Conventions of the Horror Genre

Amber Runnacles

Conventions of horror – settings • Dark • Woods • Lonely/ isolated house • Graveyards • Highways – long roads e.g. route 66

As soon as an audience sees theses locations they knowwhat to expect, it is something that they like to see as part of the horror genre. All these locations fit with the expectations of the audience. When it comes to creating my horror I think that I will use some of the locations to set the atmosphere as well as using some different locations to make the film stand out.

Conventions of horror – characters • Families • Group of friends • Young girl • Teenagers • Vulnerable• Last woman standing• Attacker • Masked – unidentifiable

Carol J clovers theory of the final girl supports the stereotypical characters of the horror genre. I think this theory is really interesting and works well with horror I will look to use something similar in the horror I create.

The thought of otherness can also be associated with the horror genre as it can show the fear towards the unknown or something or someone seen as ‘different’. I think this is very relatable to the horror genre.

Conventions of horror – iconography • Low key lighting • Weapon of choice e.g. axe • Natural lighting – day time/ night time • Dark colours – red and black representing darkness and danger Iconography is what sets the genre apart from any other and is what gives the audience the initial fear factor, with out it, it maybe hard for the audience to clearly identify the genre and it may reduce audience pleasure , it is important that I use some stereotypical iconography when creating the horror film.

Conventions of horror – narrative A group of people being persecuted/ found by an antagonist • Not always a predictable ending • Someone will die or have there mind messed with

Horror narratives can be seen as predictable therefore when I create my horror I want the audience to be interested and surprised so that they don’t get bored. I don’t think that dialogue is always an important part of the horror genre as I feel that the narrative and fear can be shown well in other ways such as props and iconography.

Sub genres – Gothic

• The weather plays a big part • Dreams • Sense of mystery • The supernatural • Revenge • Pursued protagonist When creating my horror I will have to decide on a sub genre. Sub genres are useful as they allow the audience to know the basic idea of the film and allows them to identify whether they are going to enjoy that or not. Each individual sub – genre has particular iconography's and narratives associated with it, I think from research it could be interesting to mix some of the sub genres together to make something slightly different for the audience.

Sub genres – Slasher • Always lots of killing • Will be a death with in the first few minutes • Blood • Violence • Multiple deaths – usually by the same person• A weapon • Dark costumes • Dyers theory

Sub genre – psychological • Play with your mind • Ghosts/ spirits • Gore and blood • Characters are seen as normal human beings not monstrous (otherness – the

thought of being different from everyone else) • The antagonist isn’t always shown – can be kept as a mystery

Sub genre – Paranormal • Feels real • Relatable • Cameras placed in house• Spirits/ movements • Plays on audience fears • House hold props e.g. toys, beds, everyday items • Can be known to link to children • Dyers theory

Sub genre – Gore • Lots of blood and Gore • Weapons • Killings • Violence • Gore and blood being the main aim • Not always a main narrative as long as people are dying • Lots of dark colours • Stereotypical locations e.g. dark and isolated environments such as woodlands • Altman's theory

Sub genre – Found Footage • Forests/ abandoned houses – stereotypical locations • Tense sound tracks • Screaming, crying , shouting • Low key lighting , un naturalistic• Final girl theory – Carol J Clover

Genre theories • Rick Altman – His theory suggests that one of the primary pleasures offered to audiences is the release from cultural rules and regulations. Viewers can put themselves in a place that would normally be seen to break moral and legal boundaries – this can be referred to as counter culture attraction.

• Rick Dyer- His theory that the genre offers escapism. The escape is encoded in texts and opposes social tension and inadequacy. This links well with the sub genre of the slasher, it makes the audience feel part of the film and like they have to feel the fear as the characters do

• Jackie Stacy – She has said that Dyers theory needs to be more specific. She believes that Genres change over time and audience preferences change – this comes form social and historical changes, not everyone will always want the same