2. Codes and Conventions:
• Location is sinister and appears dark and isolated.
• Eerie music to create a frightening atmosphere.
• Lead character often ends up surviving and slaying the antagonist
character.
• Plot frequently involves themes of death, supernatural and mental
issues.
3.
4. Horror films may:
• Frighten and make the viewer panic causing heart rate to rise.
• Cause dread and alarm.
• Invoke hidden or even new fears, sometimes lasting longer than the
film.
• Captivate and entertain us in a fearful and gruesome manner.
• Conclude in a way that shocks the audience.
• Play on your vulnerability
• Make you fear death
• Opens us to the dark side of life
5. Typical fears reinforced by the horror genre:
• Nightmares
• Vulnerability
• Fear of the unknown
• Alienation
• Death
• Loss of identity
6. Camera Angles:
• Extreme close ups - Emphasis the subject.
• Tilt- to create disorientation.
• Establishing shots- Showing location, isolated buildings.
• Handheld shots- looks realistic.
• Long shots- to show danger or what the lead character is surrounded by.
• Tracking- camera moves on the side following the character.
• Dollying- camera follows behind or in front of the character, to make it feel
as though they are being followed.
• Point of view shot- audience is able to see through the eyes of the
character.
• Montage editing- in the trailer to increase suspense and tension, to engage
and encourage audience to watch it.
