2. Iconography
• Blood
• Knifes, axes, chainsaws
• Supernatural – ghosts
• Symbols associated with death
• Solitude
3. Settings
• Remote forest
• Old house (domestic horror)
• Sinister Castle
• Countryside
• Lonely Villages
• Graveyards
4. Character Types and Setting
• Protagonist – Has to Vanquish the antagonist alone
• Antagonist - Supernatural
• African American – This character’s role is often to
intensify the fear the antagonist provokes, usually by
being exposed to the wrath of the villain. This
character nearly always ends up dying.
• ‘Bimbo’ – Ignorant teen, is usually sceptical, and
ends up being killed by the villain.
• Expert – Aids the hero, but does not face the villain.
5. Narrative
• The narrative will revolve a protagonist discovering
the antagonist, and then having to vanquish the
antagonist (usually alone). The help of an expert is
also a conventional part of the narrative, however
they can usually only provide facts, and cannot face
the antagonist, this has to be done alone.
• A conventional horror narrative will follow
Todorov’s theory of equilibrium, however the new-
equilibrium isn’t a regular feature in the narrative,
as the plot will usually stay open in order to create a
sequel.
