The document outlines common conventions in horror movies. It discusses how settings are often isolated with dark atmospheres to build tension. Technical elements like camera work and sound are used to create fear through techniques like POV shots and diegetic noises. Iconography employs dark colors and lighting alongside props and masks that represent the genre. Narratives usually involve stalkers, mysteries or haunted houses. Characters typically fit stereotypes while villains are monsters or unknown killers. Overarching themes explore concepts like good vs. evil, madness, and the supernatural.

1. Horror Movie Conventions
Sam Tomlinson

2. D.I.S.T.I.N.C.T
DON’T
IGNORE
SETTING
TECHNICAL
ICONOGRAPHY
NARRATIVE
CHARACTERISATION
THEMES

3. Setting
A Good setting for a horror movie film is one that creates a
dark atmosphere throughout the movie, a setting does not only
help plot the narrative but helps build tension and atmosphere.
A good setting should always connotate isolation.
A setting with a dark background is also helpful to build
narrative and intrigues the audience to watch.
A good setting for any horror movie would be, a abandoned
house, a asylum, dark woods, a graveyard, a spaceship (For
Sci-Fi Horrors), a alien planet, a Laboratory (Resident Evil), a
cabin (Cabin in the Woods), a basement, a attic, a tube station
ETC.

5. Technical Codes
 Camera work is very expressive, High and Low angles can make tense
footage that creates fear for the audience.
 POV shots are good when it comes from the point of view of the monster
of the villain, as it creates Enigma around the POV you are seeing from.
 Hand held shots are typically found in the ‘Found Footage’ based movies
which create a sense of realism with the Hand held effect to create terror
for the audience.
 Sometimes Depth of field is adjusted to create an out of focus
background that finds it. hard for the audience to see what is lurking
behind the protagonist
 Diegetic and Non Diegetic sounds are used to create a ambient
uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience such as footsteps or trees
blowing etc.
 ECU’s are used to create a extreme sense of terror as the we can not
identify who the character is or what intentions there are. It creates fear
within the audience.
 Editing is used to create tension as the editing will be specifically done to
create a tense uncomfortable build up which is likely to create a fear and
tension for the audience.

6. A ECU Which Creates
Tension for The Audience
Tension is created if
something we to come
up behind the character.
Her eyes show fear
therefore terror is created
as the audience can not
look elsewhere

7. Iconography
 Often dark colours are used within the film to connate
darkness, blood etc.
 Lighting is often used at a low key stage to create a dark
atmosphere that helps create tension. It is also mostly on
stage or on set lighting such as bonfires, fire places. This
type of lighting can make dark shadows or unfamiliar shapes.
 Props can further represent the genre such as characters
fitting into certain props such as a chainsaw and gothic
crosses can help identify the character and further deepen
the characters motives and intentions.
 Masks and weapons can also help create character and build
enigma around the villains within the film and their intentions.
 Iconography can also present monsters in the way they bring
about disgust, fear, and terror; vampires, zombies all suggest
this.

9. Narrative
 A typical narrative for a horror movie is something along the
lines of a crazy stalker, a murder mystery, a family living in a
haunted house, a possessed girl/object, holiday goes wrong.
 Modern Horrors usually goes deeper into a sub genre when
the main characters delve into the past of the crazy villain,
ghost etc.
 Horror movie villains usually are similar to either a monster or
a unknown character; zombies, ghost, murderer (Serial
Usually), stalker.

11. Characterisation
 The main characters are usually following the certain
stereotype;
 Loser girl
 Cheerleader
 Mother
 Etc.
 Police officers are usually seen as good or bad.
 The bad character usually has a dark background or a secret
that nobody can not such as his a werewolf

13. Themes
 Dark Vs. Good
 Depression
 Religion
 Childhood Issues
 Revenge
 Supernatural
 Science Gone Bad
 Madness
 Nightmares
 Envy
 Suicide