Indya Clayton analyzes elements commonly used in supernatural horror films to create tension and establish genre. Key conventions identified include protagonists threatened by supernatural antagonists, stock characters who help or are also threatened, effective use of sound design and score to set mood, iconic visuals like blood and ghosts, narratives of threatened protagonists, and titles/credits that contribute to an ominous atmosphere. Clayton concludes they will apply these conventions, especially distinguishing protagonists from antagonists through mise-en-scene, to effectively signal the supernatural horror genre to audiences.

1. Conclusion of
Supernatural Horrors
By Indya Clayton

2. Conventions
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From analysing clips from supernatural horror
films, I have been able to identify different
elements used in order to create the genre.
These include:
Key Characters (protagonist and antagonist
Stock Characters
Sound
Iconographies
Key Narrative
Typography

3. Key Characters
 The key characters in supernatural horrors
are the protagonist and the antagonist.
 The protagonist usually being the
character who is threatened by the
antagonist, a supernatural being.

4. Stock Characters
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The stock characters in this genre of film are the
characters who are either trying to help the protagonist
escape from the antagonist
Or the characters that are with the protagonist that are
also being harassed by the supernatural being
The protagonist is established to the audience by the use
of mise en scene of costume and make up presenting
them as normal ordinary people
The antagonist on the other hand has been established
by the use of mise en scene of costume of make up
presenting them as an unnatural, inhuman being.

5. Sound
 Sound, specifically a score and incidental
music plays a vital role in making a
supernatural horror thrilling.
 Sound creates mood and this genre of film
needs to have a mood/atmosphere of
suspense and tension in order for the
narrative to be more convincing to the
audience

6. Iconographies
 Supernatural horrors use certain icons in
order to immediately establish to the
audience the genre of film.
 Most common horrors use knives, blood,
guns and supernatural beings.
 Also, supernatural horrors establish a
reading by the use of vast locations as
well as low key lighting.

7. Key Narrative
 The narrative of a supernatural horror is
typically a supernatural being (antagonist)
threatening a key character (protagonist).
 The protagonist often finds help and the
supernatural being vanishes or the
protagonist dies.
 The key narrative of a supernatural film is
established by the key characters used.

8. Typography
 Supernatural horrors use titles and credits
that contribute to creating an ominous
mood.
 Text is usually accompanied by sound
effects as well as animation like fade in
and fade out to emphasise the ghostly
genre.

9. What Next?
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I have learnt that I will need to include these
codes and conventions of supernatural horrors
in order to make my film opening convincing and
effective in grabbing the audience’s attention.
To me a vital code that I will need to use to
establish the genre of my film is: key characters
and the importance of mise en scene to
establish which character is which - protagonist
or antagonist.

10. What Next?


I have learnt that I will need to include these
codes and conventions of supernatural horrors
in order to make my film opening convincing and
effective in grabbing the audience’s attention.
To me a vital code that I will need to use to
establish the genre of my film is: key characters
and the importance of mise en scene to
establish which character is which - protagonist
or antagonist.