The document outlines conventions of the horror genre including settings that isolate characters, technical techniques like camera angles and lighting to build tension, common iconography like dark colors and masks, narrative structures featuring a protagonist battling an antagonist, character types such as heroes and villains, and themes of good vs. evil, the supernatural, and insanity.

1. CONVENTIONS OF GENRE
Horror
SAM HATCHER 13G

2. WHEN MAKING A GENRE PIECE: D.I.S.T.I.N.C.T
• D ont
• I gnore
• S etting
• T echnical Code
• I conography
• N arrative
• C haracterisation/Character
• T hemes

3. SETTINGS / LANDSCAPES
 Isolated/Abandoned Areas such as Haunted Houses, Cabins etc.
 Woodland/Forest Areas
 Dark Streets/Alleyways
 Ghost Towns / Derelict Cities
 Countryside Areas – in very few cases
 Lakes
 Asylums/Hospitals
 Empty Roads

4. SETTING IMAGES

5. TECHNICAL CODE
 High and Low Angle shots in sequence to display the shift in power between the
antagonists and their victims.
 Point of View (P.O.V) shots used to give the audience a view from either the Antagonist,
Protagonist or other characters in order to show the true extent of the terror being
displayed on the screen.
 Handheld Camera Shots to give the ‘shake’ effect to portray the fear of the characters
within the scene and also to increase the tempo/speed of the scene.
 Sound Effects used to emphasise the fear and panic within the scene, most commonly
Diegetic Sound such as Screams and Heartbeats.
 Editing Techniques used to increase/decrease the speed of scenes to build tension, such
as Quick Cuts to create a sense of panic, or colour edits to give a ghostly effect.

6. TECHNICAL CODE IMAGES

7. ICONOGRAPHY
 Visual Style – often dark colours such as Blacks/Blues and shades of red are used to connote
Evil, Death and Fear.
 Lighting is usually un-naturalistic and is used to create effect such as shadows within the scene
or strange shapes in the background. Dark Lighting is synonymous with the Horror genre. In
some films, lighting is motivated through the use of fire (in the form of Bonfires, Torches etc.)
 Props are a key part of the iconography for a horror film as they often come in the from of
weapons or devices used by the main villain/antagonist or other key characters throughout the
piece. In some cases, the iconography leads to the direct relation of the prop to a specific
character (for example – Leatherface, from Texas Chainsaw Massacre is commonly identified
through his use of a chainsaw within the film.)
 Costume is also used to clearly identify horror films, as the costumes usually relate to death or
darkness, and in many cases are used to hide the identity of the killer. In some cases, costume
is used to identify characters through the use of masks. (for example : Scream Mask (Scream
Saga), Jason’s Hockey Mask (Friday the 13th), Michael Myers Mask (Halloween).

8. ICONOGRAPHY IMAGES

9. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
 The structure of Horror Films classically begins with a small introduction to the protagonist,
antagonist and other characters that are generally victims to the events of the film. Commonly,
the antagonist will kill off/ scare away the other characters leaving the protagonist(s) alone for a
battle with the antagonist. The battle is usually a climatic scene which ultimately ends with the
death or capture of the antagonist and the protagonists attempt to get back into normal life.
However in many horror films, the film has a twist at the end which leads to the resurrection or
freedom of the antagonist, leaving the ability for sequels/prequels.
 In very few cases does the film end with complete negativity and no goodness overcoming the
evil.
 In most horror films, there is a ‘Damsel in Distress’ character portrayed by a female, which
ultimately leads to a rescue by the male lead.
 In sub-genres such as ‘slasher’ films, there is a generic formula that is followed by the
directors/producers. For example in the ‘Scream’ film saga, every killer is different, however all
of them have a vendetta against the protagonist ‘Sidney Prescott’ which keeps the saga and
killer mystery alive.

10. CHARACTER TYPES
• The Main Protagonist – ultimately either the ‘Hero’ or the ‘final victim’ within the film, is the
focus of the narrative.
• The Main Antagonist – the ‘killer’ or ‘villain’ within the narrative, usually mentally or
physically unstable or supernatural
• Immoral Teens – young characters who are killed off to boost the importance of the
narrative and the two main roles
• Children – Used to create an innocent contrast to the narrative, or to make it more intense
through the use of eerie effects and demonic characteristics.
• Other Monsters

11. CHARACTER IMAGES

12. THEMES
 Good vs Evil
 Depression
 Religion
 Childhood
 Revenge
 Supernatural
 Beyond the grave
 Zombie Apocalypse
 Evil Science
 Nightmares
 Insanity
 Envy
 Murder
 Suicide
 Self Consciousness

13. THEME IMAGES