Wes Craven
Wes Craven is an American film director, writer, producer and actor. Craven has not only worked on some extremely successful horror films such as Scream (1996), but he also created theories to be followed when making a horror film.
Firstly, Craven had a theory about the setting of a horror film. he believed that the scariest things should happen in the most stereotypical safe, normal places, for example a family home, school or a hospital. This is because if awful things happen in the safest of places, it creates the idea that there is no where left to run. As well as this, it helps the audience relate to the film and opens up the thought, that this horror story could happen to them as well because the victims life would have been so safe. An example of this theory is in his 1984 classic, a nightmare on elm street, where teens are haunted in their dreams whilst they sleep in their beds.
Secondly, he emphasizes the absence of parents in horror films, as this suggests danger. Parents are seen as safe and represent protection and therefore their absence leaves the character vulnerable. This is shown in Scream (1996) where even in the opening title sequence, the absence of parents leads to a gruesome death. Casey Becker is home alone when she receives a call from an unknown person and Casey is hung from a tree in her backyard. When her parents arrive home it is too late.
Firstly, Craven had a theory about the setting of a horror film. he believed that the scariest things should happen in the most stereotypical safe, normal places, for example a family home, school or a hospital. This is because if awful things happen in the safest of places, it creates the idea that there is no where left to run. As well as this, it helps the audience relate to the film and opens up the thought, that this horror story could happen to them as well because the victims life would have been so safe. An example of this theory is in his 1984 classic, a nightmare on elm street, where teens are haunted in their dreams whilst they sleep in their beds.
Secondly, he emphasizes the absence of parents in horror films, as this suggests danger. Parents are seen as safe and represent protection and therefore their absence leaves the character vulnerable. This is shown in Scream (1996) where even in the opening title sequence, the absence of parents leads to a gruesome death. Casey Becker is home alone when she receives a call from an unknown person and Casey is hung from a tree in her backyard. When her parents arrive home it is too late.