This document analyzes the codes and conventions in existing teen horror films through a discussion of three films: "Dead Wood", "Wrong Turn", and "Dead Mary". Key conventions highlighted include isolated settings, revealing clothing on female characters, separation or death of characters within the first 5 minutes, and elements of being chased or in danger such as tripping while running. Sound and camera techniques like music, shots of the woods, and close-ups of characters' faces are discussed in building tension and fear.

1. Analyzing Codes
and Conventions
In Existing Teen
Horror Films
By Amanda Liepina

2. ‘Dead Wood’
The first sound that is heard is the birds, which automatically creates the scene of woods.
Then comes in the music. The music is slow and in low pitch, creating the feeling of danger.
It changes to higher pitch and emphasizes on notes when we see the man running through
the woods, because the music changed that created a scene of someone chasing the man.
The music stops when the man stops running because there is a complication. When the
man gets pulled down, there is a sound that helps to create it more scarier.
Sound
Camera
Long shot of the middle of woods, than close up of a leg. Tracking shots and point of views
used when the man is running through the woods to show that he is most likely running
away from someone. Then a low angle shot of him stopping at the cliff to show how deep it
is. Close ups of his face used to show the fear he is experiencing. The jump is in slow
motion to make the audience concentrate on that scene. Close up of his face when pulled
down by someone. A long shot of the girl looking for the boy suggesting that she is alone
now.
Conventions
• Secluded area
• Girl and a boy
• Someone gets killed in first 5 minutes
• Running away from someone
• Trips
• Don’t scream for help
Mise en scene
• Girl wearing more revealing
clothes
• Tent, suggests they went
camping

3. ‘Wrong Turn’
The music at the beginning is low pitch and creates quite sinister and evil atmosphere. When the girl is
asking that guy to pull her up, he doesn’t answer and the there is the sound of someone falling down or
getting hit, which means that the man is hurt and in danger. The music gets faster as the girl is pulled up by
someone. That creates tension. When the girl sees the body, music starts of loudly suggesting danger.
Then we can hear someone running and laughing which sounds quite scary and makes the girl to freak
out. As she starts to run the music is back suggesting danger again.
Sound
Camera
First shot is high angle , establishing shot of woods, showing that the main location is going to be
woods and also showing that it is a secluded area. Next shot is of the man and the woman from high
angle. Points of views used next to shot how each of the sees each other. Close up of the girl
struggling to climb up. Then there is a low angle shot of the man pushed over the cliff, to make it more
interesting by not showing who did it. Then close ups of the rope to see that she is been pulled up by
someone. Then the girl is seen pulled away but again we can’t se by who.
Conventions
• Middle of nowhere
• Man and a woman
• Someone gets killed
in the first 5 minutes
• Trips while running
Mise en scene
• Climbing equipment ( it has been
planned)
• Girl wearing more revealing clothes

4. ‘Dead Mary’
Sound
At the beginning there is a metallic sound of the chains. That sound plus the chains
already symbolizes danger, torcher. The we can hear birds which suggests woods and
woods suggest secluded area. Fingers tapping, meaning she has been waiting for a
while and that she is bored. The white noise on the radio suggests no signal.
Camera
First is shot is an extreme close up of the chains. Then a close up of the gas station sign,
meaning that the gas station will be relevant. Then there is a low angle of the car, making
the car the main object. Close up of the girl, to see her face expressions which shows that
she is waiting for someone. Shots from the wood showing the car, suggesting that
someone might be in the woods. There is used only close ups for the girl to make us feel
closer to her. She finds a gun, meaning that it might be needed later on. Long shot of
someone walking towards the car. It is blurry to make the audience wonder if that is a
good guy or a bad guy.
Conventions
• Secluded area
• Out of fuel
• No signal
• Someone is watching
• A boy and a girl
• Separated
Mise en scene
• Girl is wearing revealing
clothes
• Daily make up
• No shoes on, meaning she’s
been there for a while