This document defines the genre of horror and provides examples of key components and conventions in horror films. It discusses how horror aims to elicit intense fear in audiences by preying on primal fears. Successful horror films typically feature a demon/monster and create fear through dark and isolated settings, suspenseful music, and twists that leave audiences feeling unsettled. Common stereotypes include female victims, heroic characters trying to save others, protagonists who are often the smartest and survive, and antagonists who are the source of evil. To be successful, a horror film opening should include stereotypical characters and identify the genre through its use of sound, lighting, setting and a negative atmosphere that conveys danger.

1. GENRE RESEARCH

2. HORROR
What is the definition of horror?
In films horror is to make the audience feel intense fear or shock. It seeks to create a
negative emotional reaction from its audience by playing on the audience's primal
fears. A horror film should leave its audience in fear and heart pounding throughout
the running period.

3. EXAMPLES OF HORROR FILMS

4. KEY COMPONENTS
Most horror films are a like in the fact they created fear using some sort of
demon/monster or source of evil. Films like insidious. The whole film is based
around a young child who is alone in an attic, falls over and during his sleep
he unexplainably falls into a deep coma, to find he has been possessed by a
devil. His dad finds a way to save him which soon leaves him being
possessed after saving his son.
All of the stereotypes in horror are presented in this movie. The attic is a
typical place with little light and only one exit giving the impression that
something will happen and being almost isolated from the rest of the house it
means no one will hear or know about what is happening. In addition to this,
a devil is always presented in a horror as it plays with the audience minds
due to devils being inhumane and disorientated. Furthermore, there is a twist
at the end as when the child is saved it gives the impression that everyone is
safe and back to normal, however, the audience is left in suspense again
after the dad turns into the devil.

5. CONVENTIONS AND
EXPECTATIONS
Conventions in films are supposed to display a meaning. This can be done through codes being
either technical (editing, sound and camera angles etc.), written (headings, captions and speech
etc.) or symbolic (the way the character looks/behaves – mise-en-scene)
In horrors there are many things audiences will be expecting, such as music with deep notes
creating suspense and tension allowing the audience to know that something bad is going to
happen or helping add fear to a scene. Some horrors will use children’s nursey rhymes and songs
such as twinkle twinkle little star to give the same effect.
As the audience you would usually expect there to be very little light, so most of the scenes are
based around the dark as plays on the audience minds thinking something is going to happen but
they don’t know when, this could be an opportunity to make the viewers jump, which again will add
to fear. In addition to this, the weather used can add to create meanings. If it is a dark night and
raining you would automatically assume that the move is a horror and it is leading towards a certain
event.

6. STEREOTYPES IN HORROR
• Location – woods, ghost town, abandoned areas i.e. amusement park, barns/farms, lakes,
dark alleys and grave yards
• Music with deep notes for example jaws soundtrack
• Dark areas
• Bad weather – Rain, thunderstorms,
• Usually female victim – more vulnerable
• Someone usually dies within the first few scenes
• Heroic character – tries to save everyone
• Protagonist – often played by a female – smartest of the group and often survives
• Antagonist – character who is the source of evil/bad guy
• Someone who is always only interested I their own well being but usually killed before the
end

7. WHAT WILL YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE IN
YOUR PRODUCTION TO BE
SUCCESSFUL?
From this research I am able to see what the key aspects are within my chosen genre
(horror). In order to create a successful opening I will need to make sure that the
characters I include will meet or give the impression of the stereotypical characters.
Furthermore, I will also have to make sure that I present at a minimum a bad/evil guy
who will be the antagonist and someone who will be the smartest and survive till the
end being the protagonist. In addition to this, I will also have to make sure that I
identify the genre of horror through sound, lighting and setting whether they are
stereotypical or not. The film opening should not be creating a happy atmosphere and
be negative and dark to give this impression of a thrill or danger awaiting.