CONNOR WALKER

CONVENTIONS OF A HORROR MOVIE

SETTINGS

• Settings for a horror movie usually consist abandoned/ derelict areas that create a sense of ‘being alone’. Dark streets and alley ways are a perfect example of where you would expect to horror movie produced.

• ‘Haunted’ theme is used a lot in horror movies, whether it becomes haunted in the movie, or has been haunted before. The creators like a ‘dark history’ to go with the film.

• Some examples of a horror movie setting would be; • Abandoned house

• Dark woods

• Dungeons

• Haunted areas i.e hotel

• Asylum

• Cabins

• Subways

• Graveyard

CHARACTERS

• Horror movies mainly use the character choice of a Hero or a Villain to create a battle against each other.

• The use of a killer is essential in horror movies. A serial killer, monster or an alien are usually most effective for this.

• A haunted character can sometimes be used such as a haunted child who carriers the demons with them wherever they go.

• Other characters that could be included are; • Ghosts

• Demon’s

• Psychopath

• Werewolf

And many more…

MISE-EN-SCENE

• The props that are used in a horror movie, are the main items as well as the characters. The most common props used are guns, knifes, any sort of weapon.

• Also, characters clothing is concentrated on in real detail. Costumes such as masks are used a lot to either hide the identity of the character or to create a whole new ‘creature’

All of these are conventions of what you will find in a horror movie

CAMERWORK

• The camerawork used in a horror movie is a very similar to that used in an action movie.

• Much of the movie will be shot with short range camerawork because it will show the emotion and fear on the characters face. The long range shots are used to show the setting, what is happening or if there is a police chase for example.

• Point of view shots and handheld camera are used a lot in a horror movie. It makes the audience feel as they are in the film, we are going through it with them, as though we are looking for the monster or killer too.

THEMES

Horror movies have a mixture of themes;

• Good v Evil

• Paranormal activities

• Self conscious

• Suicide

• Madness

• Disease

• Revenge

• Death

NARRATIVE STRUCTURE

• Many horror movies have a story line that is easy to create a franchise of that movie, for example Paranormal activity 1,2,3,4. This is because it gives them the ability to bring in more money.

• Horror movies tend to have the story line of ‘survive or die’. One person on a mission against the rest. This is because as an audience we feel like we are with them and feel like the movie is actually happening.

• The use of death is in almost every single horror movie, as the violence in a horror movie is what audience want to see.