Horror movies typically feature certain conventions in their settings, characters, and narrative structure. Common settings include abandoned buildings, dark woods, and haunted locations. Characters usually consist of a hero battling a villain such as a serial killer or monster. Cinematography aims to make the audience feel like they are experiencing the horror themselves through techniques like point of view shots. Narratives often follow a survive or die premise with themes of good versus evil and include death and violence.

1. CONVENTIONS OF A HORROR
MOVIE
CONNOR WALKER

2. SETTINGS
• Settings for a horror movie usually consist abandoned/ derelict areas that create a sense of
‘being alone’. Dark streets and alley ways are a perfect example of where you would expect to
horror movie produced.
• ‘Haunted’ theme is used a lot in horror movies, whether it becomes haunted in the movie, or
has been haunted before. The creators like a ‘dark history’ to go with the film.
• Some examples of a horror movie setting would be;
• Abandoned house
• Dark woods
• Dungeons
• Haunted areas i.e hotel
• Asylum
• Cabins
• Subways
• Graveyard

3. CHARACTERS
• Horror movies mainly use the character choice of a Hero or a Villain to create a battle
against each other.
• The use of a killer is essential in horror movies. A serial killer, monster or an alien are
usually most effective for this.
• A haunted character can sometimes be used such as a haunted child who carriers the
demons with them wherever they go.
• Other characters that could be included are;
• Ghosts
• Demon’s
• Psychopath
• Werewolf
And many more…

4. MISE-EN-SCENE
• The props that are used in a horror movie, are the main items as well as the characters.
The most common props used are guns, knifes, any sort of weapon.
• Also, characters clothing is concentrated on in real detail. Costumes such as masks are
used a lot to either hide the identity of the character or to create a whole new ‘creature’
All of these are conventions of what you will find in a horror movie

5. CAMERWORK
• The camerawork used in a horror movie is a very similar to that used in an action movie.
• Much of the movie will be shot with short range camerawork because it will show the
emotion and fear on the characters face. The long range shots are used to show the
setting, what is happening or if there is a police chase for example.
• Point of view shots and handheld camera are used a lot in a horror movie. It makes the
audience feel as they are in the film, we are going through it with them, as though we are
looking for the monster or killer too.

6. THEMES
Horror movies have a mixture of themes;
• Good v Evil
• Paranormal activities
• Self conscious
• Suicide
• Madness
• Disease
• Revenge
• Death

7. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
• Many horror movies have a story line that is easy to create a franchise of that movie, for
example Paranormal activity 1,2,3,4. This is because it gives them the ability to bring in
more money.
• Horror movies tend to have the story line of ‘survive or die’. One person on a mission
against the rest. This is because as an audience we feel like we are with them and feel
like the movie is actually happening.
• The use of death is in almost every single horror movie, as the violence in a horror movie
is what audience want to see.