2. INTRODUCTION
There are many different codes and conventions
that make up the different horror sub genre.
Codes and conventions are things that you
recognise, to identify a certain genre, such as
space is known as a convention of a sci-fi film. In
order for my group and myself to understand and
highlight each sub-genre, we carried out a
research task to identify each sub genres
conventions. So we can apply it into our film, and
make it more appealing to the audience and can
related to the sub genre chosen.
5. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS
The location for a supernatural film is set where the protagonist is
most familiar with or has spent a proportion of their life in the setting.
However this depends on the narrative of the film. The most common
setting is at the home of the protagonist. The main characters home is
usually isolated and excluded. With having a supernatural presence
within a home unwelcomed is not easily accepted. For example in
‘MAMA’, the two girls are brought to a cabin in the woods where
there’s nothing around only the woodland. This result the children not
being found for a long time. The isolation of the house creates an
eerie, mysterious atmosphere. Where it leaves the characters to rely
upon them to attempt to overcome the supernatural being and
survive. A supernatural presence isn’t easily accepted by a person, and
it is not something that one can escape from or fight against, this is
what makes this subgenre so terrifying and intriguing. Supernatural
horrors are set in people’s homes because it promotes the fear of
something unwanted and unfriendly entering your own personal
space, making you feel frightened in the one place designed to make a
person feel comforted and safe.
6. EVIDENCE: IMAGES FROM FILMS
‘EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE’
‘MAMA’ – the cabin which the two girls are found
‘THE CONJURING’
‘INSIDIOUS’
7. TYPICAL COVENTIONS
The haunted one, in the supernatural horror one of the
leading characters is always being followed by a being or
presence that usually does not reveal itself to others only
the one that they come for. For example in ‘INSIDIOUS’ when
the pictures of the father as a young child is shown there is
a being in the form of a women whom appears in every
image that comes closer and closer to him. This is when the
audience is informed of the father’s gene being passed on to
the son causing him to be lost in the alternative place
known as the further. Or this may not be the case as it can
be a certain character is one that we can trust, when
eventually it is exposed that they are the cause of all the
horror. For example, in “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” the couple
believe they are being followed by a spirit, when in fact; the
female character turns out to have a curse set on her family
or something their ancestors did in the past.
8. CLIP ONE: ‘INSIDIEOUS’ – The family discovers the real
reason as to strange occurrence. The clip demonstrates
the father facing the supernatural being, and his past
where this sprit is to have followed him in every picture
taken.
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CLIP TWO: ‘INSIDIEOUS’ – The dead spirit has taken over
josh’s body. This demonstrates how the unknown can
easily possess our bodies as this spirit has followed its
victim for a long time. Also ending the film on suspense
gives the audience a want to see the sequel.
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11. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS
WEATHER: used
in a number of
ways and
forms, some of
these being:
Sunlight - represents
goodness and
pleasure; it also has
the power to present
these upon characters
as most gothic beings
cannot walk in the day
light.
Mist - This convention in
Gothic films, is often used
to darken objects
by reducing visibility or to
introduce the insertion of
a terrifying person or
thing;
Storms - These frequently
accompany important events.
Flashes of lightening along with
expose; thunder and downpours
anticipate the appearance of a
character or the beginning of a
significant event.
13. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS
"Gothic" originated from a style of medieval
architecture, and Gothic fiction is often set in
medieval castles or churches. These settings are often
dark, gloomy and full of secret chambers, hallways and
dungeons. Wild, dark and dangerous locations, such as
abandoned graveyards, forests and other untamed
places, are also common. In more contemporary Gothic
literature, older houses and manors replaced
castles, though the sense of mystery and gloominess
remained a strong element.
The Gothic hero is often an isolated or "marked" figure
who must restore himself to society. A figure of evil
sometimes with a relationship to the supernatural and is
often in opposition to the hero. Women play significant
roles in Gothic novels; they are often described as victims
of harsh and evil men.
14. CLIP THREE: This is taken from ‘Women in Black’
where we can observe the surrounding of the
scene and the great attention to detail of a
conventional gothic setting.
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16. A Little Introduction
The Possession genre is branch from the
supernatural genre; although they both
have different elements many people
mistake them as one sub-genre. The
possession genre revolves around a person
or an object being haunted and
manipulated by an evil spirit or the devil
himself.
17. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS
The location of Possession films are generally
isolated with a hidden dark mysterious history
dating back. Typically we are presented with a
place of worship which is brought together with
conventions of the genre, or a family home. The
isolated locations ensures there’s no escape for
the characters thus when trouble occurs they
must work as a unit to attempt to flee the evil
spirit. The abandoned buildings are also key
locations which continue to crop up in many
possession films.
19. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS
Possession films use religious imagery to build a bond
between real life that the audience can relate to
and the film. The religious belief and objects are
seen as the ‘hero’ within the film. As the motion
pictures play on the GOOD vs. EVIL aspect. This
dates back to early years portraying the history and
the never ending battle that good and evil have.
Many religious groups are portrayed in possession
films illustrating how each religion has different
beliefs and demons in which they believe in. Thus
creating a realistic approach in ‘saving the day’
which as a result creates an authentic atmosphere
and makes it more terrifying.
20. CLIP FOUR: This clip is taken from ‘The Exorcism of
Emily Rose’, where we can see the actual exorcism
by a Christian Priest taking place.
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CLIP FIVE: This clip is taken from ‘The Possession’
when we can see an exorcism by a Jewish Rabbi
take place.
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22. A Little Introduction
The most well known horror films have
originated from the Slasher genre, for
instance Halloween and Friday The 13th.
Slasher films are combined with inventive
violence and a clever, eerily evocative
suburban mise-en-scene with
engaging, believable, contemporary teen
protagonists and a superhuman killer.
23. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS
The location is quiet and eerie, in a suburban
town, this helps to maintain the sense of fear
because the audience can relate to it ensuring
authenticity as it’s a safe haven. The location may
indicate being a part of the killer’s identity; it may
even hold a significant event which the killer was
involved in or bad childhood. The location is often in
a small populated region and is often far from
civilization. The killer destroys his victim’s means of
escape i.e. their vehicle which makes their escape
nearly impossible and allows the killer to kill his
victims freely without interferences.
25. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS
The monster or killer’s identity is often unknown; this is
portrayed through a mask or a mark which has left them
in an unrecognisable manner, alongside the use of
creative lighting and camera techniques. It ensures a
mysterious aura around the unknown killer. It is almost
likely to be a male figure. With a preference of weapon’s
being a knife, chainsaw, sharp claws and anything
jiggered and sharp preferring hand held weapons as it
gives an intimate kill. Towards the end of the film the
audience is revealed the true identity of the killer. The
reason behind his killings is often a childhood trauma.
The killer is often made out to be understood by the
audience and is pitiful. He is often silent and
unstoppable, able to survive stabbings, falls and
shootings by his victims.
26. CLIP SIX: The following clip is from ‘Halloween 4’ is
shows the killer in his act, we can’t identify the
killer as he is wearing a mask.
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CLIP SEVEN: This clip is from ‘Texas Chainsaw
Massacre’ portrays an example of the killer’s
weapon and the way he interacts with the victim.
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28. A Little Introduction
Psychological horror contains no gore, no
weapons and is the only horror sub-genre
that doesn’t aim to make the audience jump
out of their seat. The horror sub-genre plays
games on your mind; it messing with your
head in such a way that you don’t know who
to trust within the film and you, yourself
feels vulnerable.
29. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS
• Psychological Horror films will generally rely on the
characters beliefs, fears, and any hidden truths about
the character or what they have done.
• The location of a typical psychological sub-genre tends
to be in authentic housing, hospitals, locations that are
in the audience’s everyday life which in return produces
a connection that the audience has with the film.
• Very often psychological films will base its narrative on
facts or actual occurrences in real life, this is true for
films such as The Strangers which are based on a true
story. Film makers often like to add if a film is based on
true events because it adds value to film, and also
increases the scare factor because the target audience
will realise that there is a real possibility of the plot
happening in real life.
30. EVIDENCE:IMAGES FILMS
The True Story Behind "The Strangers" is a mixture
of three stories.
The killers, a principle male assailant and female
accomplices, are based upon Charles Manson and
the Manson killings.
The frantic "there's blood everywhere" 911 phone
calls and "bounding to a chair and stabbing" was
based on the killings in Cabin 28.
‘THE STRANGERS’
The basic story of a couple being terrorized by a
group of people was based on the famous killing in
the Czech Republic.
In the Czech Republic murders, an Austrian couple
are terrorized in their vacation home by three
teenagers and are later killed in the forest when
they try to escape.
31. TYPICAL CONVENTIONS
• When watching a Psychological horror film, the
weapons that tend to appear are not actual physical
weapons in some cases, but have a tendency to be
more supernatural and psychological. For example, the
killer’s twisted minds act as a weapon of fear against
the victims in the film.
• Very often the evil works of this character is not shown
until the end or when the story of the horror film is
fully established.
• However in ‘Shutter Island’, the film plays deeply on
the mind, using the unknown factor to play on the
audiences mind. Coming to the end of the film we
cannot tell whether the main character is telling the
truth or if he’s bought to the Island as a patient.
32. CLIP EIGHT: This clip is taken from ‘Shutter Island’
where we can identify the characters facade
coming to an end according to the doctor where
we are left with the same question which
scenario is true. Highlighting how psychological
films play with one’s mind.
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