The document summarizes common elements found in horror films, including characters, iconography, themes, settings, and narrative devices. It describes the main character, supporting characters like "the others" and an intelligent/cynical character. Common icons like masks, blood, knives and guns are mentioned. Themes include paranormal, gore, monsters and murder. Settings often involve forests, oceans, houses and hospitals. Narrative devices include voiceovers, titles and point of view storytelling.

1. Horror ConventionsCharacters

2. Iconography

3. Themes

4. Settings

5. Narrative DevicesThere is always the main character who all of the film centres around. This character is usually kept alive until the very end or perhaps through the whole movie. He/She is usually the instigator who says what the other characters should do.The most important character in a horror film is the character which instigates the horror. The murderer/monster/ghost or some sort of frightening character carries the main crux to the whole of the film. This character produces the fear aspect of the whole film and is the character responsible for the film being a horror.In horror movies you tend to see the very clever character who, throughout the whole film, tries to figure out the situation and usually has the best ideas of how to put an end to the horror. However, in some films this character is killed off early so that the other characters still have to suffer the horror.The ‘Others’ also make up the film. The ‘Others’ is usually made up of the non distinguishable characters but who add to the horror by allowing there to be more killings/frightening situations. In horrors there is usually a group of people which are effected by the horror and ‘The Others’ make up this group.CharactersAswell as an intelligent character, there is usually a not so clever character included in horrors aswell. This character usually provides the entertainment value and helps to lighten the horror at certain intervals. Usually in a horror movie, there is the cynical who doesn’t believe in any of the weird happenings or the horror that is present. This character is usually killed off early because of his disbelief in the horror of the film. This can act as a message to the rest of the characters from the killer/ghost/creature.In the majority of horror movies, there is usually a couple who are torn apart by the killer/ horror. These characters usually hold the emotional part of the horror.

6. Gun – A gun is usually used in more of an action horror. The gun represents the violent side to horror and used more in modern films. Mirror- Mirrors are usually used in horror films in a two shot, with the victim in clear focus at the front and the killer/ghost in shallow focus behind. This acts as a way of making the audience jump and to show eye contact between the killer and victim to establish the connection between them both.Knife – A knife is usually used in order to create a more gory killing and is used in films for a more slower death. This allows for a more violent kill and can act as a message to the rest of the characters as to how violent the killer is.IconographyMasks – Masks are sometimes used in horror films in order to create fear of the unknown. If the killer is hidden with a more scary mask, the fear that they create is intensified. This also proves a more difficult problem for the other characters as it is harder for them to trace down who the killer is and to stop the horror that its creating. Jason uses a mask in Freddy VS Jason to disguise his identity and to make himself appear more fearful.Blood – The iconography of blood is a key image to horror films. Blood is almost a symbol of death in most horror films and acts as the main objective for the killer to achieve.