3. Setting
Setting is arguably one of the most important
aspects of a horror movie. Many horrors take
advantage of conventional settings, such as an
old mansion, an asylum or a suburban home on
which to base their story.
According to convention, the setting must be
darkened or misty in order to impair the vision of
the viewer, as this works to build the overall tension
of the setting.
Many films choose to set the scenes at night,
however when it is set during the day there is often
something to limit the view of the reader, e.g. a
forest, mist, high walls etc.
4. Technical Codes
In most horror films, there is low-key or ambient lighting.
When films are set in the daytime, ambient lighting is often
used with an overcast sky. When films are set at night, the
lighting is often provided by the moon, or a light that is
meant to resemble the moon.
The camerawork also uses a good depth of frame, often
conveying the protagonist in the foreground with the
antagonist in the background.
The editing is often exaggerated, with sudden changes
from long shot to close up, without the use of a smoother
mid-shot.
Sound is also important. At times, the sound is completely
ambient in order to convey tension and suspense and give
the viewer the feeling that they are in the same room as
the characters in the film.
5. Iconography
In horror, there are several symbols that traditionally are
iconographic of the genre. Just two of them are blood and
knives (as pictured). However, some other common ones are
masks, blunt instruments, religious symbols (crucifix, satanic
cross) and items to do with the paranormal such as ghosts and
moving objects.
Lighting can also be iconographic because of the conventions
normally shown. It’s usually low-key lighting and attempts to
convey an ambient scene, usually with moonlight shining
through the windows/shutters.
Also, images of innocence are usually present, such as
children’s toys, dolls, playgrounds, schools, etc. as well as
children’s songs and laughter. This is a binary opposite because
of the innocence and kindness of children contrasts with the
darkness and horror of death.
6. Narrative Structure
The majority of films follow Todorov’s Classical Hollywood
Narrative, however with many horror movies, the sense of
equilibrium is never portrayed. Sometimes the film begins
with disequilibrium and ends on a false closure, leaving a
sort of cliffhanger for the viewer to question what might
happen next.
The ‘final girl’ in horror movies is always a victim/hero and
therefore portrays a masochistic image to the viewer.
Certain sub-genres are usually quite formulaic, for example
slashers normally involve a childhood traumatic event,
followed by them returning to the location on an
anniversary, killing a group of ‘immoral’ teenagers, with a
virginal, boyish ‘final girl’ who survives.
7. Character Types
Going by Vladimir Propp’s Character types and popular horror
conventions, there are several types of character:
Hero – Sometimes also the victim, they are usually a virginal,
androgynous girl;
Villain;
Stupid/immoral teens;
Children;
Ineffectual Police;
The hero who ‘has a go’;
Those who refuse to believe.
8. Themes
Popular themes in horror movies include:
Hidden evil
Repressed sexuality (or more open in later films)
Binary opposition (light v. dark, good v. evil)
Science gone wrong
The unknown
Dominant ideology – the killer is often large, male and often goes
after “weaker” victims (teens, women, etc.)
