The document discusses research conducted into the horror genre, including watching horror movies and trailers to understand conventions. Key findings include: - Violence and death are conventional as they create fear in viewers, which is the goal of horror. - Antagonists, whether human or supernatural, are also conventional. - Effective horror movie trailers don't contain many spoilers and don't often show the antagonist, to entice viewers to watch the full movie. - Elements like close-up shots, weapons as props, CGI effects and non-diegetic sounds are commonly used conventions in horror movies and trailers.

2. For my research into the horror genre I
watched and studied several horror
movies and trailers to evaluate what is
conventional for the horror genre.
From my research into the genre I
have recognised that it is conventional
for the horror genre to show violence
and death. This is because violence
and death create fear for the viewer
and this is what the horror genre aim to
do. This fear creates excitement for the
viewer and this is why the horror genre
is so successful.
From my research I also discovered
that it is conventional for horror movies
to have antagonist’s, whether that is a
human character or a supernatural

3. From my research into the horror genre
and the conventions of form I now
know the typical, effective conventions
of a horror movie trailer.
From my research into horror movie
trailers I have recognised that for a
trailer to be effective it shouldn’t have
too many spoilers because a trailer is
meant to tease the viewer and make
them want to see what happens for
themselves, in the full official movie.
As well as this I have also learned
through research that in the horror
movie trailer the antagonist shouldn’t
be shown very often in the trailer
because once again the trailer doesn’t

4. Mise en scene: From
research into similar products I
have recognised that the horror
genre uses specific elements of
mise en scene to make the
movie convenient for the genre.
One example of mise en scene
used in horror movies is the
props/weapons so very often
seen in horror films. Weapons
are convenient for the genre
because they connote horror
and violence and so therefore
relate to the genre.

5. Camerawork: From
research into similar products I
have recognised that a shot so
very often used in the horror
genre is a close-up. This
camera shot is used in every
horror movie because it shows
fine detail and emotion of the
character, whether that be an
antagonist or protagonist. If this
shot is used to show the
protagonist then it can also
frighten the viewer and create
tension which is conventional

6. Editing: From research into
similar products I have
recognised that the most
common and conventional
piece of editing used in the
horror genre is CGI. CGI is
most commonly used when
showing ‘gory’, bloody scenes
because it can create gruesome
scenes which the viewers
crave. CGI is also sometimes
used in films to create an
antagonist such as a ghost or
zombie.

7. Sound: From research into
similar products I have
recognised that sound plays a
key role in making a horror
movie effective. A common
piece of sound used in horror
movies is non-diegetic sound.
For example the loud, fast
paced noises which are used in
a scene when something violent
is about to occur. This is
conventional and effective
because it increases the
viewers heart rate as they

8. For my research I gathered information about
my target audience, who they are, what they
liked and how to appeal to them. From my
surveys I have a clear understanding of who
my target audience are:
•Male
•16-17 years of age
•Students

9. In my survey I asked my target audience
about their opinions on horror films, what
they like and dislike. By asking these
questions it gives me an idea of what to
include in my product to make it appealing
for them. One question I asked was ‘What
do you like about horror films?’ after
receiving the results I now that if I want to
appeal to my target audience I should
make my product as scary as possible
because my target audience would like this.In my survey I also asked my
target audience ‘What is your
favourite type of horror movie?’
and the favourites were ‘Slasher’
and ‘Comedy-horror’ after
receiving these results I know that
my product would be more
appealing if it included both these
Now that I have received
these results I can start to
plan my product with
knowledge of my target
audience’s likes. These
results have been very
useful because now I
know how to make my
product appealing to me
target audience. For
example because I know
that my target audience
enjoy being frightened
and also enjoy ‘Slasher’
or ‘Comedy-horror’
movies I will try to make
my product a frightening
trailer which includes