Camera Angles That Create Tension in Horror/Thriller Films
An Extreme Close Up - This is used to emphasise something, for example if the close up was of the actions somebody was going through using their hands then it would be emphasising that, that individual was about to do something of important relevance. If it was highlighting the individuals hands holding a knife then it would be highlighting then maybe something bad was going to happen involving the knife. The connotation of the image would be violence involving the knife.
Close up - This is where the subject being filmed fills the frame, it is often used to show the emotion felt by the subject being filmed. If for example the subject had just done something of significance and was showing the necessary emotion this shot could be used to connote that and emphasise the emotion that the individual is feeling at that moment in time.
Dutch Tilt - This is a shot used by which the subject or object being filmed is tilted to an angle. This shot is often used in horror films to represent disorientation and confusion. A tilted shot type such as a dutch tilt often connote confusion or panic.
Extreme long shot - This is a shot by which the hole setting fills the frame. This shot is often used so that the audience can establish what the setting is, mise en scene etc. This shot is often used in horror films to create atmosphere and tension and to also inform the audience of the creepy setting by which the scene is going to take place.
Medium shot - This shot consists of half of the subjects body , with their costume and face still visible. This can be used to show the surroundings of the individual but also the emotions there are feeling at the same time. It is effectively used in horror films especially when creating tension of somebody coming up behind the subject.
Applied examples of camera angles, shots and movements used in the Paranormal Activity trailer.
The camerawork in the trailer uses point of view shots as characters are filming in their house with a hand held camera. This allows an audience to connect with the characters as everything is shown from their point of view meaning that a consumer finds out information at the same time as the characters.
Similarly, point of view puts the audience in the shoes of the character and this means that there is no dramatic irony as the audience know no more than the characters themselves. The camera movements are very shaky to reflect that the characters are filming. This is a convention of the horror genre as it makes the audience feel involved as they share the nerves and unease that the characters do. This choice of camera movement allows the film to look more realistic as the medium shots only show what the characters can see in the house.
The trailer includes camera shots that are filmed from the perspective of an audience watching the film. These can be classified as as a point of view shot and an over the shoulder shot as this allows a consumer of the trailer to share the same experience as the audience at the cinema.
Similarly, mid-shots and close-ups are used to show the audiences reactions to certain scenes in the film. The reactions shown are often of shock and this makes the consumer curious as they are unable to see the visuals that the cinema audience are seeing on screen and perhaps makes it more likely that people will go and watch the film.
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