horror codes and conventions

Summary of a horror film’s clichés :

1.       horror film cliché is screaming lady

2.       children are evil

3.       mirrors

4.       spooky phone calls

5.       remote places/ broken down cars and large areas

Codes and conventions of a horror film: narrative structure

•         Predictable narrative content, one bad guy many victims

•         Clear binary oppositions e.g. good v evil, victim vs killer, child vs adult

•         Use of low key lighting, Use of CGI, FX, based at night time,

Female Victim

•         Extensive use of close up, Point of view shots, Low angle shots

•         Young/teenage characters, sweaty characters, very attractive teenage girls

•         Use of hand-held camera: audience identification/realism first person view from the killers angle

•         Characters: teenager victims are women antagonists are usually men, non- digetic sounds tense music, digetic sounds screams,

•         Settings: no neighbors, cabins woods abandoned buildings

•         Camera angles: extreme close ups à to show fear,

•         Representation of gender: men have power women are victims and children are always scary

•         Narrative: 3 part story arc