Atmosphere

[Vodstok]

I felt the desire to discuss my personal favorite element in horror. I am a fan of lovecraft, and the Alien series, and Romero's Dead movies, and the Doom and Quake game families, and if there is one common thread between all of them, it is atmosphere.

The setting and build up are integral to creating fear. One of the creepeist scenes in any movie is in Fallen where Denzel Washington is on the street and the demon is jumping from person to person, taunting him. That scene happens in broad daylight.

Gore can play a part in atmosphere if it is PART of it, not the focus. The video game industry has been using this for years now. Half-Life and FEAR used a combination of the occasional messy dead body, but mostly just blood stains and signs of struggle to ramp up the creepyness.

And the dream sequences in FEAR.... I have a hard time playing any of them alone. Never has a little girl been so threatening....

[newb]

agreed.....Atmosphere is huge in both movies and games.

One scene in particular stands out for me.

The hallway scene in Exorcist 3.

[newb]

another


The caligraphy scene in "The Eye"......makes me jump out of my seat every time.

[Vodstok]

Of course, I have never seen either of those... Sounds like recommended viewing, though.

I always thought the Ring was a good example, the entire movie is dark and gray.

[bloodrayne]

The 'feel' of the Silent Hill games REALLY draws me in...I love them for that

[alkytrio666]

Val Lewton. 'Nuff said.

[The_Return]

Val Lewton. 'Nuff said.

Or to expand on that...Jacques Tourneur.

[The Flayed One]

Of course, I have never seen either of those...

You're dead to me.

[Haunted]

Must agree that the Silent Hill games created a deliciously dark and uber creepy atmosphere. Fatal Frame also gave a rejuvenating evil to the "haunted house" theme, very creepy.

I loved Aliens for it's sort of "hellish" atmosphere. It completely leaned towards the sci-fi horror, but there was definitely a hellish quality to the place. It wasn't as simple as being taken into an infested space colony. I don't know if I can describe the senses that I get in my head.

My favorite setting which can be made into the perfect atmosphere is the possessed/haunted insane asylum. It sort of plays on itself: the haunted mind, the haunted people, the crimes committed by haunted doctors or other patients creating ghosts, which in turn haunt the people, and create cycles which continuously feed on themselves and lives making them stronger and more vile. Then you've got the idea that the mind of the insane is the most powerful mind of all, because it has no boundries, it can and will believe in or accept anything.

[Elvis_Christ]

Black Christmas (Original) had the creepiest atomosphere I'd seen in awhile... especially in a slasher flick.

Defintaley agree with you on the Romero dead series, that shit is tense.

Loved the original TCM for its unsettling atomosphere.

[The_Return]

My favorite setting which can be made into the perfect atmosphere is the possessed/haunted insane asylum. It sort of plays on itself: the haunted mind, the haunted people, the crimes committed by haunted doctors or other patients creating ghosts, which in turn haunt the people, and create cycles which continuously feed on themselves and lives making them stronger and more vile. Then you've got the idea that the mind of the insane is the most powerful mind of all, because it has no boundries, it can and will believe in or accept anything.

Totally agreed.

That atmosphere / setting can make subpar movies watchable (Boo), good movies great (Madhouse) and great movies even better (Session 9, House on Haunted Hill remake)

[Despare]

I love great atmosphere, in everything from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video to The Abominable Snowman. I really dig silent films with great atmosphere like M or Metropolis where it helps to tell a story almost as well as dialogue.

[alkytrio666]

Or to expand on that...Jacques Tourneur.
Yes, him especially, but Lewton had a good eye for choosing an ensemble of great atmospheric directors (Mark Robson and Robert Wise to boot).

And speaking of Robert Wise...whaddabout him?! Great atmosphere in his numerous spectacular films. The Haunting, anyone? The Day the Earth Stood Still? The Body Snatcher? Rod and I have ranted and raved about this guy before, but he deserves it all.

Despare hit it on the head with Fritz Lang's masterpieces.

And what about David Lynch? Eraserhead? Blue Velvet? His films are bleeding nightmarish atmosphere.