Genre Conventions

The genre that we have chosen for our film opening is supernatural horror, which ties back to ancient folklore and storytelling about ghosts, witches, vampires, etc., often focusing on death and the afterlife. In the late 18th century, gothic horror developed, typically written by women, with stories having the common theme of being isolated in a gloomy setting. 

During the 19th century, the genre popularized, and many notable works came from this time period, such as that of Edgar Allen Poe. Some of the first films that were made were inspired by horror literature of the 19th and early 20th century, however, it did not become an officially recognized genre until the release of Dracula in 1931.

 Supernatural horror itself lost popularity during the 1950s to science fiction and psychological horror, and the only films that emerged during this decade of the supernatural sub-genre primarily centered around hauntings. The release of Rosemary's Baby in 1968 is believed by some to have led to the sub-genre reviving in the 1970s, with films like The Exorcist (1973) and Burnt Offerings (1976) emerging and inspiring even more supernatural horror films to be released in following years. 

Two notable films that were produced towards the end of the 20th century are Poltergeist (1982) and The Blair Witch Project (1999). Poltergeist was one of the first major films to place the supernatural horror directly in the modern suburban home. It made many feel uneasy by showing an ordinary and seemingly safe middle-class household being invaded and terrorized by spirits, which could be part of the reason why the film was so successful. It was directed by Tobe Hooper, also known for Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), and written/produced by Steven Spielberg (who, fun fact, was working on E.T. at the same time!). 

The Blair Witch Project is an independent film which popularized found footage horror. It was written and directed by UCF film students Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, who wanted to create the kind of paranormal horror that they found most unsettling. They had a detailed script, but they left the actors a lot of choice with where they wanted individual scenes to go, wanting the film to be largely improvised. This, along with an online marketing campaign involving fake missing person posters of the actors, helped create a sense of realism that drew many to it, which is why the film is so significant to the genre. 

Poltergeist (1982)

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Common conventions of films of the supernatural horror genre typically include the setting being either in a dark, gloomy area such as out in the woods or somewhere strange and secluded, OR it takes places in someone's residence. It is also not uncommon for the characters to visit more than one of these locations throughout the film. 

We are planning on the supernatural aspect of our film being a haunting. The majority of films that I have seen that involve that will have the protagonist(s) moving into a new house, since it is easier to create fear in a setting that they are unfamiliar with (especially if the house is larger, has many rooms, secrets, etc.). Sometimes the characters will travel to a place that is haunted or where some sort of supernatural entity resides (such as the 29 Neibolt Street house in It) or they will interact with a cursed or possessed object that will lead to the spirit/entity going after them (like the tape in The Ring). 

The main character(s) can have different personalities and backgrounds depending on the film, but a common trope is for the film to center around a woman who has gone through a tragic experience or has mental health issues, so the people around her do not believe what is happening to her. 

Dim lighting is often used to create a feeling of mystery and the unknown, allowing filmmakers to manipulate darkness and shadows, like showing a glimpse of a shadowy figure in the background of a scene to make the audience aware of its presence without fulling revealing what it is. 

Sound may be incorporated if it fits the scene, like non-diegetic dissonant orchestral music, but most of the time the sound is diegetic, and certain scenes may make use of silence to build suspense or to just make the scene slightly more unsettling. The diegetic sounds in horror movies are usually loudened and intensified post-production, screaming being the most common one that is exaggerated for the audience's reaction. 

It (2017)

For the opening sequences, I will be looking at examples from multiple sub-genres rather than just supernatural horror :)

Scream (1996)

The opening scene of Scream stands out because of the way it subverted everyone's expectations, ending with the murder of Casey Becker, who appeared as if she was going to be the main character or the final girl archetype in the film. This was due to the fact that she was played by the famous actress Drew Barrymore, as well as the way her character was presented as having a good knowledge of horror films, which made it seem like she was going to be able to save herself. The phone call starts off innocent, although the viewer may get off vibes from the man's voice, as well as his persistence in continuing the call even after Casey ends it a few times. But what they actually discuss is relatively light-hearted, and that in combination with the visual elements of the scene (bright lighting, open space, pastel costuming) makes it seem as if nothing intense is actually going to occur, and that the eerie phone call is just a way of setting up the plot.