Survival
What is the survival genre? The survival genre is something a select number of people find thrilling and inspiring. For many, seeing a human's capacity to fully adapt to our environment and to problem-solve is something that people look forward to seeing on their screens. In some type of way, a selected audience is able to face their biggest anxieties and affairs in a safe and controlled environment. Survival films offer a sense of escapism through the safe means of the theater and our homes.
Regardless, the movie genre is something widely loved. It focuses on the protagonist's journey while they are fighting against or adapting to extreme life-threatening scenarios. Again, this is a pretty broad genre, thus it can span from post-apocalyptic to dystopian means.
Typical Target Audience
The typical target audience for the survival genre is teens and adults. If we were to be more specific, we would understand that the ages tend to span from early teens (15) to around people who are generally a little bit older (40). But of course, just like any other genre, one must be inclined to more action-based or thriller-based movies to endure these types of films. Actually, post-apocalyptic and dystopian fans, due to some of the hidden psychological preferences, tend to find survival films a good hit.
An important mention for this genre is that it has a slight lean towards male audiences
The thrilling themes of the films keep younger audiences attached to their fast-paced and high-adrenaline scenarios. Older audiences tend to appeal to the emotional depth that the genre can hold.
Genre Conventions with Content
The most common content conventions included in survival would be:
A world has been destroyed by
War
Virus
Robots
Humans
Lack of resources
Natural disaster
The protagonist or very small group will most likely face survival challenges like hunger, thirst, lack of shelter, and isolation. (PHYSICAL STRUGGLES)
The setting and environment will be the main antagonist
It usually follows the physiological journey of the protagonist and their resilience throughout an experience.
Living with limited resources
Flashbacks and inner monologue are extremely common; this helps the audience view the character's past life.
Genre Conventions with Technique
Lighting:
High Contrast (lowkey) lighting gives the film a higher sense of danger
Natural, this unfiltred type of lighting will add realistic elements to the film.
Limited light sources like a campfire, a candle, or a lantern/flashlight
Chiaroscuro
Cinematography:
Tight shots, intimate close-ups are used so the audience can get a sense of the protagonists more co
Handheld cameras can help enhance the energy of the situation and the instability of the human mind
Extreme Wideshots to show the isolation of the protagonist and to emphasize the setting and its destruction. To emphasize character vs environment.
POV shots are often used to show the genuine struggle of the character
Sound:
Diegetic Sounds
Silence (minimal sounds)
Sudden loud noises usually breaks silence and make the moment quite tense
Dissonant Music (low-frequency sound) creates fear
Editing:
Long takes are used to create tension
Jump cuts to heighten the audience's panic
Linear Chronology (cause and effect structure)
Institutional Conventions
Trailers are heavily marked with intense and tension-building music, with quick visuals
Posters usually involve a worried face or the protagonist with a face of fear
The settings can be quite broad, and usually show the main antagonist, like empty streets, forest, city, etc
Two Films That Represent the Genre
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