Horror films aim to elicit emotions of fear, horror and terror in viewers through plots involving death, the supernatural, or mental illness. They often feature a central villain and take place in isolated settings like haunted houses or the woods. Visual styles in horror movies commonly include shadows, low key lighting, and point-of-view shots. Iconography in horror frequently depicts symbols of death, disfigured faces, screaming victims, and weapons like knives. Narrative devices generally include a hero, villain, victim, and helper as the hero tries to save the day from the antagonist.

1. Conventions of HorrorHorror films are movies that strive to elicit the emotions of fear, horror and terror from viewers. Their plots frequently involve themes of death, the supernatural or mental illness. Many horror movies also include a central villain.Key ConventionsBlood, Death, Killing, Villain & Victims, Haunted houses, Isolated settings, Monsters and Evil

2. CharactersThe main character is innocent and virginal, also smart and attractive. The evil character is Seville repressed and certainly not innocent. This creates binary opposition between the heroine and the monster. The viewer is addressed as if they are familiar with the horror structure. Certainly in Scream even if the viewer was not familiar with the structure, the character constantly tells the audience of what happens in a usual horror film. Scream is mainly focused on the individual Vs monster, as the heroin is continually hunted. Nightmare on Elm Street begins as community Vs monster but still focuses on the heroine.

3. Visual StyleVisual styles within horror are often kept the same through out the different sub genres. Things such as shadows, low key lighting, canted angles and POV are things which can be seen in many modern day and olden horror movies.

4. IconographyIconography of the Horror Film are symbolic images which recur throughout the history of the horror films which include: The haunted house (forbidden chamber) Symbols of death The disfigured face or mask The screaming victim (in modern horror the ‘final girl’) The phallic murder weapon: knife, stake, chainsaw. Binary oppositions of good and evil e.g. Dracula/Van Helsing. Darkened places where the ‘monster’ lurks: woods, cellars. Blood and body parts (body horror)

5. ThemesAim to unsettle and invoke our worst fears and secrets whilst captivating and entertaining us.Concentrate on the dark, forbidden side of lifeHorror deals with primal nature, nightmares, vulnerability, terror of the unknown, loss of identity and fear of sexuality.Opens us to the ‘other' world without being in danger ourselves.The irrational has to be defeated in order to return to normalcy. Focuses on fluctuating boundaries of taboo.

6. SettingsGenerally it is everyday settings which are used within horror movies within usually everyday places. This gives the effect that it could happen to the viewer adding to the fear promoted by the movie.

7. Narrative DevicesGenerally Horror movies follow these specific narrative devices:The Hero – The one on the quest and the one who will eventually saves the dayThe Villain – The antagonist of the movie who causes the disequilibriumThe Helper – A person who helps the hero on their quest e.g. David Arquette, Scream (Wes Craven, 1996)The Victim – At the mercy of the villainThe Donor – Someone who has something special which will help the heroThese devices are often seen in all horror movies.