GENRE

Genre – The theme or category that a film can be put into.

Genre Genre is a system of signs/symbols/themes by which a particular genre. Can be recognised e.g. The Western – cowboy hats, guns, horses, mountains, desert, Indians, cowboys, gunfighter, “taming the West”

ContractThere is a “contract” between the film maker and the audience. The audience build up generic memory, which causes them to predict certain things. The film makers can then play on this to produce unexpected scares which catch the audience of guard.

Genre boundariesGenre boundaries can be flexible, with many films blending two or more genres together. Examples of these films are: Shaun of the dead (Comedy and horror) Terminator (Action and Sci-Fi) Back to the future III (Sci-Fi, Western,

Comedy and romance)

Types of genresThere are many different types of film, such as: Comedy Western Science fiction Horror War Romance Musical Action adventure Thriller Police

HorrorHorror films often have the following features: A monster or villain A helpless character Tense build-ups Jump scares Music to set the scene Darkness

WesternA western film have some or all of the following features: Cowboys Horses Gunfights Taverns Brawls Set in the American west

Sci-FiSci-Fi films often have these features: Futuristic weapons/technology Dystopian future Spatial settings E.g. space, different

planets etc. Aliens, mutants, androids or humanoid

robots Paranormal activities (telekinesis etc.) Other universes/dimensions