Kofo Abidemi

Conventions of a Horror Film

The key conventions in horror film are:• Setting• Technical code • Iconography• Narrative/Plot• Characters • Themes • Music/Sound effects • Representation

Basic outline

Setting plays a huge role in Horror films. The most often used settings are;

• small communities

• Isolated areas

• Dark streets

• Narrow alleyways

• Abandoned houses

• Barnes and farms

• Cities

• Cabins

• Creepy hotels

• Graveyards

• Pirate ships

• Basements 

Setting

The main propose of a good horror film is place fear into the audience. This is achieved through camera shots with the camera from a high and low angle to connote anxiety, fear and distress of the character

Technical Code

Point of view shots are often used in order to allow the audience to see the world from the monsters eyes or to be placed in the same situation as the victim Horror films cleverly use depth of field to indicate to reader when the victim is in danger because the monster is creeping up on them. This depth of film imposes fear into the audience.

Handled shots are used to make the audience question what is happening and to build suspense for a given time. Editing can be used to create tension and build suspense as well. Jump cuts especially are used to

• Visual style: often dark colours like red & black (links to evil, blood and danger etc.)

• Common objects include: weapons, masks, icons of the supernatural/religious etc.

• The iconography of the monsters helps to connote extreme fear, disgust, and terror: werewolves, vampires, mummies, Frankenstein and many more.

• Low-key lighting can help to create dark shadows and unfamiliar shapes adds to the scare-factor. Lighting in horror film usually involves things such as bonfires, fireplaces & torches because they allow a bit of light in but not enough to get rid of the darkness so some elements of fear is still placed in the characters and the audience

• Specific props can be identified with a certain villain or character (e.g. chainsaws, machetes, knifes, firearms, costumes

Iconography

• Usually in Horror films there’s always a ‘hero’ or protagonist, a man or a ‘final girl’ of the film, keeping with the normal conventions of the genre. Usually the hero must embark on a mission or quest to kill or solve problems in order to save themselves or others around them.

• Often the killer either insane or have experienced some troubles during their childhood and take out this pain and emotion on innocent and vulnerable people e.g. teenagers.

• Teenagers are used in horror films to represent immoral and stupidity and they are usually the ones who start the horror in the first place however there is always/sometimes a survivor, most likely a female character.

Narrative/plot

• The main protagonist, often the ‘victim/hero’ of the movie.       

• The villain, often a monster, mutated freak, alien or serial killer

• The stupid/immoral teenagers that always get killed

• Creepy children

• Police officers (either good or bad)  

• Ghosts, zombies, demons, Wear wolfs

• Psychopath, stalker, weirdo,

Characters

·         Good vs Evil·         Depression·         Religion          Childhood issues·         Revenge·         Supernatural·         Beyond death·         Science gone bad·         Zombie Apocalypse ·         Nightmares·         Madness·         Insanity·         Lust·         Envy·         Suicide·         ‘self-consciousness’ – making you question what is real and not.

Themes

Music / Representation