Horror Film Aesthetics: Creating the Visual Language of Fear

by Thomas M. Sipos

This richly informed study analyzes how various cinematic tools and techniques have been used to create horror on screen--the aesthetic elements, sometimes not consciously noticed, that help to unnerve, frighten, shock or entertain an audience. The first two chapters define the genre and describe the use of pragmatic aesthetics (when filmmakers put technical and budgetary compromises to artistic effect). Subsequent chapters cover mise-en-scene, framing, photography, lighting, editing and sound, and a final chapter is devoted to the aesthetic appeals of horror cinema. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may .

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Horror

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2010

Reviews

[Mike Perschon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite Sipos’ consistently condescending tone, the opening chapter defining horror is very good. But the further I read, the weaker his arguments became. The concept here is fantastic—look at how horror movies use film language. But in the end, the execution is a bit weak. Still worth a read, as Sipos is often cited in other literature on horror films.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seemed to start off strong, but became increasingly muddled. Needed a better editor.

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this book. It's essentially a general film style textbook that just happens to give examples from horror movies. The book spends way too much time defining basic terms that any 2nd year film student will already be very familiar with (that said, if you've never read any other book on film aesthetics, you may get more out of this one). It needs to be radically restructured in order to focus on what is UNIQUE about horror film aesthetics. Structuring it around different subgenres or historical periods, rather than aesthetic elements like lighting or cinematography, would help narrow the focus onto horror films and not film style in general.

The author also has an embarrassingly large chip on his shoulder about academic film criticism. He thinks it's too elitist, and yet he himself constantly writes in a condescending tone. Even worse, despite his shocking pretentiousness, he frequently contradicts himself. He'll go on a tirade about how stupid academics are for doing some particular thing, and then 2 pages later he'll do that exact thing himself.

After all his whining about academic film studies, it's clear that the author just hasn't read enough of it. He spends about 25 pages trying to define horror, and most of it is useless. Film studies moved on from these pretentious, uptight, narrow, simplistic, angry fanboyish kind of genre definitions since Rick Altman published Film/Genre in 1999. Despite Sipos' long-winded, angry proclamations about which movies are horror and which are scifi (for which he gives no evidence other than his personal opinion), if you crack open any other book on horror, you'll find another film critic giving a completely different definition. In other words, methodologically the book is useless. If Sipos spent less time whining and more time actually studying his subject, he might have crafted a stronger book.

[Alexandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to DNF this one. Made it to chapter 4. Most of the writing could have been condensed in a few pages. Not all that many explanations. Some things are factually wrong. The author takes up a few paragraphs to diss the use of the Munch painting as a basis for the Scream mask, stating that it does not make sense except for it being someone screaming. He seems to forget that the painting is literally titled The Scream and is regarded as a symbolization of the anxiety of human condition..exactly what horror movies have been regarded as a symbolization of. Knowing Scream is pretty meta about horror movies, it makes a ton of sense (there's other themes related to the painting as well that fit with the movie, but I'm keeping this brief). The tone of voice that we get from his writing is very angry, judgmental, and condescending. In short, this book (at least the first 4 chapters) is a very shallow analysis/explanation delivered in a very off-putting tone.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to pick this one up because of the cover. But what is it about? It is defining the genre (so frightening you'll never recover), horror vs snuff, creating a world, framing the image of horror, photographing it, the speed of motion, lighting the image, editing the image, putting sound to the image, audio shocks. The end chapter is about the appeals of horror. Well, it was a nice theory how horror works and a piece of horror movie can be constructed. Enlightening. Very good behind the scene look with how to do it instructions. Nice movie stills and examples are included. Really recommended.

[Roland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough overview of different techniques horror filmmakers use to create atmosphere and scares. I was a bit surprised at the tone at times but overall it's a valuable book with some great tips for low budget filmmakers.