Supernatural Horror Films- Camerawork/ Cinematography (Individual)

Supernatural Horror Films have had a specific way of using lighting and using the camera to create an atmosphere and mood. Horror films are mainly based off the camerawork as it allows audiences to get the mood across to the audience without any words or certain plot points or even the setting.

Long Shots
Long shots are used to show how isolated a character is in a supernatural horror. This allows the audience to see how alone the character is which creates a fearful mood within the audience for the character. It gives a suspenseful atmosphere which allows the stereotypical feeling for supernatural horror.

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Wide Shots
These are used to hide the identity of a figure during a supernatural horror so it builds tension for the audience to allow them to feel worried by making the audience know they're there without knowing the identity. They also help to introduce a setting to show the whole place and give an impression of isolation and helplessness.

The Ring (2002)

POV Shots
This allows the audience to see what the creature sees and the vulnerability of the protagonists. It allows the audience to see them and it creates an uncomfortable mood as the audience sees them as vulnerable but sometimes the audience don't even know who's perspective they are looking from.

Hand Held Camera
Many supernatural horror films use a hand held camera for filming certain scenes to make the scene feel more realistic as though it is actually happening. It makes the audience feel as though they are in the scene with the characters. It allows the camera to be more raggedy and closer to the action.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Underexposing
Supernatural horror uses a lot of shadow to create a dark atmosphere to show a more mysterious atmosphere. It allows the audience to not know what's going on in some areas of the screen so when something is coming towards the protagonist you can see fully what is going on.

The Others (2001)

Haze
Fog and haze can add a mysterious sense to a film and allows the film to seem more textured as well as allowing it to be unique. A sense of character can be created through haze as it is used to show a mysterious character or even reveal a creature during a supernatural horror. One of the main supernatural horror films to use fog is the Exorcist to reveal the protagonist of the same name giving the man an unusual and mysterious feeling as they introduce him.

The Exorcist (1973)

Slow Pan
This allows the suspense to build up in a supernatural horror before allowing the creature to be revealed at the end of the shot. If the pan towards the creature is slow it makes the audience tense which leads to a bigger reveal and shock at the end.

High and Low Angles
By using a high angle it shows how vulnerable a character is and is to show how insignificant a character is. This is usually tied in with a POV shot to show a character from the creatures perspective. The low angles create the opposite by creating a position of power for the creature by standing over the victim.

The Invisible Man (1933) Low Angle

The Shining (1980) High Angle