2. Horror Film Study, Task Three: Analyse.

The impact that this convention has had on the future of horror films has been very significant and successful. Many films following these classic slasher films - such as Scream and Saw, have taken the convention of the knife and used it in the modern-day slasher films for inspiration. The knife is a brutal and common household object which most households nower days possess. Therefore, this weapon that is in some ways a neccessity, is a likely weapon for a murderer to use, and this is a scary thought. As an audience, you tend to be left with the thought: "That could happen to me.", so the knife is actually a very terrifying weapon - and being stabbed to death is not only an unbearable thought - but it is also a probable situation - one that we as spectators could easily find ourselves in. These films were generally well-recieved by critics and audiences world-wide. The films were credited by the use of music, shadows, use of camera angles and camera shots, and lighting. Both had "bus" moments, where the anticipation and suspense would build up - leaving the audience to expect something substantial to happen, but then it is a flase alarm. These were extremely well done - especially in Psycho when the police officer was in a car chase following Marion Crane; however nothing happened, and then we are left with uncertainty. Could he reappear? Could he be the killer? The effect that this convention has had on audiences in my opinion have been very powerful. In previous films in this genre, such as Frankenstein and Rosemary's Baby, the scary and creepy creatures were monsters - things that we had never thought to be real. However, Pyscho and Halloween had killers that were human. This was such a freighting concept. Who could we trust? Who should we trust? This concept is one that plays with our minds and in result has a larger affect on us as this scenario is more likely than a spooky monster. The knife was, and still is, a scary and popular murder weapon in recent horror films - and for good reason. It is terrifying, incrediable painful and very likely. This convention was very successful and is still used in modern day slasher films - the knife will always be thought of as a classic horror film convention.