This document outlines common paradigms and tropes found in horror films, including isolated rural settings like woods and countryside, the use of bladed weapons that inflict slow deaths, teenage victims or families, and a killer or monster character that is often male and never truly dies at the end of the film. It also notes the use of non-diegetic sound to set mood and common character archetypes like the promiscuous girl who is punished versus the surviving virgin.

1. Horror Paradigms Location/Setting Props Characters Victims Isolated places Sound/music Sub genre Countryside Woods weapon Usually stabbing weapon never a gun Knife Axe Machete Chain saw Weapons that inflict a slow and painful death Killer (usually a male character) Killer/monster never dies Killer Monster Sci-fi Vampire Teen slasher Religious Villain/Killer Cave Isolated Town Haunted/Abandoned House Mental patient Monster Evil twin Psycho Outcast Masked murders Ghost/Demon Teenagers Parents Children Uses a lot of non-diegetic sound to set a mood The slut( promiscuous girl) gets punished for being sexual active The Virgin survives as long as her virginity A group of people, the audience can relate to