SHOOTING HORROR, Need some TIPS on building suspense, and creating a scary scene.

maranfilms

maranfilms

Veteran
My students this year are in the principle photography stages of their yearly short film. I have never really shot a horror, nor have I studied much of the genre. I have looked at some films, broke down the shot composition on a few scenes. But I was curious to know if you horror guys have some knowledge your willing to share, or even some links to tutorials on the subject. Any info will be helpful, thanks
 
Horror is a genre that permits techniques usually used with restraint to be taken to their creative extremes. Techniques used sparingly elsewhere such as dutch tilts, high/low angle shots, use of extreme fisheye and other distorted lenses, lighting which isn't motivated by practicals and gels of any colour you like, over-the-top makeup, acting etc. It is more important that the core idea be interesting than good. Don't underestimate humour, dark or otherwise as both as contrasting juxtaposition or even a key element. Don't try to fake unintentional humour, it never works unless it is a sincere miscalculation. Horror audiences are after fun and thrills, they will overlook anything if you deliver on either or preferably both of those fronts.

The (original) Let the Right One (2008, sweden) is a great recent example of a classy and intellignent horror, a rare modern example of composition (even beyond the genre) and shot design. The Human Centipede (2009, not the sequel - that one will scar you for life) also demonstrates great technique and composition, a great little film that was a return to better filmmaking in the genre, in spite of the ludicrous subject matter. It is not a gore movie despite presenting as one (the sequel on the other hand...). The Evil Dead films are classics that demonstrate the best of what can be achieved when dreaming big on a limited budget. Japanese horror is worth investigating too. May not be of immediate help but it is a strong sub-genre of its own and to the western eye the most innovative branch of the wider genre in recent times. I recommend Audition as a good example of what you're letting yourself in for exploring this branch of the horror tree. Each of the above films are an absolute masterclass.

The film that has probably genuinely freaked me out the most was Anatomie (2000, german) the only example of movie gore connecting with my rational brain, it took 3 goes to get through because I couldn't help internalising the idea of what was being done to the victims. *shudder* And I don't normally succumb like that.

Most importantly have fun with it. That is the point of making a horror film and the horror audience can spot and appreciate this coming through in the finished product. There's a touch of the pantomime spirit in the horror genre....behind you!
 
Oh and a final note. Subverting the horror tropes is not as good an idea as it sounds. It can only work if the filmmaker is immersed in the history of horror films and speaking directly to the most hardcore of fans. It has about as much chance of working as a movie about making/writing a movie. It has a very limited audience. Fans want more of the same, best place to give them something different is in the underlying core horror element. Think purely in terms of the image, logline or blurb on the front cover that is going to make someone pick up your VHS from the shelf the video store. Most people start with the bang-for-buck special effect(s) that are within their means and write a story to showcase it.
 
Hold off from showing the "monster" for as long as possible. The audience will imagine things much more scarey than anything you can show them.
Also, build up suspense for a few minutes, but then show the suspense was unjustified. As the audience breathes a sigh of relief ... WHAM!!! Hit them with something scarey when they're not expecting it.
 
If you want suspense watch Alfred Hitchcock movies, after all he is called the master of suspense. I recommended Psycho and the Birds. You don't need tons of blood to make a scene scary or suspenseful. Silence of the Lambs is a good example of smart, psychological horror. Hannibal harms Clarice not physically but mentally. Ken is right about not showing the monster, look at JAWS we don't see the shark until halfway threw the movie. To me the unseen is more scary than the seen.
 
Im sort of an expert on horror cinema history from its birth in horror literature through the silent era to today, so you can trust me on this:
I would say there are two broad things to think about:
-- using the camera to create a feeling of strangeness, fear, terror, etc through camera moves, composition, etc. For that I would watch: The ORIGINAL Evil Dead, and the original 1963 "the Haunting" (which influenced Evil Dead), and 28 Days Later (uses handheld camera to create urgency, chaos). The first two movies will also teach alot about how to use SOUND effectively.
--using the story and perhaps the camera to creat suspense, anticipation, etc... by showing less and using the audiences imagination to create fear. For that you might go to the ORIGINAL Halloween, which uses widescreen space (and a slow-build story) , and if you wanted to get really advanced, Val Lewton's "Cat People" which is a master class in less-is-more. Like with drama in general, you might think of two broad effects the filmmaker can be creating at any time: SHOCK....and.....SUSPENSE..... also it might be good to ask yourself: why does THIS work so well? I mean its just a dummy. <shudder> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-8ocnmE0Ts
 
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