Editing Styles in Horror Films

Cutting:

Eye-line match: This is similar to shot reverse shot an refers to the path of where the eye is looking. The camera films a character looking at something and then cuts to their direction of gaze. This is often used in horror to add to the suspense before it reveals what the character is looking at.

Cross-cutting: To alternate one action when editing to show two sequences. In horror films, this is used to follow several actions at once. It normally is used when there is a lot going on in different locations.

Cutaway: This is the interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting another shot of something else. It often is used when there is suspense, to interrupt the scene so the audience is left wondering what is going to happen next.

Insert: This is when there is part of a scene filmed from a different angle or length from the original shot. It is often used in horror films to emphasisea different ascpect of the scene. For example, when an antagonist pulls out a weapon, an insert might be used to focus on the weapon close-up.

Jump cut: A jump cut is the transition between two shots which appears to have skipped a few frames due to the way the shots are framed in relation to each other. the frames are often similar but not the same to create a jumping movement.

Other Editing Styles:

Slow motion is also often used in many films, particularly when there is a lot of action. This is often to highlight a key moment in the film or to dramatise it to create suspense. Some horror films uses this editing technique to add to the tension.

In some horror films, there are a variety of long takes and short takes. Long takes are often used to draw out the suspense and tension whereas short takes usually reflect on the hectic situation.

The Main Brief

In the main brief, we will try to use a few of these techniques in order to create suspense and tension. The opening will incorporate the eye-line match shot and cutaways. As this is only the opening, cross cutting many not be possible as there is only one sequence.