conventions of a crime and horror film

7/30/2019 Conventions of a Crime and Horror Film

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Conventions of a

Crime and Horror film

Sian Nugent


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Settings in Crime and Horror films

Horror:

The settings in a horror film is normally set in isolated places, dark streets,narrow alleyways or somewhere you would feel alone and helpless. The placeswhere you are more likely to go if you are being chased in the film are abandonhouses, hotels and old factories. Locations in a horror film are normally in dark

forests, lakes, countryside, barnyards, woodland, houses, haunted houses,

graveyards, dungeons, churches or any other dark dingy locations.

Crime:

The settings in a crime film are normally large crowded cities, this is normally so

the villains have a chance of getting away quickly and adapt into theenvironment. The places where the villains normally would escape to would be a

unknown location i.e. back of shops, hotels, parking lots, shopping centres,unknown location with doors and rooms. Locations in a crime will normally be

known as police stations, villains homes, hotels, train stations etc.


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Technical codes in Crime and Horrorfilms

Horror:The camerawork in horror films is used to show expressive and non natural

expressions and fear. The camera work differs between high and low angles whichcan show us fear and nightmares. Point of view shots (POV) are important in the

horror films, they allow the audience to see what is happening from the villains pointof view. Handheld shots make it difficult for the audience to make out what is actually

happening in the movie. A prime example can be Clover field in Clover field thewhole movie is shot with a handheld camera, this is a good way to promote terror

and the unknown so you are unsure to see what is happening behind them. Sounds inhorror movies are used to create the mood and tension of the victim, whether it is

diegetic or non diegetic sounds it either creates tension for the victim or for the

audience. An example of a diegetic sound in a horror film could be; voices of thevillain, footsteps, whispering etc. and non diegetic sound could be a backtrackplaying to build up the tension of the mood the character is feeling and this will have

an impact on the audience watching because there could be a change in the music.Extreme close ups are mainly used in horror films so you can see the fear and tension

of the characters face. The editing in the scene can build up the tension for the

audience so you except something to happen.


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Crime:

The camerawork in Crime films differs, there are normally close ups of thecharacters to show there emossion as well as long shots to establish the location as

well as what the characters are doing, if the bad character was trying to crack asafe we would have a long shot to show where they are and a close up of the safeand the characters face to show what is going on. The characters body language,

this allows us to see how the character is feeling for instance if they are walking upand down or fighting it shows they are nervous and anxious about something. The

music and diegetic and non diegetic is also a type of code as fast paced music allows

us to feel the suspense the character is feeling and makes us more engaged withinthe film.


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Iconography in Crime and Horrorfilms

Horror:In horror films dark colours are normally used like black and red, they are normally

used to represent fear, evil, danger and blood. The lighting used in horror genre isexpressive. Low key lighting i.e. used to create shadows, darkness, unfamiliar objects

etc. The lighting can also be used to show fire, and torches shinning. Props arenormally always shown or used in horror films, i.e. axes, guns, knifes, drills, saws,

etc. Normally in a horror film the same weapon is used to kill the people. For examplein sorority row an axe is used to kill all of the girls. The costumes in horror films andnormally quite casual as they wouldnt expect nothing to happen. However the villain

will normally be wearing either old scruffy clothes which normally gives theexpression they are dangerous or have a past which has made them how they are.

The villain could be wearing something to cover there faces like a plastic bag, masks,or something supernatural. Friday the 13th Freddie (the villain) wears a shieldedmask over his head to cover his identity and give him a distinct look. The image andlook of the villain gives of a fear in a way to show the victims that they are scared of

them.


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Crime

In crime films the lighting of each scene differs. Normally crime films are darkdingy colours to represent danger. The normal type of props would be guns in a

crime film. The usage of the gun relates to the crime aspect as people committingcrimes are more likely to own weapons and destroy anything which is likely toget in their way of getting something. The criminals are normally holding there

weapons to show that they are not afraid to kill someone as long as they manageto get what they want. The criminals are normally dressed in dark clothing i.e.

Wearing all black to show that they are bad. Sometimes in crime films

balaclavas are used for robberies, this is also important because they are tryingto hide there identity so they don't get caught. Body language is an important

feature in a crime film, normally if the criminal is holding there gun andpanicking it shows that they are terrified to what they can do and this shows the

audience engage with in the film and see how the victims are feeling.


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Narrative structure in Crime andHorror films

Horror:

Normally in a horror film there is a sequence to kill people or torture them. Younormally expect that once one murder has happened you expect another to happen.

This sequence has happened in many horror movies such as; Nightmare On Elm Street,Friday the 13th, Sorority Row, Saw etc. There is normally a clue to help find out or how

to stop the murders from happening. In a horror film you normally expect to find a

hero who figures out the killer or criminal. In horror films you would normally expectthat the villain has had a bad past, mental problems, medical condition to trigger therebehaviour and actions. There is normally always a survivor at the end of the film who

has been able to escape.

Crime

In crime films it normally consists of having a good and bad character. There are copsinvolved who are left to figure out the crime and investigation. It would usually contain

a bad character steeling valuables and the good guys would try to stop them.Sometimes in crime films other people can be framed and blamed upon. Many crime

films are based around a large amount of valuables being stolen or a murderinvestigation.


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Horror: The main protagonist is normally the hero or the victim of the movie

The villain is normally a monster, serial killer, alien etc

Normally either the really clever or stupid character gets killed first

Either bad or good cops

There could be; ghosts, zombies, demons, stalkers etc.

Crime:

The criminal either gets caught or gets killed

Cops involved

Being kept in suspense

Police officers get killed

Mission/investigation solved

Character types in Crime and Horrorfilms


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conventions of a crime and horror film

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