1. Conventions of Horror Horror films are movies that strive to elicit the emotions of fear, horror and terror from viewers. Their plots frequently involve themes of death, the supernatural or mental illness. Many horror movies also include a central villain. Key Conventions Blood, Death, Killing, Villain & Victims, Haunted houses, Isolated settings, Monsters and Evil

2. Characters The main character is innocent and virginal, also smart and attractive. The evil character is Seville repressed and certainly not innocent. This creates binary opposition between the heroine and the monster. The viewer is addressed as if they are familiar with the horror structure. Certainly in Scream even if the viewer was not familiar with the structure, the character constantly tells the audience of what happens in a usual horror film. Scream is mainly focused on the individual Vs monster, as the heroin is continually hunted. Nightmare on Elm Street begins as community Vs monster but still focuses on the heroine.

3. Visual Style Visual styles within horror are often kept the same through out the different sub genres. Things such as shadows, low key lighting, canted angles and POV are things which can be seen in many modern day and olden horror movies.

4. Iconography Iconography of the Horror Film are symbolic images which recur throughout the history of the horror films which include: The haunted house (forbidden chamber) Symbols of death The disfigured face or mask The screaming victim (in modern horror the ‘final girl’) The phallic murder weapon: knife, stake, chainsaw. Binary oppositions of good and evil e.g. Dracula/Van Helsing. Darkened places where the ‘monster’ lurks: woods, cellars. Blood and body parts (body horror)

5. Themes Aim to unsettle and invoke our worst fears and secrets whilst captivating and entertaining us. Concentrate on the dark, forbidden side of life Horror deals with primal nature, nightmares, vulnerability, terror of the unknown, loss of identity and fear of sexuality. Opens us to the ‘other' world without being in danger ourselves. The irrational has to be defeated in order to return to normalcy. Focuses on fluctuating boundaries of taboo.

6. Settings Generally it is everyday settings which are used within horror movies within usually everyday places. This gives the effect that it could happen to the viewer adding to the fear promoted by the movie.

7. Narrative Devices Generally Horror movies follow these specific narrative devices: The Hero – The one on the quest and the one who will eventually saves the day The Villain – The antagonist of the movie who causes the disequilibrium The Helper – A person who helps the hero on their quest e.g. David Arquette, Scream (Wes Craven, 1996) The Victim – At the mercy of the villain The Donor – Someone who has something special which will help the hero These devices are often seen in all horror movies.