Conventions of Horror

Conventions in genre is where that specific genre typically do things. Ad genres develop they start to have specific conventions that each film in that genre have. In the Horror genre the main storyline is based around "Good VS Evil" due to there being conflict between the protagonist and antagonist however each sub-genre of this genre have conventions as well for example "Slasher" the main basis of this sub-genre is that there is male figure going around stabbing women who are typically portrayed as being rather promiscuous. However the protagonist female at the end of the film is portrayed  as being "pure" character who saves the day.

Other conventions of the Horror genre:

Mise-en-scene:

Colours- Typical colours used in Horror films are red and black as they have connotations of danger and death therefore suggesting something bad is going to happen to the audience.

Costumes- Characters typically wear "normal" clothing to make the film more realistic and scary but in "slasher" films the character that is portrayed as a "slut" is shown to wear much shorter skirts and dresses compared to the character which is portrayed as the "virgin" which is seen wearing less revealing clothing.

 

Lighting- Typically the lighting is typically dark to represent danger but also there is a use of flickering lights to create tension of something bad is going to happen. Horror films also use shadows to reveal a part of the villain without revealing too much.

Location- The location is horror films is typically old towns or abandoned houses which are quite isolated from other people meaning there would be no-one around to help. In addition in films like "the women in black" and "Blair witch project" the towns are quite old-fashioned and behind in time.

Time of day- Typically the film will be film during night time as we all know that everything evil comes out during this time as we are more vulnerable and less alert. Which comes back to our child-hood as must of us were scared of the dark due to there being monsters coming out to get us. There is less filmed during day time as we are more alert during this time and its less likely anything will come out to get us during this time.

Props- Horror films typically focus on weapons such as knifes instead of guns for props due to a knife being much more personal and scary then a gun which is why Slasher films typically have the antagonist using a knife to kill. There is also a focus on religious items in paranormal horrors such as bibles and crucifixes to warn off demons and ghosts.

Sound:
There is a use of non-diegetic music in horror films to build up tension and keep the audience on the edge of their seat as anything can jump out at any time. The music becomes more intense and faster when the antagonist is coming closer and something bad is going to happen. Without the music the film would be less dramatic and scary because there would be no build up.

Characters:
children- Horror films like to use children as we typically see them as "innocent" however in horror films they twist this especially in paranormal films as children are typically the ones who become possessed.

virgin- Slasher films like to use the idea of a "virgin" who will save the day and kill of the antagonist.

Slut- Slasher films also use the idea of a "slut" who gets killed off at the beginning of the film.

Clowns- Again Horror films like to take something which we see as innocent in our childhood and twist this to make it sinister and evil. As the audience won't suspect it.

 

 

 

 

Iconography:
- Jump scenes are a key feature used in Horrors where there is a intense build through non-diegetic music which builds up getting much quicker and intense which makes the audience on the edge of their seats. This is used in "Psycho" during the shower scene.

-Paranormal films typically have abnormal and unusual things taking place which we wouldn't typically see in our everyday day lives. This maybe items moving around, slamming doors and people being dragged.

- In modern day Horror films they typically focus on "the fear of the unknown" as this is what must of us fear as we don't know if its real or not for example ghosts and the paranormal.