This document outlines common conventions in horror movies, including settings in isolated or abandoned places with dark histories, the use of point-of-view shots and handheld camerawork, ambient and diegetic sounds, ominous music cues, dark colors and low lighting, threatening props, a protagonist hero battling a villainous serial killer or supernatural creature as good versus evil, and typically taking place at night or during rain. Common tropes also include the early death of a blonde character.