The document summarizes conventions of the horror genre related to characters, location, and sound. For characters, it describes how protagonists are typically portrayed as normal families and includes archetypes like the non-believer. Locations are usually the family home or an isolated setting. Sound conventions include using non-diegetic music to manipulate tension and silence, as well as diegetic sounds like screaming or banging.

1. The Conventions of the
Horror Genre
- A brief breakdown of what is
expected in a Supernatural
Ashlee-Rose Brisley

2. Characters
The characters within the horror genre are conventionally
natural, grown women who have a bare and fresh faced look to
present the ‘beautiful female form’, wearing simple clothing that
doesn’t project them as sexualised. The smart and well groomed
look gives them a doting mother role which will be challenged
when an ‘irremovable force’ enters the family home. From this
point on the casual costume choice will become dirty and look
messy as the narrative continues.. Pastel or neutral (soft
blues, pinks, white, cream etc.) coloured tops with jeans will be
grubby and look unkempt.
The first impression of the paranormal spirit is negative and confusing
as to why it’s tormenting a ‘normal’ family, yet later on it will be
discovered to have a purpose that the protagonists help to uncover
what it’s mysterious purpose is, guiding the narrative so the
audience understand the clues it’s giving and can reveal the secret
behind it’s ways of revenge. The presence will not be accepted like
a human character, it is deemed an outsider who is detached from
the modern world and can be depicted as old fashioned. Because of
it’s strong and sometimes traditional beliefs it cannot be fought or

3. Characters (Continued)
Another character ‘type’ within the genre would be the
‘non-believer’ who think the woman is making it up or ill
because they can’t justify why something is happening
that they can’t see. They can be presented as either
arrogant or naive.
A classic ending for the characters is to result in death. The
characters dying is usually because of the spirit that has
possessed the house and trapped them from leaving. It is
what an audience expect, Paranormal Activity sticks to
this recurring expectation where the main characters end
up killed or possessed.
The unknown world of supernatural activity is
controversial as to whether ghosts, spirits and curses
exist, so to have such a strong character that may not
even be seen in the film can fascinate an audience. To
other it’s just a story and not real life but it can never
be known as untrue from a scientific outlook. To make
the idea or notion seem as real as possible the use of
characters in their own home relates them to the
audience watching, this common ground adds realism to
make the characters seem like them.

4. Location
The protagonists family home is a suspected choice for a supernatural
film, the ability to use floorboards and doors to project ‘strange
happenings’ in the building is an easy tension builder or tool to make
the audience jump. It makes the film seem more realistic, especially if
it’s based on true events because the audience will them be scared and
have nightmares of it happening in their own home. Having it set in what
is meant to be a ‘safe’ environment will automatically place the
audience of the side of the protagonist because we relate to how we
would feel if our own homes were being destroyed. This makes us
defensive and angry at the spirit for ruining what is usually a new
house after the father has been given a new job with better hours to
spend with his wife and children and more money so they can afford
this big (empty) home. - we feel empathy for them.
With such an expected location naturally comes classic iconography that
the audience will instantly pick up the genre from. This holds symbols
for what may happen in the narrative and what props will be used
from how the location is shot. In the Woman in Black the way the
camera moves around the house can create the ‘element of surprise’ in
shot reverse shots and pans. The darkness and how the location is lit
foreshadows that something bad is going to occur. The location may
vary from a house depending on the storyline, however the place will
be significant to the characters, it might be a ‘romantic’ hotel or
weekend away, somewhere they are working in or a relatives;
however the environment will always be isolated from the rest of
‘civilisation’ as shown in Woman in Black where the house is set as if on
a separate island, you need to time the sea to be able to get there. This

5. Location (Continued)
.If the protagonist does need help they often leave the house and head
for their car which either won’t start or will still be possessed by
the spirit. If the house is at all nearby a suburban or other isolated
building, shop or home the one the protagonist will be in will have a
deserted, run down or haunted style so that it sets up the story of
them being alone and no one would want to go there and help them.
It can make the family seem strange or naive for wanting to live
there, as no one else would dare reside in the decaying building.
There also may have originally been a town of people but they will
have left from worry of rumours and stories or been forced out
themselves from what is about to ruin the lives of the current
family we are following. Having a house setting promotes the
underlying worry we all have of something unwanted not leaving
and the unfriendly force taking over your personal space.
Other locations that are famously used are the likes of The Blair Witch
Project which uses a forest/woodland. This may lead to cabins or
houses in forest areas to present the idea of nature turning against
them, which is scarier than a machine because nature we can’t
control, it’s supposed to be on our side.

6. Sound
Non-diegetic soundtracks are the key way in which horrors create the
feeling of tension or suspense. It guides and manipulates the
audience to feel nervous and cautious of what is going to
happen, this can be contrasted with the use of silence to build the
atmosphere. This will link to how the editing is used with the
cinematography to make the audience guess what’s going to happen
or where the spirit might be hiding. The genre will use classical
instruments in an orchestral piece of music to relay the genre. This
is because orchestral music makes a large impact on audience’s
emotions and pop music won’t scare the audience. A really old
‘classical’ song from a record may be played, however the sound
will be warped and distorted to make it sound sadistic, sinister
and creepy. The way the rhythm and pace of the music is carried out
can create fear, panic and reflect the mood of the characters. It
can be chaotic with added contrapuntal sound to juxtapose the
image, this could be a sickly sweet and innocent laugh of
vulnerable child, this naturally endearing sound in the context of
rushing for survival can sound like crazy laughter. It can tell us
that something bad is about to happen to the character if other
uses of sound like faint whispers in song or rhyme, old witch like

7. Sound (Continued)
The conventions of Diegetic are:
• Screaming to present raw fear and the sense of real scared
reaction/
• Rapid breather and calming whispers from the protagonist
• Banging or clunking sounds to show force when opening and closing
things such as doors or lifting and moving props/furniture setting
• Dialogue that has a broken and ‘wobbly’ effect as if they’ve been
crying or had a panic attack/shock
The conventions of Non-Diegetic are:
• Fast heartbeats to represent the quick pace
• A voiceover in the trailer of key dialogue from the film to get a
sense of narrative plot
• Musical scores to link the music specifically to important scenes
from that particular film, this can help quicken the speed of the
scene
• Sounds that bridge two scenes together, this appears diegetic but in
the current scene we don’t yet know the relevance (e.g.. – The sound
of a note being scribbled on paper or a telephone operator, a