Whether it is a budget-deficiency or just classic film-making; atmospheres can be such a great aid to cinema. Tones can be set for a film to make it scary without having to take cheap shots at the viewer or use excessive exploits of gore and violence. Some of the scariest films over time were because of the atmosphere they were set in. The New England region plays on rich-history and the possibility for endless tormented souls from the past there. All it takes is a film movement to establish a scenario to remain seared into the movie-goer's conscious. Enough movies have been set in rural-wooded areas at this point to indelibly place the fear of aggressive rednecks, nature itself, or the overall vulnerability within the viewers before anything has been delivered to them.
In my humble opinion, Val Lewton was, and still is the king of atmosphere. He pumped out a string of very effective chillers in the 1940's for RKO (despite loud sensational titles and little money). He had a limited budget to work with on each film and masked it with ominous atmosphere and richly ambivalent characters. Some of these films like Cat People or The Body Snatcher should be viewed by anyone interested in him or vintage horror films.Ultimately, there are many great atmospheres to choose from. Regardless of the chosen season for the film, whether it is foggy Victorian-era London or a hot night in rural Texas; the atmosphere can do so much for the viewer (especially the seasoned ones) before the first act is in the can.
As always, THANK YOU so much for listening to this most recent episode and taking a moment to read this. We are having so much fun with friends, old and new, talking about what we all love so much in the world of the macabre. I would love to hear from you on what some of your favorite atmospheres are? Feel free to share on our Facebook page or right here! Until next time....
Beware of the moon
Professor Wagstaff
August 27, 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment