Conventions Of A Horror

Setting

• Small communities/ isolated places• Narrow/ dark alleyways• Places with dark history • Abandoned houses/hotels• Insane asylums • Typical, newly moved family into old house • Large, haunted house • Lakes/ forest • Basements/ attics • Labs/ madhouses • Graveyard • Space locations

Technical Codes

• High and low angle shots show fear and power • Point of view shots show involvement • Handheld camera shots show involvement • Frame work • Over the shoulder shots create the sense of

someone standing behind you• Disturbing sounds determine horror • Extreme close ups show facial expressions • Pace of editing determines how intense the horror is

Iconography

• Dark colours (reds & blacks)• Low key & ambient lighting creates

suspense & a sense of tension and reality • Props (chainsaws, knifes, dolls)• Objects (religious icons such as

Buddha dolls) • Iconography establishes monsters

and a sense of horror

Narrative Structure

• Left for closure allows room for a sequel • Hero or protagonist (final male or female)• Formulaic & psychotic, incident• Teens are usually stupid and unaware of horror • Teens are usually the ones that start the horror off • Teens get killed quickly

Characters

• Protagonist (victim/hero)• Villain (monster/dead killer)• Teens/ creep children • Police officers (good or bad)• Ghosts/ zombies/ psychopaths/ possessed

people

Themes

• Good versus evil • Depression • Religion • Child hood • Revenge • Supernatural• Madness• Self consciousness