Horror films use certain themes, props, settings, and character archetypes to invoke fear and thrill audiences. Common themes include hauntings, religion, good vs. evil, and monsters. Props like knives and masks are often used to denote the genre. Settings tend to be graveyards, abandoned buildings, cabins, and haunted houses at night to create tension. Character archetypes include the final girl protagonist, the unlikely hero, the antagonist villain, and the sex appeal character who is often the first to die.

1. Genre Research
Horror

2. Horror
Horror is a genre that is designed to invoke negative
emotions from the target audience, to thrill or scare
them. Many films use similar forms and conventions to
create an atmosphere. Most films use certain types of
character, props or themes to define itself as a horror
movie. These things are used by the director to be the
most likely way to get a reaction he wants

3. Themes
Horror Films scare and thrill audiences across the globe. They generally combine
real life and fictional stories. Creating terrifying themes.
Horror themes include
Hauntings
Religion
Good
Evil
A monstrous other
Horror films follow todarovs theory of story telling beginning with an
equilibrium then a state of disequilibrium ending with either equilibrium
being restored or not.

4. Props/Colour
To create the desired effect on the
audiences most horror films use similar
colors/props to represent the genre.
Examples of props associated with horror
narratives are weapons such as knifes, axes
ect… Horror movies also use items of
clothing to denote their genre such as
masks.
An example of this is Scre4m featuring
dark colours such as black and grey. The
colour red is also used a lot as it connotes
blood.

5. Settings
Graveyards
Abandoned/Old houses or buildings
Cabins in the country
Haunted Houses
Basements
Most horror films have the same type of settings for example. Such as…
Most horror films are set in the night when its dark and characters are vulnerable .
Creating tension and suspense because its clear they will run into danger.

6. Characters
The protagonist: This character tends to be female who
comes face to face with her fear. She tends to be the
smartest one out of the group resulting in being the
final lone survivor in the film.
The Unlikely Hero: This is the character who will
shock the audience due to a change in behavior or will
end up saving the day. The character is usually a quiet
boy or someone a bit geeky.

7. Characters
The Antagonist: This character is one both the
audiences and fictional characters are fearful of. This
Character tends to be a villain or a killer or in some
cases not human at all.
The Sex Appeal: This character tends to be female
again and is commonly first to die due to her lack of
intelligence and promiscuity.