CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF TYPICAL HORROR FILMS

MonsterThe Monster often wears a mask to his/hers identity this helps to keep

the audience at the edge of their seats as the masks create suspense and fear of the unknown as well as keeping the identity of the killer totally hidden until the end of the film when it is usually expected.

The killer main goal is usually take revenge for something over a childhood trauma which explains why certain characters in the films are killed. The killer is usually silent and unstoppable as well as resistant to any sort of pain and doesn't die off at the end even when it seems like it. It is also a convention for the killer to carry a sharp and deadly weapon like a knife or chainsaw on their victim.

Final GirlThe final girl is the only survivor who is usually a female which is conventional in slasher films. This term has been introduced by carol j clover who commented that in these films, the audience begin by sharing the perspective of the killer but later experience a shift in identification to the final girl. A common plot line in most horror films include a final girl. This convention has been observed in many horror films like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “Halloween” , “scream” and many more. The final girl is usually quiet and pure and gains confidence towards the end of the film.

Group of Friends/Teens

The group of friends are hunted by the killers as they are mostly associated with the killers main victim or they have done something together that they are getting punished for. Most of the time they having intercourse when killer decides to confront them. The group usually consists of both males and females and everyone gets killed one by one.

Benefactor

The benefactor is the character who holds important imformation for example they can have knowledge on the killers weapon. Their main job is to help the final girl and they are usually suspected of being the murder right until the end of the movie when they heroically step in to help the final girl defeat the monster.

First girl to die

The first person to die in most slasher films is mostly always a girl and her death can be coded as a sort of a warning that the killings are beginning and that the peace is officially being disrupted. The girl is usually the most sexually promiscuous and dies after engaging in an interaction with a man. She is portrayed in a sexually desirable way by wearing certain clothes and behaving in provocative ways

Horror locations

Horror location are often dark isolated places , this is done to add to the fear and create suspense. In some films the location can be a suburban house , like done in “Halloween”. Although not usually considered to be scary location , it adds suspense as it is an area that a lot of people can associate themselves with and feel safe in. The location usually has something to do with the monsters/killers childhood or past event in their life.

Film Noir

Film Noir

Film noir is a style of film making used to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas particularly ones with , cynical characters. Film noir began in the early 1940’s and leading up to the 1950’s . It is black and white visual styles and being developed from German expressionism cinematography. Film noir films are usually low budget and often don’t major actors. Within these films there was more of a freedom for creativity and visual experimentation than in Hollywood cinema.

As with German expressionism , aspect of film noir can still be seen within today's cinema especially with horror films. This is due to the fact that the dark background and use of lighting that created suspense in the 40’s, is still used to create suspense nowadays which is one of the most important aspects of a successful horror film. Even up to this day directors such as Christopher Nolan , Sean Penn or David use film noir within the film noir genre to create their film films. This particular cinematic style , along with German expressionism , has been highly influential to filmmakers over the years

German Expressionism

German Expressionism

The German expressionism is the movements of creativity taken during Germany in First World War which was during the 1920’s. This was a time when film directors allowed themselves to express for example , heavy use of shadows to convey characters emotions and extreme camera angles were also used with characters in films like the “metropolis.” And “the background” also is lighting , mise en scene and architecture in portraying certain emotions in films. This has had influence on the slasher genre as such aspect are still used in films

It was said to be artistic as they were directed in set pieces and camera angles reflected upon the characters emotions or inner conflict.