Generic codes and conventions in teen horror movies include: 1) Violence, darkness, blood, killing and death are common elements expected to be seen. 2) Weapons are often used as trademarks of the killer and to create vulnerability in victims. A Nightmare on Elm Street uses knives as the killer's weapon. 3) Violence is often paired with darkness to create suspense and show victims as trapped with no escape. 4) Films typically follow the plot of teenagers in jeopardy who die one by one, with one sole survivor. Deaths are unique but not overly graphic to suit the target teenage audience.

1. Generic Codes & Conventions Of
Teen Horror
By Carmelita Wallace

2. What are the definitions of code and
conventions ?
• Code - When a technical element is used to do certain acts.
They are a number of signs that implement or create meaning
these can be technical or symbolic.
• Convection – the things we expect to find in particular genres
as there are general conventions in any medium

3. Teen Horror movie conventions
What do we except to see in a teen horror movie ?
 Weapons
 Violence
 Darkness
 Blood
 Killing
 Death
 Victims
 Chase sequences
 Isolated areas

4. What makes Horror a unique Genre compared to
others ?
The convections in the horror genre are known for creating suspense and
fear holding the audiences attention to the story or in our case the
opening sequence. Another key feature in horror is the igonraphy used
such as murder weapons e.g. a knife these are used as a trade mark for
the murder or something that can represent them. A film that follows this
convention is A nightmare on Elm street the whole film is based on a killer
man/figure and his so called weapon is that his hand is made of knifes as
shown below in the screen grabs. In Horrors they usually use the weapon
as an element to create vulnerability towards the victims.

5. Violence & The use of darkness
In the teen horrors I have watched there has been an obvious and
recurring theme of violence this has been stimulated through killers
inflicting pain and violence on one a character; usually one of the main
characters that are displayed. Violence is usually collaborated with
darkness in action scenes and helps display the misenscence. This also
adds to the characters vulnerability and shows that they are trapped and
there is no way out.

6. Typical Plot in a teen Horror
Most teen Horror plots have some kind of scenario that involves all the
teenagers in someone way or another. The characters themselves are
almost always in jeopardy because they did something stupid,
irresponsible or wrong (broke curfew, drugs, used their parents' car
without permission, explored the old mine shaft with warning signs
posted ect.) Normally they end up dying one after another and there is
always one sole survivor. Most of the teen deaths are unique and show
some blood but don't drown the viewer in it as it could possibly change
the genre and not meet the target audience of teenagers.

7. Characters in teen horrors
In all/ majority of teen horrors the characters are mainly teenagers. There
is normally a female involved as they are tend to be seen as vulnerable
and easy targets compared to men an example of this would be final
destination 5. A screen grab is shown below of teenager being the first to
being danger this demonstrates the vulnerability portray in teen horrors
in women.

8. Characters in a Teen Horror
continued
Characters in a teen horror are always likable and can connect with the
audience. If the audience doesn't have nice characters with personalities
to root for then they will root for the villain the exact opposite of what a
horror film is about. In addition to this if the audience can relate to the
characters as they are similar to them they will become emotionally
invested in them.
However the characters do not have to be consistent or complex, teen
movies are about action and thrills. Typical characters include the misfit,
the jock and his girl, the science nerd, the party animals and the drug
taker.

9. Location/Setting of a Teen horror
In Teen Horrors locations can differ. Teen horror movies tend to focus on
the everyday places teens hang out and relish turning safe havens into
places of danger examples of this include the high school locker room, the
corner shop, prom night, camp, lover's lane and the so called “party of the
year”.