sub-genres of horror

1. The Conventions

2.  Slasher has many clear conventions that feature constantly throughout
films in the Slasher genre
 In Slasher films, the antagonist is a masked killer who is usually
psychotic
 For example, in the Scream franchise, Ghost Face is the masked killer
who rings and torments his victims before he kills them. In the first
Scream film Ghost face is Billy and Stu, two psychotic teenagers who
decide to murder a number of their friends because “it was fun.”
 Another convention of Slasher films is that a final female survives till
the end despite being pursued by the killer. She is brave, intelligent,
resourceful and a virgin
 For example, Laurie is the final girl in Halloween. She manages to out
smart Michael Myers on a number of occasions, using a hanger to injure
him and escape. Unlike her promiscuous and reckless friends, she is
bright, responsible and shies away from drink and casual relationships.

3.  Another convention of Slasher is lots of gruesome gore filled
deaths occur throughout the film. This is usually caused by
another convention of the killer using a weapon such as a knife
or a chainsaw, rather than a gun which wouldn’t cause much
gore or blood or prolonged suffering.
 For example, in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Leather face
brutally kills his victims using a chainsaw which leads to slow and
painful deaths for his victims.
 Another convention of Slasher is that the victims are always
teenagers who drink, take drugs and have casual sex. This is a
convention evident in both Scream and Texas Chainsaw
Massacre. This creates an idea that the characters are being
punished for their behaviour and perhaps due to the fact that
they have reduced awareness and are less able to protect
themselves

5.  A Convention that features heavily in Psychological horror films is that the antagonist seems normal. They
look completely normal, but it becomes evident throughout the film that they have a twisted mind.
 For example, in Misery the antagonist is Annie Wilkes who seems kind and maternal at first. Physically-speaking
she looks harmless and completely normal. She offers to nurse Paul to health when he is in a car
accident. However, her twisted and psychotic mind is revealed throughout the film, creating a chilling fear
for the audience..
 Another convention of Psychological is that the audience may be fooled into thinking that the antagonist is
innocent and harmless. Often the narrative will feature ‘Red Herrings’ that lead the audience in the wrong
direction, making them think that the cause of the trouble is someone else of even something
supernatural.
 For example, the antagonist in the film Orphan is Esther, a ‘little girl’ who looks completely normal and
innocent. The fact that she appears to be a child emphasises the audience’s and the characters reluctance
to think that she is dangerous. However throughout the film her twisted mind is revealed. In Gothika,
meanwhile, the audience is lead to think that a supernatural force has something to do with the death of
Miranda’s husband.
 Psychological films nearly always feature a twist. It is a shocking twist that will surprise and scare the
audience and is usually used to explain the psychotic behaviour of the antagonist. It is also common for the
twist to be that the innocent character is, in fact, the antagonist. For example, Esther is revealed in Orphan
to be a 30 year old woman rather than the child she claims to be.

6.  Another convention of Psychological films is that the twisted nature of the antagonist’s mind will
scare the audience. This serves as the main source of horror in psychological. It is also a more
sophisticated style of horror and offers intellectual stimulation which is a regular convention.
 Deaths will occur in Psychological films but will not be as regularly as in Slasher films. For example, in
Orphan, Esther kills her adopted father and Sister Abigail. Whereas in Slasher films such as
Halloween, the number of deaths is usually about 5 or 6. In Psychological horrors, the deaths often
happen in the latter part of the narrative when the true monstrous nature of the antagonist is
revealed. In Slashers, they take place all the way through the film.
 Another convention is the use of Flashbacks. Flashbacks are common in Psychological films and are
used to explain the antagonists past to the audience. They are used to help the audience
understand the antagonists actions and help them to understand the film. They can also be
instrumental in allowing the audience to see the true nature of the antagonist. For example, in Hide
and Seek, Flashbacks reveal how David killed his wife rather than her death being the result of a
suicide.
 For example, in Gothika and number of flashbacks are used to explain Miranda’s past and the events
that the audience didn‘t see.

