Why Horror?
Horror describes the intense feeling of fear, shock and disgust. In the film industry, when making Horror films, directors and production companies have to think of how they will portray this Horror. This makes the audience experience these very feelings, so why do we still watch them if they know its going to scare us.
The main reason we watch Horror films, is for the adrenaline rush. When we experience jumps, scares and shocks, we experience an immense adrenaline rush through our body, and it is for this reason we watch them again and again. It's the same reason people sky dive more than once, to experience the same feeling we enjoyed once before. However, once use to the same scares the adrenaline rush doesn't have the same effect after a while, so the film industry reproduce films with new technologies and new story lines, knowing that the audience will go see it.
Horror films also allow us to understand what about the world it is that terrify us. For example zombie Horror, allow us to experience something fun, but not real. But is also highlighting the fear that we as humans all fear, for example an apocalypse, wiping out entire civilisations. In other films such as Cloverfield (2008) it reflects our fear of destruction of our cities and lives, such as when a well known city, New York, is blown to pieces.
Finally, we watch Horror films purely because we know they're not real. They allow us to be scared, and experience fears and adrenaline rushes, knowing nothing can actually hurt us. Films such as paranormal activity allow us to be freaked, scared and feel unsafe, but deep down we know nothing can hurt us. This means because its not real were not scared to watch them and in turn get the adrenaline rush when our bodies bring out our deepest fears.
In conclusion, every person will watch a Horror film for their own amusement, but it is said the main reason is the adrenaline rush, which we can experience without putting our life a risk or knowing there's a real danger to us.
Horror describes the intense feeling of fear, shock and disgust. In the film industry, when making Horror films, directors and production companies have to think of how they will portray this Horror. This makes the audience experience these very feelings, so why do we still watch them if they know its going to scare us.
The main reason we watch Horror films, is for the adrenaline rush. When we experience jumps, scares and shocks, we experience an immense adrenaline rush through our body, and it is for this reason we watch them again and again. It's the same reason people sky dive more than once, to experience the same feeling we enjoyed once before. However, once use to the same scares the adrenaline rush doesn't have the same effect after a while, so the film industry reproduce films with new technologies and new story lines, knowing that the audience will go see it.
Horror films also allow us to understand what about the world it is that terrify us. For example zombie Horror, allow us to experience something fun, but not real. But is also highlighting the fear that we as humans all fear, for example an apocalypse, wiping out entire civilisations. In other films such as Cloverfield (2008) it reflects our fear of destruction of our cities and lives, such as when a well known city, New York, is blown to pieces.
Finally, we watch Horror films purely because we know they're not real. They allow us to be scared, and experience fears and adrenaline rushes, knowing nothing can actually hurt us. Films such as paranormal activity allow us to be freaked, scared and feel unsafe, but deep down we know nothing can hurt us. This means because its not real were not scared to watch them and in turn get the adrenaline rush when our bodies bring out our deepest fears.
In conclusion, every person will watch a Horror film for their own amusement, but it is said the main reason is the adrenaline rush, which we can experience without putting our life a risk or knowing there's a real danger to us.
Institutions, studios and Independent horror films
Big film institutions and productions companies such as Warner Brothers', Universal, Paramount and MGM all produce and release horror films. The production company Liongate has produced some the greatest and most well-known horror films known such as the 'Saw' sequels (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) and 'The Eye' (2008).
Independent horror films have more constraints such as a smaller budget, cast and equipment, this however, does not stop some of the best horror films being brought out. A well-known independent horror film is 'Paranormal Activity' (2007), which had an un-known cast and few locations. They also used hand-held cameras which fit both to a small budget and creating the effect of the characters being real people. This helped pushing the boundaries for the ways in which horror films were being created. Other well known independent films include Halloween (1978), Saw (2004) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). These then got picked up by larger institutions for sequels to be made.
Studio horror films have less constraints with higher budgets which means higher end market technology and a bigger more well-known cast. The use of new technology adds to the excitement to films as they can add more effects, and try out more ideas to make the horror feel more real. Production companies like Universal have released films such as Frankenstein (1931), The Wolf Man (1941) and The Mummy (1932).
With most films, there is usually a gap in how well a film does, and this is largely based on whether it is an independent or a studio company. With horror films however, this gap hardly exists, as independent companies with a low budget can still bring it a huge gross from ticket sales due to the films being more believable and feel more real for the audience. On the other hand, Studio companies have more access to special effects, which creates a diversity in creativity of what could happen in the film.
Independent horror films have more constraints such as a smaller budget, cast and equipment, this however, does not stop some of the best horror films being brought out. A well-known independent horror film is 'Paranormal Activity' (2007), which had an un-known cast and few locations. They also used hand-held cameras which fit both to a small budget and creating the effect of the characters being real people. This helped pushing the boundaries for the ways in which horror films were being created. Other well known independent films include Halloween (1978), Saw (2004) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). These then got picked up by larger institutions for sequels to be made.
Studio horror films have less constraints with higher budgets which means higher end market technology and a bigger more well-known cast. The use of new technology adds to the excitement to films as they can add more effects, and try out more ideas to make the horror feel more real. Production companies like Universal have released films such as Frankenstein (1931), The Wolf Man (1941) and The Mummy (1932).
With most films, there is usually a gap in how well a film does, and this is largely based on whether it is an independent or a studio company. With horror films however, this gap hardly exists, as independent companies with a low budget can still bring it a huge gross from ticket sales due to the films being more believable and feel more real for the audience. On the other hand, Studio companies have more access to special effects, which creates a diversity in creativity of what could happen in the film.