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Horror Genre Conventions

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JamesAllann

The document outlines several conventions of horror films, including common settings like isolated or run-down urban areas with dark histories, the use of unnatural camerawork like POV shots and handheld footage to add realism, and iconic visual styles employing dark colors, low lighting, and frightening props. It also discusses narrative structures featuring protagonists battling antagonists, familiar character archetypes, and themes involving good versus evil, religion, childhood trauma, science, and mental instability that exploit human fears.

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Conventions of Horror James Allan
Setting • The setting is usually an isolated area. Urban environments and dark streets work well as they are secluded which adds a sense of danger. Narrow alleys and run down areas are also used a lot • Places with a dark history such as abandoned houses, hotels and insane asylums. • Locations for any good horror genre film could be : Lakes, roads, highways, dark woods, houses, cabins, cities and subways. These are all areas that could be made scary with added darkness which is a common theme in horror films. • Examples of horror films set within these genres include, The Blair Witch Project, Cabin in the Woods and Wrong Turn
Cinematography • Camerawork is very unnatural and the movements consists of many low and high angles. • POV shots are important as they are used to show the world from the monster’s eye. This type of shot is usually used at the end of a film as the monster is trying to catch the protagonist. • Handheld shots are useful when trying to make the film seem more realistic as it makes it seem like it is actually happening than it being a film. • Extreme Close Ups are common within horrors as they can be used to show a change in emotion and they are useful when highlighting fear in a characters face. • Editing can create unsettling tension and suspense. If the editing hasn’t been paced up in a while then you know that something will pop out and scare you.
Iconography • Visual style – often dark colours like red and black (this links will the themes of evil and danger) • Lighting is usually not natural and low key lighting can help create dark shadows and unfamiliar shapes in the blackness. Lighting can be vital within film, especially horror as the darker the shot is, it tends to be more scary. • Common objects include weapons, masks, icons of the supernatural and religious icons. • The iconography of the monsters help to connote extreme fear, disgust and terror for example , Vampires, Mummies and Frankenstein
Narrative • Classic narrative structure is usually the main narrative style in horror films but sometimes the films are not ended as it can lead open a possibility for sequels. • There’s always an antagonist and a protagonist who usually battle for control and decide their fate, to live or to die. • A common narrative feature includes the killer revisiting his hometown where he first had his traumatic experience and starts to kill people. This is evident in movies such as Halloween.
Characters • There are usually many main characters and supporting characters in horror films, a few of the most iconic are, • The main protagonist, often the “victim” of the movie • The villain, often a supernatural monster or a serial killer • Creepy children • Police officers that can either turn out to be good or corrupted • Many more monsters such as ghosts, zombies, demons and stalkers
Themes • • • • • • • • Good vs. Evil – Many horror films use this as a guideline to what they will put in the film, which monsters etc. Religion – These films are usually regarded as the scariest films, because of the uncertainty of religion Childhood issues – Films like Halloween use this technique to tell the storyline and give us a clear view of what is happening Science gone too far – Sci-fi horrors are usually also quite scary as they add a level of uncertainty as some people believe things like this could happen in the near future. Zombie Apocalypse – These films are very popular as people watching are intrigued on how the characters survive and they would like to imagine themselves being in that situation Insanity – Mental patients are used a lot in films as they naturally scare people Envy – There are a lot of horrors that include a level of envy between two main characters, the antagonist and the protagonist Suicide – Suicide is usually a main theme within horrors as it can obviously happen in real life which scares people even more

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Horror Genre Conventions

  • 2. Setting • The setting is usually an isolated area. Urban environments and dark streets work well as they are secluded which adds a sense of danger. Narrow alleys and run down areas are also used a lot • Places with a dark history such as abandoned houses, hotels and insane asylums. • Locations for any good horror genre film could be : Lakes, roads, highways, dark woods, houses, cabins, cities and subways. These are all areas that could be made scary with added darkness which is a common theme in horror films. • Examples of horror films set within these genres include, The Blair Witch Project, Cabin in the Woods and Wrong Turn
  • 3. Cinematography • Camerawork is very unnatural and the movements consists of many low and high angles. • POV shots are important as they are used to show the world from the monster’s eye. This type of shot is usually used at the end of a film as the monster is trying to catch the protagonist. • Handheld shots are useful when trying to make the film seem more realistic as it makes it seem like it is actually happening than it being a film. • Extreme Close Ups are common within horrors as they can be used to show a change in emotion and they are useful when highlighting fear in a characters face. • Editing can create unsettling tension and suspense. If the editing hasn’t been paced up in a while then you know that something will pop out and scare you.
  • 4. Iconography • Visual style – often dark colours like red and black (this links will the themes of evil and danger) • Lighting is usually not natural and low key lighting can help create dark shadows and unfamiliar shapes in the blackness. Lighting can be vital within film, especially horror as the darker the shot is, it tends to be more scary. • Common objects include weapons, masks, icons of the supernatural and religious icons. • The iconography of the monsters help to connote extreme fear, disgust and terror for example , Vampires, Mummies and Frankenstein
  • 5. Narrative • Classic narrative structure is usually the main narrative style in horror films but sometimes the films are not ended as it can lead open a possibility for sequels. • There’s always an antagonist and a protagonist who usually battle for control and decide their fate, to live or to die. • A common narrative feature includes the killer revisiting his hometown where he first had his traumatic experience and starts to kill people. This is evident in movies such as Halloween.
  • 6. Characters • There are usually many main characters and supporting characters in horror films, a few of the most iconic are, • The main protagonist, often the “victim” of the movie • The villain, often a supernatural monster or a serial killer • Creepy children • Police officers that can either turn out to be good or corrupted • Many more monsters such as ghosts, zombies, demons and stalkers
  • 7. Themes • • • • • • • • Good vs. Evil – Many horror films use this as a guideline to what they will put in the film, which monsters etc. Religion – These films are usually regarded as the scariest films, because of the uncertainty of religion Childhood issues – Films like Halloween use this technique to tell the storyline and give us a clear view of what is happening Science gone too far – Sci-fi horrors are usually also quite scary as they add a level of uncertainty as some people believe things like this could happen in the near future. Zombie Apocalypse – These films are very popular as people watching are intrigued on how the characters survive and they would like to imagine themselves being in that situation Insanity – Mental patients are used a lot in films as they naturally scare people Envy – There are a lot of horrors that include a level of envy between two main characters, the antagonist and the protagonist Suicide – Suicide is usually a main theme within horrors as it can obviously happen in real life which scares people even more