The document discusses common conventions of horror films, including isolated settings like forests and underground tunnels. It notes that colors like red and black are often used to convey fear and danger, as are props like masks and weapons. Finally, it lists common horror themes such as good vs evil, revenge, and the supernatural, and provides example trailers illustrating each convention and theme.

1. CONVENTIONS OF HORROR

2. SETTINGS
The following links show examples of each setting within film trailers:
• Isolated places – (As Above so Below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq358xHbzN4&safe=active
• Dark streets – (Smiley) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11yBPx-ymZA
• Narrow alleyways – (Hell Raiser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAx34IZ8bTk
• Often revolve around buildings that have a dark history (insane asylums,
hotels, abandoned houses) – (Saw 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nac1avJp3UE&safe=active
• Dark woods/forests – (Cabin in the Woods)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsIilFNNmkY&safe=active
• Under ground tunnels/dungeons – (As Above so Below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq358xHbzN4&safe=active

3. EXAMPLE IMAGES

4. PROPS AND CONNOTATIONS
• Colours such as red and black are often used due to their effective
connotation of fear, blood, death, violence, danger and evil.
• These connotations are further emphasised by the common use of dark
lighting.
• Props such as weapons are often used to identify the killer/villain (knives,
chainsaw, machetes and torture devices in some cases).
• Costumes such as masks are often used to conceal the identity of the killer
or to effectively make use of the ‘Uncanny Valley’.

6. THEMES
The following links show examples of each theme within film trailers:
• Good vs Evil – (The Exorcist)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iS59iV2Ffs
• Revenge – (I Spit on Your Grave)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt7lWlpTuUM
• Supernatural – (The Woman in Black)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lReemWmO5o
• Torture –(Saw 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nac1avJp3UE
• Suicide – (The Woman in Black)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lReemWmO5o
• Lust – (The Human Centipede 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpcCJ8ozirU

7. EXAMPLE CLIPS
Hell Raiser
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAx34IZ8bTk
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKqFfkassgo
Smiley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11yBPx-ymZA
I Spit on Your Grave (2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt7lWlpTuUM