Short Films of the Horror Genre

Conventions of a short film

• A short horror film will typically be 3-20 minutes long however it may be longer or even shorter depending on the film.
• The storylines of a short film are commonly kept simple making it easier for the audience to follow, the narrative is a lot less in depth than a normal film with limited dialogue.
• Due to the length of the narrative, typically only 1-3 main characters will be introduced within the film as there is not enough time to develop all the characters. This makes it easier for the audience to stay engaged and not get confused with all the different characters being introduced.
• Another common convention in a short film is having some form of a twist as the short story has a more interesting plot which also adds in enigma.
• Conventionally the budget for a short film is is very low, as they are not likely to make a lot of money when distributing the film so this effects how much is spent.
• It is conventional for a short film to have a niche audience.

Conventions of a short film from the horror genre

• A short horror film can be of any sub-genre, as there are many forms which can make a short film a success. An example would be in ‘Click’ as if it were to be full length it would be under the paranormal sub-genre as the appearance of the antagonist is never revealed.
• Due to the limited time in the short film, it is conventional for pacing of the short horror film to be fast as it builds more suspense, this can be done through short cuts and jumpscares. Within the short film ‘Click’ the pace is slow at the start however when the ghost appears there is more movement from characters and the camera cuts increase as the girl attempts to escape.
• Typically in a short horror film it is conventional for it to be shot in one location due to the low budget the film has. Having one location can entice the audience and allow the to get a sense of the surrounding and truly capture what the characters may be feeling. This is responded with suspense and camera cuts which allows jumpscares. In ‘Click’ it is set in one location (the abandoned warehouse) which gives the audience more of an insight of what it may be like to get trapped within the warehouse.
• As there is limited time in a short film the antagonists appear quicker than in a normal film. Due to them being introduced so early the audience is engaged from the start and creates a quicker response.
• With the lack of dialogue and editing software/special effects the techniques within the film come from camerawork and the sound. Both are exaggerated to further the suspense throughout the film.