Codes and Convetions: Gothic Horror

The Gothic Horror Sub-Genre

Gothic Horror comes from the popularity of Gothic fiction and novels from the 1800s-present. The sub-genre also reached the height of it's popularity in the late 18th to mid 19th centuries and was a genre of fiction that focused on the darker, irrational and more terrifying aspects of life. Two of the most famous gothic novels are Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' in 1818 and Bram Stocker's 'Dracula' in 1897. Gothic fiction is largely dominated by the sub-genre of Gothic Horror and is also a genre or mode of literature that combines fiction, horror and romanticism. It's origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel 'The Castle of Otranto'.

Gothic Horror usually has tales of a mystery and horror intended to chill the spine and curdle the blood and contain a strong of the supernatural. They are intended to create an emotional response from the audience.

Gothic fiction uses typical elements of wild and desolate landscapes, dark looks and styles - usually low key lighting - graveyards or forests, ruined abbeys - dark and gothic architecture, medieval castles with dungeons, secret passages, winding stair cases, sliding panels and torture chambers, an atmosphere of doom and gloom, heroes and heroines in danger, demonic power, spooky effects with ghosts and spectres and all flesh creeping and spine chilling stories.

Mise-En-Scene

The weather can be used in a number ways and forms, most being misty or stormy. The convention of mist is often used to obscure objects by reducing the visibility to insert a terrifying person or thing. Storms are frequently used to accompany important events. There is also usually a damsel in distress who will, in some way, do something wrong in the eyes of the killer and then end up dying. Gothic Horror films usually use a style of medieval architecture and is usually set in medieval castles or churches. The setting is often dark, gloomy and full of secret chambers, dungeons and hallways.

Gothic fashion is a clothing style marked by dark, mysterious, exotic and complex features. A typical gothic fashion also includes a pale complexion with coloured black hair, black lips and black clothes. Both a male and female Goth would wear dark eyeliner and dark fingernail polish.

A Gothic hero is often an isolated figure who must restore himself to society. A figure of evil, who is sometimes has some kind of relationship with the supernatural, is often in opposition to the hero. Women also play a significant role in Gothic novels are they are depicted as victims of the tyrannical and evil men. Gothic hairstyles have striking shapes and a touch of romanticism, much like a well-cut-jet-black damask frock coat.

 

Character

Characters in Gothic Horror are normally the protagonist/hero, monster/antagonist, victim - who could also be the hero, damsels in distress, marvellous or mysterious creatures, monsters, spirits or strangers and characters with supernatural powers.

 

Camera Work

With camera work, films are more likely to use:
Birdseye/High Angle - As they make the figure underneath look more vulnerable and powerless.

Close Up - As they show the reactions on an actors/actresses face, This shot also shows the emotion and is also used to capture emotion within the scene.

Tracking or Panning Shot - These shots are used effectively in horror films to make out a character is being followed or watched. It could also establish a scene so the audience can see the full view of the shot.

Tilted Angle - Tilt shots add a lot of dramatic tension to shots, and could simplify a supernatural being, for example, pushing or moving the camera. Another use for the tilt shot is to act as though the camera is a victim on the floor, and you are therefore seeing what they are seeing.

Extreme Long Shot/Long Shot - This is a great scene to use to establish horror movies. This shot could put into perspective how deserted a town is.

Low Angle - Low angle shots are very powerful in a way they can emphasize just how scary or intimidating a villain is.

Hand Held Camera Shots - This shot is very often used in horror films to add a sense of reality. It makes the audience feel involved and adds to the horror of the scene as you feel like you are there.

Point of View Shot - This shot is taken from the point of view of the character. This is when the audience is able to see the film through the eyes of one character. This is popular in these types of movies as the audience becomes emotionally attached and more scared as the gun could be directly pointed at them for an example.

Zoom - This shot adds to the dramatic effect and creates element of suspense of fear as you don't know what you are going to see next. It could also be used to zoom into something you wouldn't of spotted before like a supernatural thing.

Editing

In Gothic Horror, you would usually have slow paced editing with lots of straight cuts and fade to blacks. This emphasises the fear and idea of gothic-ness.

 

Sound

For Sound, there would be a lot of eerie silences and non-diegetic stings throughout the film. There may also be some non-diegetic soundtrack to emphasise the sub-genre, this would also increase the fear in the audience.