Lighting Techniques In Horror Films

Nosferatu 1922 features arguable the most famous silhouette in horror film history.

Lighting techniques in horror films. Unlike many other genres that rely more heavily on other elements dialogue plot points etc great horror films are all about style. Film language and techniques. Horror films are all about tone texture and mood. Crafting together a memorable horror movie that stands the test of time is a feat not many directors can pull off.

You not only get to learn about lighting techniques that are commonly used in horror. These five cinematography tips will make just about any horror film more stylized and effective. These lighting techniques are a great place to start. This type of lighting has been used in horror movies and video games a lot.

These are often used in horror and sci fi films. To achieve this kind of lighting add highly saturated red gels to your lights. But remember they cut the light output by 50. Unlike acting where there s a fine line between a great performance and overacting horror film lighting is always expected to be over the top so let s get started.

It adds the feeling of immediate danger and it s even more highlighted if you pair it with another saturated color. It seems in the past decade we ve gotten some pretty lazy ineffective horror films to be released that never make a lasting impression. The common theme among all different lighting methods is that they all obscure or distort reality in some way. Light and dark the first thing you need is darkness and the best way to get that is to shoot at night or better yet in a well lit room which to your camcorder can be just about every room in the house.

But you get to find out how one technique in particular uplighting affects audiences psychologically. Making a scary movie actually scary can be a serious challenge but filmmakers have found ways to communicate danger fear and other horrible emotions onto the screen visually by turning certain cinematographic techniques into horror conventions. Horror is a very specific genre that calls for some unique lighting techniques.