1. What does a horror film aim to do?
Essentially, a horror film’s main aim is to worry the audience
and feel the emotion of fear whilst watching the movie. To
be a successful horror film it should contain at least one
element of fear. The fear could be triggered by the
unknown, terror, torture or surrealism.
If the viewer is scared or unnerved by the film’s
content, plot or characters then the film is more likely to be
a success. It is very important for the film to be a success so
you generate a higher income, through people watching the
film at the cinema or buying it on DVD.
2. General codes and conventions
There are many common codes and conventions used in
horror films. Lighting and music is key to promote a scary
atmosphere to frighten the audience. For example, a dark
scene partnered with high pitched eerie music is almost
guaranteed to unsettle the audience.
In horror films that feature a killer or murder, it is typical to
have a group of roughly 4 to 5 people who get killed off one
by one. Also, the killer usually has a signature killing
method such as hanging, stabbing or torturing.
There is almost always one survivor who eventually beats
the bad guy. Good over evil is more often than not is the
general ending of a horror film.
3. Specific codes and conventions
Eerie/high pitched music – teamed with characters walking
around slowly or looking for something makes the audience
think there is something that might make them jump. This
heightens tension and anticipation.
Dark lighting – this intensifies the fear of the unknown because
the audience cannot see all of the characters surroundings and
therefore cannot guess what might happen next.
Slow pace of editing/long takes – this builds tension within the
audience.
Vulnerable characters – normally women of teenagers, because
they are more vulnerable than a strong man in his mid twenties.
This makes the audience fear for the protagonist.
Threat – this can be either a supernatural threat, monster, serial
killer or something else that is stronger intellectually or
physically than the victims in the film.
4. Different genres within horror films
The horror genre frequently overlaps with many other genre’s of film some
examples of this is:
• Supernatural Horrors
• Psychological Thrillers
• Science Fiction Horrors
Nearly every horror film uses common fears to make sure that the viewer is
unnerved or startled by the content of the film. This could be the fear of the
unknown – usually linked with supernatural films for example Paranormal
Activity and ‘Insidious’.
Psychological thrillers such as ‘The Uninvited’ play tricks on the readers mind
and you usually have top try and figure out how the ‘bad guy’ is. Having the
element of not knowing who the killer is for example makes the film more
intense to watch and the viewer is less likely to get bored.
