CODES

A code is a system of letters, words, figures, and symbols used to create meaning for the audience. They can be divided into two categories: symbolic and technical.

Symbolic – show what is beneath the surface of what we see, for instance, a character’s actions that can show how the character is feeling. Symbolic codes include setting, mise-en-scene, acting, and colour.

Technical – the way equipment is used to tell the story, for instance, the camera work. Technical codes include camera work, editing, audio, lighting.

Written codes – printed and spoken language.

CODES IN HORROR FILMS

Horror movies are meant to be unsettling for the viewer. They are meant to frighten and panic the audience while simultaneously keep them entertained. There are distinct aspects of codes set for the horror genre, including the following: narrative, characters, settings, props, colours, and costume.

CHARACTERS

The protagonist – usually the hero/victim of the story The antagonist/villain – tends to be a demon or monster of sorts, ghosts, zombies, mutated freak or a psychopathic serial killer. The sex appeal – normally played by attractive women who usually end up being the first to be killed. Other characters may also include careless teenagers who often get killed off first, creepy dolls/children, authority figures like the police.

MISE-EN-SCENE

The mise-en-scene in the film include the setting, props, lighting, and colour. The most common setting in horror is a secluded location such as an abandoned or isolated creepy-looking house in the middle of the woods or a ghost town. Having these settings help create tension and suspense amongst the viewers. Since the audience is aware of the isolation, when something terrible happens they know that the victim or victims are alone with the villain, unable to escape and to reach for help. In horror, the most used colours are black and red to connote death, danger, evil, and blood; another color is blue that connotes isolation. Props normally include weapons to show the audience that there is violence, therefore danger is about to come and characters are going to need to fight off evil.

LIGHTNING

1. Uplighting – a light source under a character’s face to create unnatural shadows. 2. Backlighting – used to create silhouettes by setting a light source behind a subject. It creates an eerie feeling to the viewer since they don’t know who/what the figure is. 3. Spotlighting – a POV of the character investigating a place with a flashlight. It creates a feeling of suspense waiting for the scare-jump to come. 4. Long shadows – normally use hard light to achieve it.

CAMERA WORK

High angle/bird’s eye view – used to make figures or objects being looked down upon and seem powerless and vulnerable. Tracking or panning shot – connotes movement. Used to show characters being followed or watched. It builds suspense as the viewer does not know what could be shown next. Tilted angle – adds dramatic tension. It could be used to act as though the lens of the victim on the floor, the audience is able to see what the character is seeing. Long/extreme long shot – can put into perspective how deserted the house or town the characters are in. Low angle – emphasize how scary and intimidating the villain is, can also make the audience feel the same weakness and insignificant as the characters in the film. Handheld shot – give off a sense of reality. It makes the audience feel involved in the scene and accentuates the horror since you feel as if you are in the scene. POV (Point of View) – taken from the perspective of the character. The audience is able to see the film through the eyes of said character; they can become emotionally attached and more terrified as they are being attacked by the villain/aggressor/monster/ghost/etc. Zoom – it adds a dramatic effect as well as creates suspense and fear as the audience does not know what are they going to see next. The camera can zoom in into something gruesome or gory making the audience uncomfortable, or it can be zoomed in into a character’s face enhancing their emotions by making the shot seem more dramatic. Over the Shoulder Shot – it is used best to build tension and add suspense. It can be used around mirrors and reflections so the audience can see what’s going to happen as soon as the character does. It can be used to show a figure standing behind a victim.

EDITING

Usually fast-paced so it builds up the tension. It could also create a sense of urgency for the audience. Further, it can disorientate the viewers feel worried and uneasy, but the fast-pace is mixed with a few scenes with slow-pace editing so that it draws the audience into the movie and gives them a sense of security before jump-scare them. Editing techniques: 1. Cutaway – shows characters’ reactions to a -most likely terrible- a situation they are facing. 2. Jumpcut – usually sued to scare the audience unexpectedly. 3. Smash cut – used to shock and frighten the viewers in the change from quiet to loud. 4. Elliptical editing – keeps the audience interested in the film and on the edge of their seats by cutting away unnecessary parts of the film. 5. Fade to black – gives a tense/mysterious feeling to the audience.

AUDIO (SOUND EFFECTS/MUSIC)

Music/sound effects can be used to build up tension. For instance, when the music starts low and slow and starts to build up as the scene progresses can put the audience on edge. Furthermore, music can also be used to scare the audience by using loud fast music that can help to shock them. On the other hand, lack of music in a scene can help create an uncomfortable feeling to the viewers due to the quietness, it can also emphasize the sound effects on the film, such as food steps and nervous breathing. Common sound effects on horror films: footsteps, doors creaking, floorboards creaking, wind, and screams.