The document discusses character representations and conventions in horror films. It notes that typical characters include a vulnerable female victim, a male killer, and a heroic character, often female. Victims are usually young, attractive blondes portrayed as weak. The setting is commonly a remote family home in darkness with low lighting to build tension. Costumes also follow conventions, with victims dressed fashionably and killers in dark, mysterious clothes and masks. The document provides examples from Scream and discusses applying these conventions to the filmmaker's own project through victims, settings, and implied off-screen killers.

1. Horror Representation
Harinder Hunjan

2. Character Representation
The typical character’s that would be a vulnerable female character, a male killer, a
hero (usually female) and other young, attractive victims from both genders.
The first victim is usually a young, blonde female who is attractive but is very weak
and vulnerable. They are usually chosen because they fit this role well as it follows the
typical stereotype of blonde woman being dumb and therefore being vulnerable in
anything that happens e.g. the phone call in Scream. The dumb blonde stereotype
might include: blondness, seductive body language, strong makeup.
They may also have committed a sinful act which is why the killer are after them and
this is supported by bellaonline.com who say that ‘horror films, and the slasher
subgenre, are famous for portraying women as hypersexual damsels in distress who
are usually murdered within the first five minutes as a punishment.
The hero is usually a male character because it follows the stereotype of male’s being
dominant and masculine. Their identity is hidden which makes them mysterious and
that is usually done through them wearing a mask.
If there are any police, they often act as if the victims are lying and make things up and
therefore eventually die.

3. Examples From Horror Films
This is the first victim from the film Scream. She is
blonde, young and attractive which is very stereotypical.
In my film, we don’t have an older female, however we
do have a very young female who we will make blonde
so that it follows the conventions of the horror genre.
This is the killer from Scream. As you can see, their identity is
hidden by the mask which makes him mysterious. The face on
the mask is very scary, so that alone can frighten the audience
as well as the characters in the movie.
In my film, we don’t show any killer but there is a black screen
when the little girl screams which can signify that there is a
killer and because you can’t see the killer, it makes them
mysterious and their identity is hidden.

4. Character’s Costume, Hair & Make Up

The victims’ make up and hair is usually done very nicely to make them look attractive at all
times during the film. When it comes to the end of the film or when their death is
approaching, their make up is usually gone and they have a very gritty look which makes the
audience feel uneasy as they feel the pain they have been through due to the killer.

The victims’ costume is usually up to date and is fashionable so that they are as attractive as
possible. It is also been done to make them look young and popular which follows the typical
stereotype for victims in horror films.

The killer doesn’t tend to have any make up because they are covered by a mask. However,
their costume is usually dark clothes, usually black which has connotations of death and
danger. With their identity being hidden, it gives them a mysterious look.

In my film, the female actor is very young so no make up is really needed however, her
costume will be plain and simple like a long dressing gown. In the film ‘MAMA’ a dressing
gown type of clothing is used which is what I would like to use.

5. Setting
 The usual type of setting in a horror film is usually a white middle class
family’s home or somewhere far away from the city. This is done because
the audience will think that they are away from all danger, when in actual
fact they are in more danger as they have no one near them to call upon for
help. Another type of setting would be in the forest but this is usually when
it is more of a gore horror and there are a lot of deaths. The area is usually
dark and low key lighting adds to this effect; this helps it to fit to the horror
genre and builds tension to the audience.
 My opening sequence is going to be filmed inside a house which is quite old.
This follows the conventions of the horror genre and the audience will
automatically pick up on this. We will use a mixture of low and high key
lighting as well as naturalistic lighting to give it more of a realistic look.