This document discusses genre conventions in films. It focuses specifically on conventions of murder mystery films. Some key conventions discussed include a detective protagonist who works to solve a mystery, an antagonist who commits the crime, a victim of the crime, clues for the audience to try and solve the mystery, and plot twists. Murder is also a central convention that drives the plot, along with violence, concealment of identity by the murderer, and red herrings to mislead the audience.

1. Genre Conventions
Research
By: Cadi Ghandour

2. WhatAreFilm
Genre
Conventions?
 Genre Conventions of films are the codes and
conventions that films under the same genre share.
 These can be things like repeated plots or common
reoccurring themes, for example, horror films all share
the theme of the action taking place in the dark,
therefore the dark is associated with fear.
 In addition to this, character similarities are also film
genre conventions.
 These film genre conventions allow us to distinguish
between genres.
 Most films have genre conventions that the audience
anticipate as they’re commonly seen in other films of
the same genre or sub-genre.

3. WhatIsMurder
Mystery?
Murder mystery films are movies that put elements
and conventions from both the mystery genre and
the murder genre together to create a cohesive
murder-mystery film. They usually incorporate the
murder element from murder films, and have a
detective character (usually the protagonist) to
solve it.

4. Murder
MysteryGenre
Conventions
 Usually mystery films will feature the detective as the protagonist
or the character who’s overall objective is to solve the mystery.
 This character is not necessarily solving it because he/she is a
detective, it could be because someone they love has been hurt or is
threatened. Or for one of their own personal objectives.
 Mystery films almost always feature evil characters (the
antagonist) who are behind the mystery.
 They usually always feature a ‘victim’. This is the character who is
either kidnapped or murdered.
 The victim can be a family member or close friend or colleague who
has something of importance to the main character, this is done to
add tension to the film.
 As well as, the protagonist usually has a side-kick or
friends/someone who they depend on to help them solve the
mystery.
 The twist is a major turning point in the film where there is an
unexpected turn of events which catches the audience by surprise.

5. MoreMurder
MysteryGenre
Conventions
 Murder is a convention that usually stimulates the film’s
plot into action as it usually sets the protagonist on their
way of solving who committed it.
 There is always a murderer who kills the victim.
 The murderer is either on the run of creating more chaos.
The murderer is almost always conceals their identity
and never usually converses openly with the detective.
 Violence is a prevalent them of murder-mystery films and
this is due to the fact that the whole plot is created
because of an act of violence (murder).
 Clues are present to help the detective solve the crime,
the audience are more engaged when clues are present as
they require the audience to think how the clue fits into
the murder mystery, therefore they feel as though they’re
solving the mystery themselves.
 Red herrings, are false clues that lead the audience to
believe the case is solved, however only at the end it’s
revealed that it was in fact false.