This document outlines several key conventions of slasher films. It discusses how slashers typically involve a psychopath stalking and murdering multiple victims with bladed weapons. It then examines conventions related to the killer (being unstoppable and wearing a mask), lighting (using low-key lighting to create shadows), settings (suburban or isolated areas), victims (attractive teenagers), camera angles (close-ups to show fear and emotion), and sound (diegetic weather sounds and non-diegetic ominous music to build tension). The document provides examples of how following these conventions creates suspense and impacts the audience.

1. Codes & Conventions of Slasher
Films
Stacy & Lucy

2. Slasher Films
Definition:
Slasher films are a subgenre of horror films,
typically involving a violent psychopath stalking
and murdering several people, usually with
bladed tools.
However, in Lucy and I’s case, we will challenge this particular
convention and instead the antagonist will only obsess over one
individual rather than multiple and this will also link the poem
‘Porphyria's Lover’ which one of many inspirations for our
production.

3. Conventions of Killers
The unstoppable killer within slasher films almost always uses unconventional,
handheld weapons, such as blades, chainsaws, cleavers, and blunt objects and rarely,
if ever, does the killer use guns. There also may be a potential link with the murderer
and their choice of weaponry connecting to their childhood, profession etc. There is
often a backstory that explains how the executor developed his (the villain is usually,
although not always, a male) violent, mental state and why he focuses primarily on a
particular type of victim or a particular location. Furthermore, the antagonist’s
identity is often unknown and this is achieved usually by a mask for the majority if not
all for the entire production to either provide an element of surprise as well as shock
if the audience discovers who the killer is or to create a sense of unsettlement of not
knowing the unknown.

4. Conventions of Lighting
The lighting is one of the most important aspects and conventions of any film production and genre but
particularly for slashers. Slashers usually use a mixture of low key, high key, back, under and profile key lighting
to create variation, atmosphere that is appropriate to the genre and overall mood. It additionally helps tap
into audience fear for example, the fear of the dark or claustrophobia can result in a more effective impact on
the audience making the product more successful. Low key lighting is evidently adopted greater compared to
high to create shadows and dark, mysterious shapes/figures reinforcing the feeling of evil presence and
intense threat. Similarly, lighting can help stress the importance of something, for example, Lucy and I could
select to specifically place light on a weapon in order to create some sort of reflection off the blade granting
view to a character. Backlighting can also be adopted to create silhouettes of a person/object, by shining the
light from behind. This type of lighting is used rather frequently in slashers as it provides a greater evil
perspective of the killer and helps to conceal identity. However, profile-lighting can be used to reveal half of an
object or character that remains concealed from the audience's eye whilst the other half will be visible. This
lighting can suggest a split personality that connotes binary opposites of good vs evil.

5. Conventions of Setting
The main, conventional settings for a slasher film to take place and vary within
suburban neighbourhoods, high-schools cottages and/or woods. It is more common
for a slasher film to now be set in suburban areas/high-schools as theses particular
locations are considered to be extremely safe and ___. It is to suggest that because a
horror film is now set in a suburb where the majority of the population live will
evidently provide a deep a sense of fear and realism to the the audience as they
would mentally compare their neighbourhood to the slasher setting. It is to mention
that both slasher films, Halloween and Scream also set scene in a suburban area.
These particular settings would mean Lucy and I can access neither without issue as
we live and attend a school in a suburban neighbourhood. However, environments
such as a cottage or the woods are also adopted frequently are usually extremely
deserted, secluded and isolated from any other human contact so the antagonist can
slaughter his targets successfully without any disruptions. In addition, the location
may also be associated to the antagonist. For example, the killer would be able to
identify with the location due to having a traumatic childhood within that area, linking
to his/hers profession or a significant event/killing that the executor was previously
linked/ involved in.

