Explain genre theory and, using Chapter 4 of the text as a reference, thoroughly describe the conventions and attributes of your selected genre.
According to film critic, Tim Dirks, horror films are the ones which aim at causing panic, dread, and alarm, and to frighten the viewer. Horror films invoke our deepest fears, often shockingly and terrifyingly, while at the same time entertaining and captivating us in some cathartic experience. This genre of film is effectively centered on the strange and alarming events and the forbidden, dark side of life. A more succinct definition of horror movies is given by Alfred Hitchcock, who claims that horror films are ones that evoke extreme fear, and that is as far as it gets.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Horror film narrations usually develop from melodrama, to suggestive, and finally explicit, more so compared to other genres. Audiences demand realism, which is what the filmmakers strive to deliver. In the case of romantic genres, realism might be achieved simply through more realistic dialogues and in Western in means shooting on location and not soundstage. However, when it comes to horror films, realism means the portrayal of graphic scenes and violence on screen to the extent that there is a subgenre called torture porn, where there are stomach-wrenching mayhem and violence. These scenes aim at titillating the audience with no specific goal of advancing the story. However, not every horror film has an excessive depiction of graphic violence. Some, for instance, The Orphanage or the Spanish-narrated film, El Orfanato, usually suggest horror instead of explicitly depicting it, yet they still bear their unique level of horror. However, one thing that remains is the fact that horror films have been evolving over the years to portray more explicit bloodshed.
Identify a feature-length film that fits this genre and provides a basic summary of the movie. As you develop this summary, remember the differences between a film’s story and a film’s plot and how these differences can lead to the inclusion of genre elements.
Dracula is the perfect example of a film that fits the horror genre. While Dracula was not the first horror film or vampire movie to be released, it was a major catch, and it contributed greatly to the horror genre. The film is influenced by the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker to the extent that Stoker’s widow was granted a copyright infringement suit against the producers of the movie. All in all, despite facing all these controversies, Dracula was the first horror hit. Having been based on both a stage version and Stoker’s novel, this film became both very hugely influential and financially successful. It is this film that paved the way for the release of Frankenstein later in the year, marking the hallmark of the horror genre with countless variations, sequels, and genres.
This film narrates about Count Dracula, a vampire who held an iconic role played by a Hungarian actor called Bela Lugosi. What is even more intriguing is the fact that Bela developed her role on stage. A modern audience might view this film as being slow, and to some extent almost tedious. The kind of scares that it gives today is of an atmospheric variety. However, contemporary audiences were terrified and even thrilled by the supernatural evil of this film. Most movies released before Dracula featured horrifying scenes that were often neutralized with scenes of extensive comedy relief to avoid alienating moviegoers. Dracula was proof that audiences could watch an entire horror film, and in effect, it brought forth a genre whose popularity has not diminished since.
Interpret at least two genre conventions exhibited in your chosen feature-length film that help classify it in the selected genre. Be sure to provide a specific example of each convention.
Slasher Film – This type of horror film usually involves a psychopathic killer who stalks and kills some victims violently, mostly using a knife or an axe. Slasher films also tend to overlap the thriller and crime genre. Examples of Slasher Films include Halloween and Black Christmas.
Psychological Horror – This subgenre of horror movies usually builds on the characters’ guilt, fears, beliefs, emotional instability, eerie sound effects, and in some cases, the supernatural. The subgenre builds tension within the film with the goal of building on the story. Examples of Psychological Horror include The Exorcist, Gothika, and The Uninvited.
Provide an example of the third convention from your chosen feature-length film and explain how this convention expands the boundaries of the specified genre.
The film Dracula falls under the convention of Gothic Film, which is a type of story that has both elements of horror and Goth. It also has some romance that unfolds within the film but in a manner full of suspense. The very first horror movie to be created incorporated the gothic film and Dracula followed suit.
References
Holte, J. C. (1997). Dracula in the dark: the Dracula film adaptations (Vol. 73). Greenwood Publishing Group.
Mast, G., Cohen, M., & Braudy, L. (1992). Film theory and criticism: introductory readings . New York: Oxford University Press.
Sharrett, C. (1993). The horror film in neoconservative culture. Journal of popular film and television , 21 (3), 100-110.
