The document provides a detailed analysis of conventions used in horror genre films. It discusses common settings, technical codes, iconography, narrative structures, character types, and themes. Key elements analyzed include the use of lighting, camerawork, sound, editing, and mise-en-scene to build tension, fear, and suspense. An example trailer is then deconstructed to show how it employs many horror genre conventions to effectively promote the film.

1. Detailed Analysis
By Jacob Brown

2. The Quiet Ones
Dark, eerie grey scenes
Single Tone music note by note
Screams
Sudden loud changes in music
Low key lighting
Fear in characters

3. Conventions of Genre & Form
Don’t
Ignore
Settings
Technical
Codes
Iconography
Narrative structure
Character Types
Themes

4. Settings
Graveyard
Churches
Hospital
Isolated Places
Basements
Hotels
Mainly dark places or places with bad
history behind them

5. Technical Codes
High and low angle to reflect fear and
nightmares.
Handheld shots cause difficulty in seeing
full action which could generate fear
amongst the audience, eg- Cloverfield
Ambient and diegetic sounds can build
tension within the scene, such as loud
heart beat
Editing can cause suspense within a scene
which can help to build the audiences fear

6. Iconography
Low key lighting is used to hide certain objects or
people and build tension within a scene, also high key
lighting is used to give a bold indication of shadows of
people, weapons or location.
Red and black are two colours mainly associated with
horror as red is stereotypical colour for blood and
violence. Black is stereotypical colour for darkness,
secrecy and the unknown.
The use of weapons can signify violence and fear
amongst the audience. Some convention weapons
and props are; Masks, Knifes, chainsaws and guns
Also in some films the use of religious themes and
symbols are used to promote a darker side to the
horror

7. Narrative Structure
Conventionally in horrors there is always a
single or number of protagonist and
antagonists.
Usually either the protagonist or antagonist is
causing fear or death on the other
In horror films we regularly see a set
beginning, middle and end. This is used to
build suspense to a significant point and then
finish the film on either a ‘cliff-hanger’ or
satisfying ending.

8. Character Types
Protagonist- Hero/Victim
Antagonist- Villain/Murder/Killer
Children
Zombies, Ghosts, Monsters, Psychopaths

9. Themes
Good against Evil
Death
Suicide
Revenge
Depression
Nightmares
Insanity
Religious
Hate
Self Conscious/Unknown
Envy

10. Textual Trailer Analysis
In the textual analysis I will watch a
trailer from ……. and then I will analyse
areas such as;
Camerawork
Editing
Sound
Mise-en-scene
Conventions of Genre
Conventions of Form.

11. Camerawork
During the trailer there is a range of camerawork to build
tension and fear. There is an eye-line close up of the father,
this shows the characters facial expressions and emotions as
well as giving the affect that he is looking straight at you. It is
also very affective as it opposes stereotypes that
stereotypically males are supposed to be strong and
protective but here he is clearly vulnerable and distressed. A
close up is used of the distressed couple and then changes to
an over-the-shoulder long shot of the child in the hospital bed.
A hospital has connotations of death, pain and illness which is
strong in reflecting the message of anguish within the
parents. There are a number of extreme close ups during the
trailer to show the characters horrific facial expressions. It
also shows the costumes and make up of the demons but the
extreme close up as a very fast cut only leaves the viewer
with a quick mental image of the demon, this gives more
mystery and fear to the film.

12. Sound
There is many diegetic sounds throughout
the trailer such as loud collisions, screaming,
slamming of doors. Also at the start there is
a metronome, the sound made the object
builds up tension amongst the audience and
character. It also gets louder and louder as
the tension builds, it almost is used as a
similarity to a heart beat. The use of different
dialogue shows the emotions portrayed by all
the characters. This means the audience can
connect more to the plot and story.

13. Editing
The cuts at the start of the trailer are rapid showing many
things such as locations, costumes, characters expressions,
make-up of demons etc. In the first 31 seconds of the
trailer there is 18 cuts, showing many important scenes of
the film such as the location, the characters, the demons
etc. The words "Insidious is" fades and changes place for
example, "Insidious is...Is Insidious". This technique is
powerful as not only is the film title ambiguous, they have
adapted the definition of Insidious to link to the definition
of the film, creating a stronger message to the audience.
Film trailers consist of many, rapid cuts from scene to
scene showing the mise-en-scene of this film to reflect a
greater emphasis on the audience.

14. Mise-en-scene
The location is a house set in remote suburb of the US. The house looks
like a middle class family house in a relaxed area. However, in the house
is a ‘demon’ like creature. Also props such as the curtains and windows
have blood stains, extensive rips and tears. The bed is a key prop as this
aids the plot of the film. In order for the demon to get into the human
world, he must pass via the child's body when he is sleeping. This has
many connotations as beds are recognised to be a place of rest, peace,
safety and comfort but in this film it represents the bed as being the
complete opposite. They used hospital equipment to show the pain and
discomfort due to the parents fear of the child’s coma. Other props that
show the representation of childhood are objects such as toys, baby
monitors and rocking horses. These things can be adjusted to the reflect
horror message. Toys and baby monitors can show a spooky presence by
getting them to move or a voice played through the baby monitor. This is
powerful in provoking the audiences emotions. To keep children safe is a
parental instinct, by hearing a supernatural voice coming through the
speakers where the baby should be, can be terrifying. A rocking horse is
used in many films as it is an object that many can relate to in their own
childhood, this is commonly used to show a spooky presence as it rocks
forward and backwards.

15. Genre & Form
This film trailer is fits into a stereotypical horror
film as it has all the typical conventions that the
audience would expect. Horror films can then be
categorised into sub-genres, this film with
demons and a sci-fi parallel universe so it has
many sub genres such as religious due to the
devil/demons but as it has a science fiction input.
Themes used within the film are unknown, self-
conscious, religion and nightmares.