Key Conventions of Horror

The horror genre is a well favoured and respected by its audience as it manages to stick to conventions quite strictly but many films still manage to appear fresh and brand new, even if it has evolved from older stories or has been remade. The setting in a horror film is very important as it sets the scene of the film as well as easing the audience into the plot. The settings tend to be small communities or places which are very isolated from the outside world, favouring rural and suburban areas to inner city as it creates more opportunities for the villain/killer to capture the victim when they are vulnerable. Many films set in small communities have also been based around the people harbouring a secret or keeping life simple to maintain good or what they conceive to be good which harms anyone who tries to change it. These places will often have a dark and eerie past which catches up on its victims such as abandoned buildings or lunatic asylums at night as the daytime is seen as ‘safe’ and is more likely to have people around to help the victim. Homes are usually seen as the safest place for anyone as it is familiar territory and is away from strangers although houses in horror all seem to be on many levels, with attics and basements which often have something dark hiding where it can’t be seen. More recurring themes found in horror settings are religious and medical institutions which hold demons and possessed objects which can later affect the characters as well as dreams and the unconscious mind.

The technical code to horror films is very unique as it needs to catch the audience’s attention with action but leave enough mystery to keep the audience guessing throughout. The camerawork used is very expressive such as high and low angles and canted camerawork to disorientate the audience, rather than natural angles that would make it look quite boring and ordinary. Extreme close ups and POV shots are also used as it brings attention to the characters and how important they are to the story, whether that be from a first or third person perspective. The close ups make it easier for the audience to see the terror on the characters face where POV’s make it subjective although this can often raise questions about the audience identification on who is the victim, protagonist or the final girl. Sound is extremely important as ambient sounds create atmosphere such as footsteps and high heartbeats which make the audience more aware of the characters emotions.

The horror genre is one of the best identifiable genres for its iconography. Black and red have connotations with evil and danger, as well as blood and darkness. The lighting used is very non-naturalistic to create a high contrast and shadows which are a common theme in the horror genre as you often don’t know what is lurking behind the shadows. Many other common objects include weapons, masks, blood and icons from the supernatural and religion sectors as well as childhood toys and dolls which bring the darkness of the horror with the innocence of a child so the audience are confused about what they are watching. These childhood items are often accompanied with children’s songs and nursery rhymes, which can seem very spooky and unnerving to the viewers.

Horror films tend to have a similar narrative structure which is often a classic Hollywood structure which is when the hero has survived by has learnt a lesson or has had to change somewhat but an interesting ending to some films has been left ambiguous or hasn’t had closure which the audience expects as it suggests that the monster is more powerful in other mystical ways or to lead the film on to a sequel. Slasher films tend to follow an even stricter formula to which a childhood psychotic event creates a killer who returns on a anniversary to kill immature, immoral teenagers that often leaves one masculine and determined female to survive as the ‘final girl’.

The character types often fit a pattern or formula so the audience can concentrate on the story than have to think about which character is good and bad. The main protagonist is often the victim or the hero while the monsters have a hidden secret or are made psychotic by an earlier event or situation. Teenagers are often the victims while children are used as secondary characters and the people who are put in place to protect such as the police are not in contact or don’t believe the victim.

Themes can be unclear within the horror genre but there always is a good vs evil is almost every film. Hidden evil and science that has gotten out of control have become recurring theme within recent years and the consequences have often been unexpected or unusual.