Slasher Conventions

Killer usually masked and psychotic in nature

The first victim is usually the bimbo, blonde, weak female who’s death sets

the style for the rest of the movie

The last survivor is female, and is strong willed and intelligent, respectful

of the rules and usually a virgin

The deaths are gore filled, using close range weapons and bloody effects to

accentuate the tension

Victims are mostly teenagers, who rebel from the norm (typical sex,

drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll style rebellion)

Psychological Conventions

The antagonist has a twisted a psychotic mind, but physically looks

and acts normal

The antagonist’s mind is the main threat in the film

Deaths are usually not very gruesome, and happen more frequently as the main character loses mental control

Flashbacks are common, as the pro/antagonists mental state and

history of mind is the driving force for the

narrative

Supernatural Conventions

Narrative is driven by the presence of a usually evil spirit or poltergeist who is uncontrollable

Other narrative pushing events will occur, such as a curse

Psychics and mediums are often called in to help with the problem, but is most likely unsuccessful

Jumpscares are common, with mirrors, shadows and anticlimaxes building the tension until the snap

Creaks and slamming doors create tense diegetic, whilst contrapuntal is commonly used as non-diegetic sound

The location is often a family home similar to the one an average member of the target

audience would inhabit

Possesion Conventions

The main driving force on the narrative is the presence of a spirit or demon that has taken over the body of a host

The main character who serves as the unwilling host is often a female, and is either very young and innocent or older and

normal (ie they fit within the bounds of normality, with nothing really special about them)

The evil spirit is contained in something simple and household such as a book or a cuddly toy

The victim’s physical appearance changes from the innocent normal look we see before the possession, to the pale, peeling skin, dark haired, endless eyed costume

and makeup we see from a possessed host

The host body will start speaking in ancient languages such as Hebrew, Latin of Incan/Mayan.

NOTE: The host body here in Insidious is a young male, rather than the conventional

young female

Levitation and contortion are two conventional visual climaxes that both climax the tension and further push the narrative

Gothic Horror Conventions

The protagonist that captures or slays the beast is usually a strong, archetype male; one who overpowers the

antagonist creature rather than outsmarting it

The damsel in distress character will play that role exactly, and provide a means for the male protagonist to enter the narrative

Gothic horrors are often set in the past, on a large estate or a Victorian manor or mansion

Mythical creatures or beings could occur, such as Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, Werewolves, or Ancient Spirits