Conventions of Media (Horror)

1. Conventions of Horror

2. Setting
• Isolated places
• Dark streets
• Narrow alleyways
• Run down ghost towns
• Often revolve around buildings that have a dark
history (insane asylums, hotels abandoned houses)
• Rural lakes
• Dark woods/forests
• Under ground tunnels/dungeons
• Graveyards

3. Example images

4. Props and connotations
• Colours such as red and black are often used due to
their effective connotation of fear, blood, death,
violence, danger and evil.
• These connotations are further emphasised by the
common use of dark lighting.
• Props such as weapons are often used to identify
the killer/villain (knives, chainsaw, machetes and
even torture devices in some cases).
• Costumes such as masks are often used to conceal
the identity of the killer.

6. Themes
• Good vs Evil
• Childhood issues
• Revenge
• Supernatural
• Death
• Torture
• Insanity
• Suicide
• Envy
• Lust
• Nightmares
• Zombie apocalypse

7. Example Clip
Hell Raiser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7TWm3Akw-s
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKqFfkassgo
Smiley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11yBPx-ymZA
I Spit on Your Grave (2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt7lWlpTuUM