Conventions of Horror

2. There is a very
dark atmosphere
.The single
window is the
thing that is
giving the room
some light .
This is common in
horror movies as the
darkness of the room
creates fear and
suspense as the
audience cannot see
anything in the room
,anything can happen
.

3. The use of a
bathroom builds up
tension as a
bathroom is usually
a place that is used
for privacy .
There is a
Smokey
blurred effect
so the man
reflected in
the mirror
cannot be
seen clearly
.This also
suggests
other before
that may be
in the
bathroom will
not be able to
see clearly .
A “psycho”
is usually
used in this
type of
scene.a
man is
generally
used as
women are
seen to be
the ones
taken
advantage
of
Mirror suggests
it’s a bathroom

4. A woman is
commonly used in
horror movies as they
are seen as the more
vulnerable sex .
Shower scenes are
very common as
this is a time where
women are seen as
vulnerable and
where they can be
taken advantage of
.
As she is taking a
shower, the water
is blocking out
other noises in the
bathroom
therefore she is
unable to hear the
killer walk into the
bathroom .
The scream is
exaggerated as this is
what frightens the
audience and leaves
them in shock .

5. This is a common
scene used in
horror movies .
A long path
leading through a
forest in the dark
,it is harder to see
what is out there
.These scenes
create fear as you
are unable to see
what is lurking
through the
forest anything
can jump out at y
out at you .
The darkness is
taken
advantage of as
many people
are afraid of
the dark as
they are unable
to see there
surroundings .
From a young age ,
people develop the fear
of the dark as there are
myths of monsters
,ghosts and horrible
figures out there .This
follows into adulthood ,
therefore filmmakers
take advantage of this
fear to create this
natural tension and fear
before anything has

6. There is the use of fog
used again .This is a
common thing used in
horror movies as you
cannot see what is
surrounding you , this
creates suspense and
surprises the audience
as something or
someone enters the
scene.

7. A small child is
commonly used in
modern horror
stories .This is
because in the
same way women
are seen as being
innocent and
vulnerable kids are
to.
As we develop fears from a very
young age ,the use of a kid can
exaggerate the fear even more to
make it more believable as adults
may flashback to their childhoods
reminiscing their fears .
The audience would
also feel more
sympathetic for a child
than they would an
older person which
would make the film
itself more frightening
and intense to see
these terrifying things
happening to an
innocent child.
The child is alone and
abandoned and there is only
a little bit of light shining
through. These become
“spirits”.

8. Characters are made to look
really unusual and “ghostly”
Makeup plays an important role as the scary figure has
to be made to look its part , even if its an human being
,they have to be made to look slightly unusual to hint
to the audience there is something unusual about the
character , and that the opposing character may be in
danger .

9. The use of red is learnt to
signify danger .Therefore
the use of the person
wearing the red hoody
immediately suggests
there is something wrong
and that that person is
“dangerous”.
The way this figure has
turned into blood is a clever
way to emphasise danger as
having a fear of blood is
also a very common fear.

10. Once again a red coat has been
used in this movie which
immediately suggests danger.
There is also a young girl used .
The girl is shown to be drowning .This is
another fear many of us have. This is a
common scene used in horror as people are
afraid of drowning therefore it can be their
worst “nightmare”.

11. In nearly all
horror movies
there is a sight of
blood .This adds a
gruesome effect
to the movie .
As many people are scared of
blood ,the sight of blood is
exaggerated and made bright
red to really emphasise the
colour .Generally the clothing
or atmosphere has not very
much colour therefore the
blood is then made extremely
red as it would stand out from
the background.
Blood isn't the only
thing people are
scared of but they also
have a fear of needles.
Therefore detailed
close-ups are used to
really exaggerate the
pain making the
audience feel the pain
to.

12. Old settings and props are
commonly used as horror
films develop as people
learn to believe things left
over from many years ago
are cursed .
Old photographs are put up in many peoples houses and they ar
looked at on a day to day basis .Filmmakers putting this in a
horror movie and putting a twist to the story that the woman in
the photograph looks exactly like a woman in the present times
creates a fact that the woman has come back alive ,may be a
ghost .This creates a strong hook line as the audience are left
thinking however are left scared .People may also be left to
believe these things really happen which would leave a life long
effect on their mental well being.

13. Another fear that is very common in the
modern period is the fear of air travel.
“you have no control of your
body until you get of the plane”
Between your flight and your
arrive , you are not in control
and whatever happens
happens, there is nothing you
can do ..