This document summarizes the key conventions of paranormal/ghost subgenre films. It provides examples of films in the subgenre like The Others and The Conjuring 2. Common elements include family-based plots involving a new home with a dark history and a spirit tormenting family members, especially children. Dutch/canted camera angles are used to convey uncertainty and a spirit taking control. Eerie children's music plays in creepy contexts. Lighting uses backlighting and under lighting for suspense and to obscure spirits while profiling makes characters seem sinister.

1. ASSIGNMENT 1: SUBGENRE-
PARANORMAL/GHOSTS&SPIRITS
A Presentation by- Dean Leavy, Victor Lovato & Adam Wilkowski

2. EXAMPLES OF THE SUBGENRE
The Others (2001) The Conjuring 2 (2016) Insidious (2010)

3. BACKGROUND TO THE SUBGENRE
• Plays on society’s natural fear of the unknown
• Can have themes such as family, religion, punishment, or general misfortune
• Frightens the audience through enigmatic and otherworldly atmosphere rather than
the threat of physical harm
• Increasingly popular in the last two decades

4. GENERIC CONVENTIONS:
NARRATIVE
PLOT
• Usually family based plot
• Can involve the central family moving
into a new house or location
• The demon/spirit will usually torment
the family, commonly through the
children e.g. possession
• The family will try to contact
specialists to handle the antagonist,
such as demonologists or Holy Men
CHARACTERS
• Protagonists are usually concerned
parents, quite often they are a single
parent who will be skeptical at first
• The weakest family member, usually
the youngest child, will act as a
conduit/means for the antagonist to
torment the family
SETTING
• Usually in a family home- this shatters
the sense of security and safety the
viewer would have
• House/location is usually aged and
has a dark, enigmatic history

5. GENERIC CONVENTION-
DUTCH/CANTED ANGLES
• Dutch/canted angle shots are a generic convention of our subgenre
•All three of our films contain certain camera shots, including a Dutch angle or canted
frame.
•Dutch angles are used to convey uncertainty... In our sub-genre it is particularly used
to show a spirit or omen taking control of a house and all of its possessions.

6. EXAMPLE-
• The Dutch angles in this case show
the spirt or omen taking over the
electronic equipment in the house
and also tormenting the children in
their bedroom. This is a key
convention as there is a gradual
build up of supernatural events that
result in a climax later on, this is key
through all three of our movies.

7. GENERIC CONVENTION-
CONTRAPUNTAL MUSIC
• Quite commonly in our subgenre, there will be a music tune commonly associated
with children/youth playing in a creepy and eerie context
• This can include music boxes, crib mobiles, or sound effects on toys/dolls
• These sound effects effectively scare the audience as their context (which is
unsettling and supernatural) completely contrasts with the viewers association with
them (children and innocence) and this antithesis makes it unsettling in itself.

8. EXAMPLES

9. GENERIC CONVENTION-LIGHTING
• It is conventional to use backlighting in scenes where the spirit will not be exposed, we
can only see the silhouette that has been created. Profile lighting is also used to make
a character appear sinister; it indicates to audiences whether or not this person can be
trusted. Under lighting is lighting that comes from a light source below, used in scenes
of desperation, during blackouts of light, characters resort to torches, lanterns and
candles to help them see.
• In supernatural horrors it is conventional for the protagonist to experience cold, wet
and stormy weather, as it re-enforces the turbulent, unsettling bluster of the plot. The
main character is also likely to experience a power cut in their home, this promotes the
childhood fear of the dark, making the character appear vulnerable and naive.