Gothic horror

Gothic-HorrorsJake Ewen, Sam Qureshi, Idrees Choudhary

and Charlie Muddyman.

The main plot

Generally involve a monster or demonic character that influences the main plot of the film

The films usually entail a limited pallet of mainly whites and blacks which continue throughout the entire film

There is usually a romance that is shown in gothic-horrors which grows throughout causing the eventual death to be emphasised

Plot continued

The plot normally involves a character that is close to the protagonist and is killed off at the end, emphasised by consistent referral to this character by the protagonist throughout the film

Narrative structure

The narrative structure usually involves the protagonist and their conflicts and dilemmas that they go through

Conventionally, there is a “monster” who plays the antagonist role

An example of this is in the women in black, the protagonist is Arthur Kipps and the antagonist is the women in black

Narrative Structure Continued

The overall structure is normally linear and is conventionally not narrated but the events are shown and explained through the dialogue and actions of the characters involved

Character types in gothic horrors

Representation and MES

Dark dull colours, to show fear and danger that something may be lurking around the corner.

Bright red colours in specific scenes - this links to blood as something dangerous will be happening soon.

Lights flashing on and off continuously to display fear.

Candles being used as torches, to navigate through derelict buildings, to show suspicion.

Shadow figures lurking around the buildings - this displays dead people have rose from the dead and have come back to haunt people.

Humans trying to make audience believe they are being romantic, but instead of kissing partners they bite them.

CameraworkCamerawork

•Close ups of people’s terrified facial expressions, or scary monsters aggressive facial expressions.

•Zoom-ins of thought-to-be empty rooms at the end of the corridor.

•Low angle shots (looking up) at the monsters’ superiority against the scared normal people.

•Two shots to show tensions between characters.

•Close ups of people’s terrified facial expressions, or scary monsters aggressive facial expressions.

•Zoom-ins of thought-to-be empty rooms at the end of the corridor.

•Low angle shots (looking up) at the monsters’ superiority against the scared normal people.

•Two shots to show tensions between characters.

EditingEditing

•Lots of quick cuts (fast paced editing) to show the danger the characters are in

•Sound bridges are used frequently to bring in the sound tension onto the next scene.

•Fade, or fade-to-black, shots often conclude the scene or the end of the film.

•Several reaction shots are used to show character fear.

•Lots of quick cuts (fast paced editing) to show the danger the characters are in

•Sound bridges are used frequently to bring in the sound tension onto the next scene.

•Fade, or fade-to-black, shots often conclude the scene or the end of the film.

•Several reaction shots are used to show character fear.

SoundSound

•Eerie non-diegetic music are usually used throughout gothic horror films.

•Often loud screaming sounds are used to generate character fear. Makes it more real for the audience to believe.

•Sound becomes fast-paced (usually violin music) when characters get faced with the scary monster.

•Eerie non-diegetic music are usually used throughout gothic horror films.

•Often loud screaming sounds are used to generate character fear. Makes it more real for the audience to believe.

•Sound becomes fast-paced (usually violin music) when characters get faced with the scary monster.

SettingSettingUsually set in a place that will trigger fear.

E.g. Haunted houses, ancient abandoned castles, deep dark woods, etc. Places that are creepy are likely to trigger fear for audiences.

Gothic horror has deep roots in theology, architecture, psychology, and many literary traditions.

Themes Themes There are many themes shown in gothic-horrors, theme being an ideology continued throughout the genre. These include; death, addiction and decay

Addiction is shown in many gothic-horror films as is a feared reality that we all deal with in day-to-day life, making the film more relatable by using this

The dead are featured in many gothic-horror films as is something that no one really knows about. This idea of not knowing is feared by many people causing for death and

the dead to be feared, creating an overall scary film. This theme is linked with things such as decay and disease in more modern films as gives the impression of death. This is a more effective way of expressing the theme because modern day audiences are more accustomed to the plain sight of death.

What is iconography?

•These are features and ideas that are associated with a certain type of film

•For example; a feature associated with gothic-horror is death

Interview 1

•Name: Idrees’ mum

•Genre: Gothic-Horror

•Correct/Incorrect: Correct

•What else comes to mind?: Dracula

Interview 2

•Name: Jake’s mum

•Genre: Gothic-horror

•Correct/Incorrect: Correct

•What else comes to mind?: Graveyards

Interview 3

•Name: Charlie’s mum

•Genre: Gothic-horror

•Correct/Incorrect: Correct

•What else comes to mind?: Ghosts

interview 4

•Name: Sam’s mum

•Genre: Gothic-horror

•Correct/Incorrect: Correct

•What else comes to mind?: Death

Interview 5

•Name: Idrees’ dad

•Genre: Gothic-horror

•Correct/Incorrect: Correct

•What else comes to mind?: Blood

Interview 6

•Name: Jake’s dad

•Genre: Gothic-horror

•Correct/Incorrect: Correct

•What else comes to mind?: Frankenstein

Interview 7

•Name: Charlie’s dad

•Genre: Gothic-horror

•Correct/Incorrect: Correct

•What else comes to mind?: Vampires

Interview 8

•Name: Sam’s brother

•Genre: Gothic-horror

•Correct/Incorrect: Correct

•What else comes to mind?: Darkness

Gothic horror films

•Dracula

•Frankenstein

•The woman in black