Camera angles and movements and how they apply to the horror genre

High angle
This angle is used to make something or someone look vulnerable and this used commonly in horror as the people who are afraid are stereotypically filmed in this way when they fall to the floor. This angle will be used frequently in our trailer as it relates to Hitchcock's theory as this is a way to create fear.



Low angle
This angle is commonly used to make the antagonist look intimidating , scary and much bigger than the antagonist. This and the high angle are binary opposites which fits into Strauss' theory as this opposite angles have completely opposite meanings. This is usually a point of view shot from the person on the floor.



Close up
This is used to highlight emotion or highlight the importance of an object, which is very useful in horror as emotions are always running very high. Highlighting emotion in horror is essential as it clearly shows the mood of the scene and can show how characters react to a certain situation.



CCTV
CCTV are heavily used in paranormal horrors like the one we doing because it shows what happens when the characters aren't there and they look back at it after. It is normally used once they are suspicious of the paranormal things going on. This camera makes it seem more realistic as it is the view of a real camera.



Hand held/shaky cam

This camera angle is used to make it look more realistic as it is the point of view of a camera that is supposed to be there. It is commonly used in horror films as the main characters are filming the events what happened.





Tracking/panning
This shot can be used to show a character being followed or watched. It can also be used to build suspense as you cannot see what it is going to move towards. It could be used as an establishing shot to set the scene for a big building which is commonly used in horror films.





Tilted/dutch angle
This angle is used to add tension and usually show the point of view of someone on the floor as something is coming towards them.







Long shot/extreme long shot
This is usually used as an establishing shot of a big building or something that is quite far from the main characters. This is very common in horrors because they usually have a big haunted/scary house and is used to set the scene.






Over the shoulder shot/shot reverse shot
This is used for conversations in every genre but for horror it is particularly used to follow the character from behind, almost as if its a point of view shot of the antagonist. It can also be used in the same way but to show everything the protagonist is looking at before it something bad happens.



Zoom in/out
Zooming in is used to intensify the scene by zooming into something of extreme importance or something scary. Whereas zooming out can be used to signify the end of a dream, obviously a bad one in a horror film.





I will try to include as many of these camera angles and movements as possible in my trailer as I have seen from research of other trailers that the most effective trailers use a wide variety of camera angles that make it look more professional and effective. I now know which camera angles to use for different parts and what message it is portraying, this is very fundamental in attracting my target audience, as Hitchcock's theory of building of tension explains.