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.

1. Conventions
of a horror
• small communities or
isolated places.
Abandoned placed,
dark streets.
• A place with a
dark history e.g.
asylum
• High low/ angels
• POV shots
• Handheld shots
• Sounds ambient
diegetic sounds e.g.
footsteps
• Loud creepy music at
the beigging/ when
something bad will
happen
• Colours used in horror
movies are often black or
red to connote danger
• Low key lighting
• Props e.g. knives and
chainsaws
• There’s always a
protagonist or ‘’’hero’’
who is good.
• The villain is either a
serial killer or a
supernatural creature.
• There is always a fight
between good vs evil
• It’s always dark
or raining
outside.
• There’s always a
blonde character
who dies first