Definitions of Horror Conventions

By Definition:

Genre conventions are smaller elements from different characters to repeating plot points that will separate one genre of fiction from another.

Most genres have a set of particular elements in which they include to help appeal to their audience targeted. Genre conventions tend to evolve over time as the work tends to become lost and new content will be created.Also, certain genre conventions are over featured and therefore can become cliché.

A way in which something is usually done Some horror films may try and alter some of these

codes and conventions in order to be postmodern.

By Definition:

Horror is a film genre in which inflicts a negative emotional reaction on the viewer by playing on their primal fears and feelings.

Horror films often deal with the viewers nightmare or subconscious fears in which builds suspense causing terror to the unknown. Not only for the characters within the scene of the film but also in which the viewer will react.

The macabre and supernatural are reoccurring themes within the horror genre, but tend to overlap with the fantasy and thriller genres, which are not necessarily always horrific.

Horror Sub-Genres

Comedy HorrorThis film genre combines the elements of comedy and horror fiction, which crosses over with the black comedy genre. In comedy horror, gallows humour is a common element, which is a style that is in the face of or about serious and painful circumstances. For example, this could be about serious matters such as death, war or disease in a light heartened, silly manner, which would be considered as funny. Normally featured in a hopeless situation, which arises from stressful, traumatic, or life threating situations, which are unavoidable. Comedy Horror is typically made by or about the victim in the situation.

Action HorrorA film genre in which a group or more than one character is thrust into a number of plots which are seen to be challenges.These challenges will test the characters ability to overcome them, which will typically include physical feats, fight scenes, frantic chases or general violence. These action Horror films tend to feature a character resisting and struggling against the odds that are present in which they will have to beat. These situations are life-threatening which may include a villain, but will generally conclude with the victory for the hero involved. Themes often prevalent in typical action-horror

Comedy HorrorThis film genre combines the elements of comedy and horror fiction, which crosses over with the black comedy genre. In comedy horror, gallows humour is a common element, which is a style that is in the face of or about serious and painful circumstances. For example, this could be about serious matters such as death, war or disease in a light heartened, silly manner, which would be considered as funny. Normally featured in a hopeless situation, which arises from stressful, traumatic, or life threating situations, which are unavoidable. Comedy Horror is typically made by or about the victim in the situation.

Resident Evil Films

Dawn of the Dead

The Crazies Aliens Jaws 2

Action HorrorA film genre in which a group or more than one character is thrust into a number of plots which are seen to be challenges.These challenges will test the characters ability to overcome them, which will typically include physical feats, fight scenes, frantic chases or general violence. These action Horror films tend to feature a character resisting and struggling against the odds that are present in which they will have to beat. These situations are life-threatening which may include a villain, but will generally conclude with the victory for the hero involved. Themes often prevalent in typical action-horror

Fright Night The cabin in the

woods Lesbian Vampire

Killers Shaun of the Dead Scary Movie

Horror Sub-Genres

Slasher HorrorA slasher film is a sub-genre of both a thriller and horror film, typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and murdering a sequence of victims in a violent manner. The murderer would normally use a prop such as a knife, axe or chainsaw. However, the meaning of a ‘slasher’ is the act of murder in any horror movie, but has established its own set of key characteristics such as blood and body parts, which would establish it about from other genres.

Zombie HorrorZombie films are also a smaller more distinctive sub genre, which specifically features a zombie apocalypse.Zombie films feature creatures that are usually portrayed as half dead corpses or mindless human beings. Distinct sub-genres have evolved including zombie comedies and zombie apocalypse films, which are commonly in a cannibalistic nature attacking and infecting other characters.

Slasher HorrorA slasher film is a sub-genre of both a thriller and horror film, typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and murdering a sequence of victims in a violent manner. The murderer would normally use a prop such as a knife, axe or chainsaw. However, the meaning of a ‘slasher’ is the act of murder in any horror movie, but has established its own set of key characteristics such as blood and body parts, which would establish it about from other genres.

Zombie HorrorZombie films are also a smaller more distinctive sub genre, which specifically features a zombie apocalypse.Zombie films feature creatures that are usually portrayed as half dead corpses or mindless human beings. Distinct sub-genres have evolved including zombie comedies and zombie apocalypse films, which are commonly in a cannibalistic nature attacking and infecting other characters.

Child’s play Saw films Nightmare on

Elms Street Friday 13th

Black Christmas

Horror Sub-Genres

Psychological HorrorA psychological horror is a subgenre of horror fiction in film and also video games. This genre relies on the characters’ fears and emotional instability; this will build tension in the plot of the film. Psychological horror creates discomfort by exposing common emotional vulnerabilities and fears. These could include self-doubt and paranoia of other, themselves and the world. Within these films, the characters will face perverse situations in which will involve their own fear in which they will have to overcome in the story. However, this will also involve the supernatural and immorality such as creatures, monsters or aliens. Film examples include:

The Shining Ring Silent Hill The Black Cat Whispering

Corridors

Science Fiction HorrorScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginative content such as futuristic settings, science-involving technology. These films are normally set or time travelled to parallel universes and extraterrestrial life. It will explore the potential consequences of innovations and other experiments that have gone wrong. Fiction horror features the unnatural and supernatural, which aims to unsettle and frightens the reader through the use of graphic violence. The story could involve killer aliens or mad scientists to build tension and further the plot. Within the science fiction genre there are also many other subgenres such as space western, superhuman and apocalyptic that are featured in the films below:

Ruins The thing Pandorum Frankenstein The Human

Centipede