This document outlines common conventions and technical elements of horror genre films. It discusses settings that are often isolated or associated with dark pasts. Technically, horror films employ high and low camera angles, point-of-view shots, handheld camera work, diegetic and non-diegetic sounds, and close-ups to create tension. Common iconography includes haunted houses, monsters, victims, weapons, low-key lighting, and places where threats lurk. Narratively, characters are often picked off one by one and take risks, facing punishment for transgressions.

1. HORROR GENRE CONVENTIONS
& FILM FORMS
EMMA COLLINS
YEAR 13
COWA

2. Setting
o Places often associated with a ‘dark’ past,
E.g. Murder had taken place in the building .
o Small Communities or isolated places.
o Forrest’s , or places cut off from society.
o Abandoned buildings such as Asylums, hotels
and old buildings.
o Often set at night, or when its raining ,or
drowsy weather.
o Big family homes

3. Technical Codes
• High and Low camera angles are used a lot when filming a horror film. High camera angles
are used as a connotation of fear and shows isolation . And Low angle shots connotate
power, and shows a strong and sometimes scary character.
• Point of View shot- See what the protagonist/antagonist see’s to create tension
• Handheld shots are often used to also create tension, but it also gives a sense of realism for
the audience which helps create the feeling of the unknown and terror.
• Use of Diegetic sounds such as heavy breathing, footsteps and a heartbeat help to create
tension. There Is also use of Non-diegetic sounds such as dramatic music to create tension,
for example this is used when building up to a jump scare. This is often accompanied with a
‘stab’ or ‘sting’ when the jump scare happens.
• Extreme close ups of faces, usually occurs when there is a jump scare or a victim is being
attacked.

4. Iconography
• The haunted house (forbidden chamber)
• The disfigured monster/ supernatural entity
or Psycho killer
• The screaming victim (in modern horror
‘the final girl’ )
• The murder weapon: knife, stake,
chainsaw.
• Low-Key lighting (chiaroscuro)
• Binary oppositions of good and evil.
• Darkened places where the ‘monster’
lurks: woods, cellars.
• Blood and body parts (body horror)
Narrative
• Characters picked off one-by-one.
• Taking risks (Omniscient narrative)
• Characters being punished e.g. Sex =
Death in teen slashers.
• Monsters who never die.
• Slashers- Often a death in the first five
minutes.
• Supernatural- A character often gets
possessed.

5. Characters
Characters in Horror films often follows Propp’s charcter
theory
• The main protagonist, often a girl which follows the ‘Final
girl’ theory
• The antagonist, either a monster, someone with a
mental health issue, ‘alien’,physco killer, spirit/demon
etc.
• Teenagers who usually are committing a ‘sin’ and die
very quickly.
• Creepy children
• Often a figure of authority, a father , policeman etc.
• An ordinary family