The document discusses common tropes and conventions found in horror films. It describes the typical characters that audiences expect to see, including victims who are usually teens that make poor decisions, a killer with a dark backstory, and a final survivor who is wise and manages to defeat the killer. It also outlines the settings that are commonly used, such as isolated or abandoned places that trigger fear. Common actions that drive the plot include groups splitting up and investigating strange noises despite warnings, and characters encountering technical issues like power cuts at dangerous times. Other conventions include the killer having a signature weapon, use of masks or disfigurement to make the killer seem unpredictable, depictions of blood and gore, and symbols representing good versus evil or

1. What the audience
expects to see, feel
and be exposed to
whilst watching a
film of this genre.
Horror Films have been around a long time, and have covered
nearly every possibility imaginable. But under the fake blood and
even faker screams, the same formula is used to create a Horror
film

2. Characters
-THE
VICTIMS
The Sacrificial Lamb
is the first female
victim to get killed
in the film. Their
death is for a good
cause as they start
off the narrative and
also informs the
audience of the
antagonists
intentions.
• Young adult/Teen stereotypes normally fulfil the role of
‘Jocks’ or ‘Blonde, dumb, slutty Cheerleaders’ (Popular
in American Films)- Completely unaware of dangers
present.
• They also do not take the initiative to run, instead they
stand and scream and wait to be killed.
• Their frustrating lack of common sense nearly always
puts them in “grave” danger and they are likely to be
gruesomely killed.

3. Characters
-THE KILLER
Jason's Weapon
Often they have a troubled, dark past that
explains why they do what they do and
reveals motive-Flashbacks or monologues
are often used to tell us about their
background and origin.

4. Characters
-THE LAST ONE
Martin Brody-(Roy Schneider)
Jaws series (1975)
Jaws 1
Taking on the role of an intelligent
lifeguard with a solid marriage
and nuclear family; Brody
discovers remains of a woman and
sets out to find the shark
responsible after the killings
continue.
Jaws 2
After the events of
the first attack,
Brody discovers
someone else has
disappeared and a
beached whale
with huge bites in
it confirms another
massive shark,
however the greedy
manager fires him
after initiating a
false alarm thus
losing money so he
takes it upon
himself to stop the
threat.
Jaws 3
In this film Martin
Brody is very old
and his two
children take over
from him in
preventing yet
another monster of
the deep from
terrorising a sea
life centre.
Stereotypical Final Survivor
Usually smart, wise, brave and the
protagonist.
Also portrayed as paranoid so they
are very aware of the danger present.
We are led to believe that they will
die but in the final battle they
manage to miraculously overcome
the killer.

5. THE SETTING
Horror Films are usually set
in places that evoke fear and
trigger terror.

6. ACTIONS
(CONVENTIONS)
These are what is expected to be
seen in a horror film, an action code
is a movement that usually tells the
audience that something is about to
happen (E.g.- A Killing).
Groups split up to
investigate a strange noise-
This is used frequently and
despite the murders of
their friends they still
insist on following the
sound.
Characters don’t
acknowledge
warning signs-
instead of a hotel,
a couple will
choose an
abandoned
mansion in the
middle of the
woods to have sex
in.
Power cut & Dead phone line- This removes
vision so they cannot see the predator
attacking and no way to communicate to the
outside world leaves the character to defend
for themselves.
Characters trips/
Car won’t start-
This inexplicably
happens whilst
being chased by
the antagonist and
delays the escape
or completely
squanders any
chance of survival.

7. STANDARD
ICONOGRAPHY
Killers signature weapon
(Friday the 13th Jason's huge
machete that reminds him of his
mother.
Disfigured Faces & Masks
(Friday the 13th, 2005- Jason's
Mask). Grotesque faces or
disguises that hide emotions to
make them appear unpredictable.
Blood and Body Parts
(Pretty much every
Horror film)
Good vs Evil
Symbols of Death
• Skeletons
• Darkness
• Coffins
• Gravestones