Audience Theories

There are three main audience theories that are most related to the genre of horror, these are;

Reception Theory:
Reception theory is a version of reader response that emphasizes each particular reader's interpretation in making meaning from a literary text. Reception theory is generally referred to as audience reception in the analysis of communications models. The theory implies that: When a film maker produces a text it is included with a meaning or message that they then want the convey to the audience of the film/genre. The Audiences will detonate the message and understand what the producer was trying to inform, others will either reject or fail to correctly understand the message.

The Effects Model:
Media effects are used in media studies, to refer to the theories about the ways in which mass media and media culture affect how their audiences think and behave. For example, The Bobo Doll experiment, Albert Bandura which is a piece of research that apparently proved that children copy violent behaviour.

The Uses and Gratifications Model:
Uses and gratifications theory is an approach to understanding why and how people actively seek out specific media to satisfy specific needs,This theory is revealing and figuring out the reasons why people watch TV.

Camera Work, shots and movement

180 degree rule- drawing an imaginary line down the center of the frame(two characters at either end of the frame) keeping the camera on one side of the line but it is able to move up, down, left, right but not able to cross the line this changes the audiences perspective of the shot.

Match on action-  this is used to continue one shot into the next.

Shot/reverse shot- within the shot of characters it switches from character to character. 

Many different Camera shots are used in different ways to help the audience into the narrative of the film that they are watching, some camera shots create a mystery for the audience by using different camera angles and shots.

In a film camera movements are there so they can create a sense of  drama, excitement and add a scare factor(in horror films) .

Zoom- moving in and out without the camera moving.

Tracking-camera moves to follow or track a person or object.

Panning- When the camera moves from right to left or left to right on a pivot

Whip pan- used to create more of an impact , just panning at a faster speed.

Static camera: Camera in a fixed position usually before a dramatic event to scare the audience, usually used in horror  films. 

A few basic camera shots

 

Over the shoulder
looking from behind one person, is taken from behind one characters shoulder to show anthers, its ussed to draw attention.  
 

Birds Eye View
This is shot from a birds point of view,  high up looking directly down on the person/object.

 
 
 
Extreme close up-showing great detail, a shot which focuses on one single part, this would be used to enhance the dramatic expressions of the persons face, for example eyes.

 

High Angle Shot
A high angle shot is taken from a high angle to make the charater seem smaller and look weeker.





close up-
Showing the full face, this could be used to show more emotion in a characters face.
 

The Six Sense Analysis

Mise en scene

Form the introduction of the film we get a vast amount of detail about the characters through the mise-en-scene that is used.  The way that the doctor and his wife are dressed and the location that they are in shows that they are both really wealthy, also the way that the her and her husband sit together to read something just shows the audience how close and how much they look after each other.

Also, in the opening sequence when the light blub turns on, this could be symbolic because it is a quick, sudden turning on of the blub, I think this is used to hint to the audience that they have to look more detailed at things, for example in the film when the ghosts don’t want to hurt him but want his help and when one character reveals that he can see dead people, then realises they are dead, it makes the audience look in a different light to what is happening and what has been there.

Throughout the film there are different colours used; for example red is used quite frequently through  it shows that there could be danger,  or a warning, this links in with the light bulb at the start of the film just before it turns on it has a flash of red before going normal. This could indicate that something bad is going to happen there are more examples such as; the female character is always wearing red lipstick, there is a red napkin on the table and the door knob that leads to the basement is also red, the wine is red and I think this is most important because all we see is the male character drinking the wine, which could imply something bad is going to happen to him. 

Sound

• In the opening sequence there is an eerie mysterious sound, throughout the film when characters scream shows drama and makes the audience want to know what is going to happen next
• Also, there is a romantic piece of music that is played which shows that the couple are close and caring towards each other.

Editing and camera work

• At the beginning an extreme close up is used, this is used to focus in on the light blub that is turning on.
• There is a whip pan that is used when the doctor loses the boy.
• A close up shot is used to show damages that have been made.
• There is a tilt in the camera when the man who is naked is talking to the doctor.
• High angle shots are used when a character gets shot; this creates tension and makes the audience want to know what is going to happen next.
• Shot reverse shot is used when two characters are having convocation.

History Of Horror Films

The Woman in black opening sequence analysis

The opening sequence of The Woman In Black, creates a sense of gloom and darkness, by the use of camera angles, it starts with a shot of china pots, the three girls that are introduced in the scene, are playing with the china tea pots, the camera angles change from a two shot of the pots to when the tea pot is being used, the camera action is titled, through this we know that the three girls are playing innocently. The diagetic sound that s played over the music are the chiming of the China wear, this creates a sense of tension and produces the theme of horror - the sounds are quite echoed and muffled yet its still old enough to create a sense of horror for the audience, drawing the audiences attention the the action that being shown.The semiotic sound is non-diagetic sounds(music) being played quietly in the background which symbolizes the theme of the era, with the little girls actions occurring at the same time.

The shots are also existing the same as the non-diagetic sound as they are both slow and delayed yet it still fits with the sense of mysterious depiction of the shots that are close up of the dolls. The dolls that are shown are stereotypical conventions of horror films as we normally associate them as creepy. Whereas woman in black we know is a horror film by the way in which the dolls and children are introduced, it has the three little girls wearing old fashioned clothing, long hair brushed neatly back, this suggests a sense of realism of perfection. They also all have expressions of happiness, yet it seems quite fixed and demanding, adding the horror to the film. The music then starts to get softer and more mystical creating a lot of tension, which you think that something terrifying or scary is about to happen. Also not only has the music turned to slow pace, so has the three girls actions, creating that demanding robot type human making the film more spooky and cresting more of a build up of tension through out the opening of the film.

There are bells from church that start to ring, the denotation of the bells is the literal meaning of church yet they connote something is ending or coming, this is when the actions of the girls start to change, creating tension, they all slowly turn there heads to face the camera looking down, this implies more of a personal connection with the audience as it seems as though the girls are looking directly at them. However, the camera shows a middle shot of the girls to the audience so they are able to see the surroundings and look more at the old fashioned theme, fitting with the setting of the film. Longer, wider shots start being produced to develop the tension and pressure of the action from the three girls. As the girls are stood at the window the lighting is dimmed down, using more natural lighting that is coming from the scenery outside, the shot is quite lined up and middle, When they jump out the window it creates fear for the audience. As they disappear the opening scene is over, However as they step up to the window they are synchronized with each other which also adds to the robot like features.

The audience theory that is relevant to the film is, desensitization theory which is a long-term exposure, its something that we as an audience want to see, it has a recurring message towards the media, whilst making the audience immune to it because its less likely to have an impact on the audience due to the unrealistic moments in the opening sequence.