The document outlines several common conventions in horror films, including isolated or domestic settings at night with dark atmospheres, expressionistic lighting, and iconic props like blood, gore, and religious symbols. Character archetypes include hedonistic teenagers, innocent victims, monsters, and psychologically damaged adults. Horror films also commonly use suspenseful music, screams, and diegetic/non-diegetic sounds. Camera techniques like point-of-view shots, fast cutting during violence, and basic shots create tension. Narrative structures follow groups entering threatening settings, revelations creating unease, and climactic showdowns between heroes and monsters that sometimes hint at returns. Themes often involve good versus evil, the paranormal, possession,

1. EXPLORING HORROR CONVENTIONS

2. MISE-EN-SCENE
• Isolated settings e.g. house,
mansion, forest, church
• Domestic settings
• Set at night time
• Dark atmosphere
• Shadowy lighting
• Expressionistic lighting
Location Props/icons
• Blood
• Gore
• Ghosts
• Masks
• Crucifix
• Bible
• Death
• Shadows
• Guns
• Darkness
• deformities

3. CHARACTERS
Hedonistic teenagers Innocent girls Victims become heroes
Monsters Final girl Psychologically damaged adults

4. MUSIC & SOUND
Heartbeats
Atmospheric suspense music
Psycho strings
Loud bangs and
crashes
ScreamsCreaks or
doors/floorboards
Diegetic vs Non-
Diegetic

5. CAMERAWORK AND EDITING
Crosscutting for suspense sequences
Faster cutting for violent action
Point of view shots
Handheld shots for chase scenes
Basic camerawork:
• Mid shot
• Closeup
• Long shot
• High angle
• Low angle
• Pan (left to right)
• Birds eye view
• Worms eye view
• Tracking shot
Tilted angle

6. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
• Group of people venture into a strange and ultimately threatening setting
• Background information is shared with the audience
• Binary oppositions: between good and evil, life and death, supernatural and natural
• There's often a twist at the end of the film that suggests the all is not well which leaves
an effect of uneasiness to the viewer
• Todorov’s equilibrium (physical balance), then leads to disruption, restoration to the
equilibrium
• The movie begins to climax when it starts to become dramatic
• There's always a showdown between the main character/s and the monster
• At the end of the film there's always a resolution of the plot but then there's a hint that a
possibility of the monster returning
• Editing enhances confusion and disorientation
• Victims use their skills to solve the crime

7. NARRATIVES BASED ON ISSUES/THEMES
• Good triumphing over evil
• Confusion with identity
• Paranormal Activity
• Possession/demonic creature
• Exorcism
• Conflict played out as a battle between good and evil
• Unexplained events
• Unsolved murder
• Unfinished business with a villain coming back for revenge