6. Conventions of Victims
In slasher films, the victims are usually
photogenic, high-school teenagers or
young adults who are away from
mainstream civilization or far away
from help and often involved in either
sexual activities, illegal-drug use
and/or under influence of alcohol.
These films typically begin with the
murder of a young, attractive woman
and end with a lone female survivor
who manages to conquer the killer
after having to endure/encountering
near death in the final sequence. In
addition, the main character usually
has a group of friends involving a
fashion obsessed individual and
sportsman who die off one by one.

7. Conventions of Camera Angles
Slasher films tend to utilize a range of camera shots to provide greater variety and entertainment. These shots are:
• Close Ups
• Tilt
• POV/OTS
• Tracking/Panning
• Reverse
• Low/High Angle
1. Close up shots are extremely vital to put emphasis upon characters emotions such as fear. A close up in these types of
genres are used to see reactions on the actor/actresses face, and the director would focus more screen time on the killing
of the victims and their fatal injuries. This is the shot that shows the most emotion from the characters. It is also used to
capture detail in an important scene. This is used very effectively in horror and thriller films to make out a character is being
followed or watched. It also could establish a scene so the audience can see the full view. Another great use is as the
camera is moving the suspense builds up as you don’t know what could be shown next.
2. Tilt shots add a lot of dramatic tension to shots, for example, pushing or moving the camera. It’s also a great way to get a
different shot of an incident across to the audience. Another great use for a tilt shot is to act as though the camera is a
victim on the floor, and you are seeing what they are seeing.
3. Low angle shots are very powerful in that they can emphasize how scary or intimidating a villain is. This could make the
audience as well as the actors/actresses in the film feel weak and insignificant. This is one of the best shots to build tension.
This is used a lot in horrors and thrillers to add suspense, and is used a lot to show a figure stood behind a victim.
4. Tracking shots are used to build momentum and intensify the atmosphere on screen, by allowing the audience to get into
the frame and mind of the character. They are effective in horrors, as it gives the impression of a lurking evil presence, and
that someone is following/being followed where a panning shot, is used to allow the audience to view the setting for the first
killing. The camera pans down to an establishing shot, showing a swing which is moving, and backgrounding the first
victims suburban house.

8. Conventions of Sound
Sound may be one of the most important conventions of a slasher film as it creates suspense and additional
tension to ultimately enhance or play around with the audience's emotions. Diegetic sound is a noise which has a
source on-screen. They are noises which have not been edited in, for example dialogue between characters or
footsteps where as non-diegetic sound is a noise which does not have a source on-screen, they have been
added in. For example music, voice over, sound effects.
• DIEGETIC:
Weather sounds: Sounds like these help to create realism, which is important in horror because the more real
the movie seems, the scarier it will be. These sorts of weather sounds also help to create a scarier atmosphere,
as it creates a chaos and fear. This could be because people associate bad weather, with being scared, also
these weathered sounds could tap into some of the audiences personal phobias (fear of lightning/thunder)
resulting in a more effective scary impact. This can be seen in the opening sequence of ‘Scream’ where a strike of
lightning at the beginning and end of the opening sequence. Diegetic sound is also used usually when the victims
and killers are fighting, this is usually from screaming to an item breaking such as a table or glass bottle used to
fight away the killer.
• NON-DIEGETIC:
When the sound is non diegetic texture it connotes that there is a high level of tension. This usually comes when
the killer is in action or thought to be. Sound also helps to build a sense of continuity (for e.g. sound bridging a
scene). Sound can also underline psychological refinements (the unseen implications of a situation, or the
unspoken thoughts of a character). Sudden burst of music/sound that is used to make the audience jump, it also
accompanies a dramatic even. Eerie music compliments the current on screen action, also known as a non-
diegetic soundtrack, is a key sound in all horror films, not just slasher. The audience feel the build up of
something, which indicates that something bad is about to happen. The audience is aware that something is about
to happen as music often changes, and becomes more sinister and scary as we get closer to the climax. Also this
type of music can be used to build up false expectation, resulting in a more shocking impact when something
actually happens. This works well in slasher films, as it sounds incredibly creepy and sinister, which results in
unnerving the audience and making them unsettled.