Props - concept development - Christy O'Shea

In a slasher movie weapons are inevitable, the meaner the weapon the more effect it will have on the audience. In this particular sub-genre the mise-en-scene is vital to achieve a scary effect on the audience.

This is a possibility of a weapon or just as clutter on the floor, it's a rusty old blade from a Stanley knife, it's not the biggest but it is quite an offensive ornament, and used correctly it can create brutality and visceral pleasure for the audience!

This is an ordinary hammer, with some editing to make the handle look darker and worn out it can be an effective element to the mise-en-scene, in non-DIY and more murderous terms, the blunt object used for killing creates a brutal and violent image, perfect for a slasher!

A large kitchen knife is also a great option for the film, whether it being the murderers weapon of choice or the protagonists last ditch desperate attempt of self defence. With CGI or prosthetics such as fake blood it can be made to look extremely intimidating, especially due to the size of the blade. It is a generic convention of slasher movies.

Pliers can be used as an element of torture within the movie, and create the kind of torture porn that is common in slasher movies, such as the 'Saw' series. It would make the audience feel uncomfortable and provoke a reaction from the viewers.

An axe would be almost perfect for a slasher due to the association with medieval brutes, although this would not be practical to film in public so would have to be used at one of out houses.

Finally on the weapons part of things, a hedge trimmers unique engine sound and fast moving blades can be used to provoke fear. Power tools can be used effectively to create visceral pleasure thanks to famous horrors such as 'the Texas chainsaw massacre' and other such movies.

Fake blood is one of the vital prosthetics required in a slasher movie, it shows the protagonist to be vulnerable and weak and brings out the squeamish side of the audience, blood and gore are widely used in horror movies and are one of if not the main generic convention of slashers!

Broken glass and other props such as cigarette butts and wrappers can be used to add run down elements to location and verisimilitude, this would be useful to help the psychological side of the movie opening as it makes the place look abandoned and misused, creating the effect that no one is around to help.