genre theory essay re-write

In this essay, I will be assessing how genre applies to last years trailer (Terror House Production). The genre of the trailer is supernatural horror. Chandler States that genre types must be recognizable /familiar and have characteristics that show conventions in terror house productions they use mis-en-cne such as props make-up and setting along with low key lighting to make it recognizable as a horror trailer and/ product. The use of low key light connotates death in horror. Other conventions that make this recognizable as a horror trailer is the use of sound along with physical effects/movement to make the antagonist seem more alien. This connotates the idea of abnormality. And the idea that the mind of the victim is converted one with a broken psyche. It also signifies that the more parallel to human a monster/spirit is the more it is a threat. Mitel’s theory says that ‘genre allows audiences to make decisions’ to be able to do this the trailer most convey a specific sub genre. The terror house production does this effectively due to its use of conventions that link to the idea of the human psyche. The use of panning shots inside empty hallways and the calling of a voice connotes the idea that we are not alone in this ‘empty’ building. The signifies a change in the human psyche because of the voice of the person you cannot see. which connotes the idea religious spirits. This is used to pull in a larger audience of those that like supernatural horrors, they are more likely to see the film due to it conventions and sub-genre that it conveys. Neale’s theory links to Mitel as he says that genre/ horror itself should have a set of pleasures for the audience. This is shown in the trailer as it clearly shows it is both a horror and a supernatural this is done through the use of conventions. This is due to the mis-en-csne of the trailer i.e. the girls’ eyes turning to a bright white. This shows abnormality and gives the idea that she has been tainted or changed this can be linked to teen punishment as she allowed a spirit into her body that corrupted her and stole her mind i.e. her sexuality formed. This along with the sound effects creaking or snapping when she moves her body shows an other worldly movement that people cannot achieve as we would likely die. - she however continues. This signifies that the dead are moving alongside us as she no longer seems human it shows that she cant be alive. It also signifies the death of the host body through the use of the eyes as “the eye is the window to the soul” Metz however states that horror movies are processes that must evolve overtime. Comparing the film trailer to that of poltergeist the differences in type is obvious due to the change in the prop styles the colour palletes and setting changes due to ‘paranormal activity’. The lighting and general story telling is the same however in poltergeist the ‘spirits’ don’t have an effect on the human body or any kind of possession which shows that when the genre was first created the idea that spirits might merge with humans was not explored, This connotates the idea that the ‘ spirits’ in new films had to merge with people to create a more why are the spirits here and taking a hosts body. This shows that the genre has evolved as the spirits became more violent to show that they were spirits.’ effect (this can also be linked to Annabelle and Anabelle: Creations due to the possession and then haunting of a spirit. Mitel’s second theory state that conventions ‘allow producers to sell products’.which means thatyou shoule allow producers to use conventions to sell films/media products This is linked to his other theory. As the producers are creating conventions of genres to attract audience attention as they ‘know what they want in a horror genre’.this is as the conventions of horror are shown throughout the sub-genres repeatedly so people know what to expect i.e. some audiences do not like body horror and so will avoid it in films like the human centipede In the Terror House Productions horror trailer they do this by showing the traditional conventions of a supernatural horror in 2016 i.e. the slamming doors flickering lights and trapped people as well as the unnatural eyes and body movement. This connotates supernatural as supernatural horrors are shown to have superhuman abilities and the ability to control their surroundings to haunt the victims. Altman states that there must be a set of pleasures for the audience, emotional, intellectual and visceral. In the terror house trailer they fail to create visceral pleasures as there is no ‘gut’ response from me the audiencethis is the most important part in a trailer as it is something that creates a physical response. Due to the fact that we are not shown more scenes of the character spliced in there is no significant emotional pleasures. There are however intellectual pleasures examples: Why is she in a cell? and what does the spirit want? This signifies entrapment and connotes the horror movie genre. There are emotional pleasures as she shows helplessness from being entrapped this also make us feel emotional displeasure when she is shown possessed.