The Cinematic Nightmare

Question 1

The Cinematic Nightmare

Answer 1

*how do filmmakers of horror movies engage the viewer by exploiting the viewers OWN fears?

Question 2

Most Common Nightmares

Answer 2

• being lost or trapped (includes being buried alive, caught in a web, unable to move, etc)
• missing a boat, train, bus or plane (includes coming late to a scheduled appointment)
• being chased (includes being chased by a monster, animal, or person)
• failing a test (includes not being able to find the test room or being unable to finish a test on time)
• dream nudity
• becoming ill or dying (includes someone else becoming ill or dying)
• car troubles/ car out of control
• bad or missing teeth
• falling, sinking, drowning
• faulty machinery or technology

Question 3

What SIGNIFICANT commonalities exist in our common shared nightmares?

Answer 3

• negative experiences
• negative or ambiguous (unknown) outcomes
• create panic and anxiety
• involve lack of control or power

Question 4

Phobias

Answer 4

A real, but irrational, fear

Question 5

The 15 most common phobias:

Answer 5

1. Arachnophobia (fear of spiders)
2. Acrophobia (fear of heights)
3. Coulrophobia (fear of clowns)
4. Claustrophobia (fear of being trapped in confined spaces)
5. Trypanophobia (fear of injections)
6. Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes)
7. Pteromerhanophobia (fear of flying)
8. Mysophobia (fear of germs and dirt)
9. Cynophobia (fear of dogs)
10. Necrophobia (fear of dead things)
11. Monophobia (fear of being alone)
12. Scotophobia (fear of darkness)
13. Xenophobia (fear of strangers)
14. Astraphobia (fear of thunder and lightning)
15. Agoraphobia (fear of being caught in stressful situations)

Question 6

What SIGNIFICANT commonalities exist in our common shared phobias?

Answer 6

• create fear
• relatable events we can typically be exposed to
• bring about anxiety

Question 7

Sub-genres of horror include:

Answer 7

• psychological thriller
• torture porn (most gory)
• slasher
• paranormal/ possession
• creature/ monster
• zombie horror
• alien invasion
• revenge horror
• home invasion horror

Question 8

Why do we enjoy the viewing experience of a horror film?

Answer 8

• viewers get to experience everything terrible the character does and we feel the same adrenaline and rush of emotion characters do BUT we experience everything vicariously (through them)!!
• horror allows us to experience catharsis (purging of emotions)

Question 9

Iconography

Answer 9

There are themes, visuals and sounds specific to a genre

Question 10

NARRATIVE Iconography common in horror (narrative = story/ plot)

Answer 10

• isolated
• abandoned
• night settings
• woods
• homes
• basements
• trespassing
• murder
• revenge
• characters split up
• technology that won’t work
• vulnerability

Question 11

STYLISTIC Iconography Common in horror (stylistic = visuals/ sounds)

Answer 11

VISUALS

• darkness
• storms
• hallways -> long
• doorways
• blood
• weapons
• shadows

SOUNDS

• creaky floors
• footsteps
• flickering lights
• static
• screaming
• studio scoring -> eerie
• breathing