening! Heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

August 4th, 2009, 11:06 AM	#33
Kelly Goden Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 259	Carpenter used a jump scare a couple of times in Halloween, and in the Fog. I dont think the Shining used any. The last hollywood horror movie I saw was 1408 which I found very unscary. The hand on the shoulder thing--best use of it I saw was in Dr. Terror's House of Horrors in which an art critic kills an artist and his severed hand is haunting him. The art critic is in a bar and this hand falls on his shoulder, and the critic freaks out--then we see its a very short guy friend who wants a free drink. It is a very artificial kind of scare set up. "why announce myself by talking when I can put a hand on your shoulder and spook you?" lol

August 6th, 2009, 04:31 PM	#37
Bill Thesken Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: HI, USA Posts: 622	In 1972 'The Other' played at the local theatre and scared the hell out of me when I was 14. I didn't even know it was a scary movie so it probably took me by suprise. I still remember the slow crawling fear during that movie. I saw it again with my kids on DVD this year. Didn't have the same kick as in the theatre, but I'm older and more jaded, plus I knew the ending. The technique they used is like a novel in a way, making you come to the obvious terrifying conclusion in your mind rather than showing the gory details.

August 11th, 2009, 09:08 PM	#41
Eric Emerick Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne, FL Posts: 171	Exorcist 3 I concur with you guys about E 3. Are there any bad movies with George C. Scott in them? That scene in the hospital with the scary hoody creature got to me, so I made a short homage to it called "Night of the Headsman". Be kind, it was my 1st attempt at a short, used the XL 2. Campfire - Home __________________ esquared