RCMedia: Conventions of the Horror Genre

There are a wide range of conventions that Horror films have as group:

Horror films are designed to:

Frighten and panic
Cause dread and alarm
Evoke our hidden emotions - vulnerability, terror of the unknown, nightmares, alienation, revulsions etc.
Captivate and entertain us
Often conclude with a terrifying shocking ending

LOCATION

Horror films tend to be set in small communities such as dark streets or narrow alleyways.
In addition to this, they can also me set in places with a 'dark' history such as abandoned houses (Quarantine), hotels (Walled In) and asylums (Grave Encounters).
They may also be set in more rural environments such as cabins (Cabin in the Woods), barnes and farms (The Lodge) or hunting grounds.

TECHNICAL CODES

Camera work tends to be very jolted and uneven - including a lot of camera shake - low angle shots connotes fear within the victim, whereas high angle shots display the power the villain has over the victim(Chainsaw Massacre).
POV shotes are used quite often in order to make the audience see the situation through the victim's or villain's eyes.
Depth of field is important in horror films due to the fact it can blur the background making it harder to see whats behind the victim (The Strangers).

ICONOGRAPHY

The colour scheme within a film opening, tends to be black white and red due to the fact these are the colours that link directly to evil, blood and danger etc.
Most horror films include common objects such as weapons, masks and supernatural/ religious symbols. Films like Frankinstien, Dracula and The Mummy use their monsters in order to connote extreme fear, disgust and terror within their audiences.
Low key lighting can be used in order to create dark shadows and unfamiliar shots in the darkness. e.g. bonfires, fireplaces and torches. (Mama and The Blair Witch Project)
Props are important within a horror film due to the fact it helps the audience identify what genre the film is that they are watching. E.g. chainsaws, machetes, knifes, firearms ( Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and Chainsaw Massacre).

NARRATIVE STRUCTURE

Most horror films end their films one of two ways - the film with either finish and that would be the end of the film itself e.g. Mama, Prom Night and Dead Silence. Or they might leave the end of the film open with allows room for a sequel or an entire franchise. E.g. Halloween, Paranormal Activity and Friday the 13th.
There is always a protagonist (male or female - depends on the film) who keeps within the normal conventions of the genre. The protagonist usually takes on a quest to kill or solve problems in order to save themselves or others around them. (E.g. Nightmare on Elm Street - Nancy)

CHARACTER TYPES

The main protagonist - male or female
The villain - either a serial killer, monster, supernatural entity or alien. (Usually have a trademark characteristic as to how they kill - e.g. Jason Voorhees, Friday the 13th kills with a machete).
A stupid/immoral teenager who always gets killed (Nightmare on Elm Street)
Creepy children (The Orphan, The Children and The Quiet Ones)
Many others - ghosts, zombies, demons, psychopaths, stalkers, werewolf, cheerleaders etc.

THEMES

Friday, 5 September 2014