7.  A convention of supernatural films is that the narrative focuses on the presence of an evil spirit that
cannot be controlled or defeated easily.
 For example, in The Conjuring, the narrative focuses on an evil spirit of a witch that cursed the house
and torments anyone who lives there. By the end of the narrative, it becomes it very clear that the
spirit cannot be done away with.
 Another convention of supernatural is that characters try to make contact with the spirit through
Ouija boards and séances. The characters may also call upon Psychics and mediums to help get rid of
the spirit. Both of these conventions always seem to make the situation worse
 For example, in the Paranormal Activity franchise, the characters always use Ouija boards to try and
contact the spirit. In each film this repeatedly angers the spirit even more, making life even worse
for the family.
 Another convention of supernatural films is to use contrapuntal sounds such as nursery rhymes. The
use of contrapuntal sound increases the scare factor of supernatural films as it uses things that the
audience would see as innocent, creating an effect that is very unnatural and, therefore, very
terrifying.

8.  The use of a suburban family home is another convention of Supernatural. In
almost all supernatural films, the action takes place in a family suburban home
that seems perfect. It is common for the family to move in at the start of the
film into this perfect house that is at a reduced price. Despite this, the family
remain unaware of what the house contains and the terrors to come.
 For example, in Amityville horror, George and Cathy Lutz move their family into
a large suburban house that is very isolated. The Amityville house is at a very low
price for its size and appears to be the perfect place for the family at first.
 Another convention is that mirrors, windows and baths are commonly used
within jump-scares. This is a common convention as they are household things
that the audience are bound to use, while it is also common for supernatural
horrors to transform innocent, everyday objects into something sinister and
dangerous. This creates the fear that this could happen to them and draws the
audience in more.
 For example, in Grave Encounters, one of the characters is suddenly pulled into
a bath by a supernatural presence before disappearing into thin air.

10.  Possession horror has very similar conventions to that of supernatural horror. However it as
a few distinct conventions that distinguish it as a possession film more specifically
 A key convention of possession films is that, like supernatural films, a normal suburban
family are targetted by a supernatural force. However, specifically in possession films, the
force takes over the body of one of the characters. It is common for a child to be the one
who becomes possessed as they are naive and innocent. This makes them an easy target
 For example, in Insidious, the character who becomes possessed by the demon is a young
boy called Dalton. The film consists of his father trying to find ways of saving Dalton from
the demon who possessed him.
 Another convention of possession films specifically is the that religious objects and symbols
feature strongly. This convention is used to create the contrast between good and evil. It
also helps portray the idea that the spirit is the devil. Religious experts such as a priest or a
rabbi are usually drafted in to help. Their attempt is usually unsuccessful.
 For example, in The Possession, Emily’s father requests the help of a Rabbi once he
discovers the box containing the spirit has Hebrew carvings on the side.

11.  Another clear convention of Possession horror is exorcisms. They are
performed as efforts to get rid of the evil spirit. However, they are
generally unsuccessful. In the cases where the exorcism is successful,
the film often shows the spirit moving on to another victim.
 For example, in The Possession, and exorcism is performed on Em to rid
her of the demon. However, something goes wrong and the demon
moves into her father instead.
 Another common convention is the use of contortion of the body and
levitation. This is useful iconography in showing the control the demon
has over the victim

12.  A convention of the Gothic sub-genre is that the film is often set in a far and mystical
land.
 For example, Dracula is set in Transylvania. This is a far-away fictional land that
would frighten the audience. This is because the a number of gothic horror films
were made in the 1930s when people never really travelled so the idea of other
countries frightened them. Transylvania also featured in the horror literature that
was popular in the early days of horror and so would have been associated with
terrible events and monsters.
 Another convention is that the settings are largely uninhabited and the mise-en-scene
used is usually very dark and gloomy. Fog and mist also pervade the air adding
to the overwhelming sense of foreboding. This is common in gothic horror to give
the film are dark and gothic feel.
 The setting of gothic films usually feature Castles, mansions, Graveyards and
forests.
 For example, in The Woman in Black, the village it is set in is very dark and gloomy
with dark, old buildings. The weather is constantly grey and foggy creating a feel of
inevitable doom. The action takes place in a mansion where the Woman in Black
torments anyone there.

13.  Another convention of gothic horror is that mythical monsters usually
feature as the antagonist. Unlike in other sub-genres, the monster in
gothic horror can usually be defeated.
 For example, in Sleepy Hollow the antagonist is a headless horsemen
who continuously murders and torments villagers. Also, their has been
antagonists such as Vampires in Dracula, Werewolves in the Wolf Man
and Frankenstein.
 Gothic films are usually set in the past. They feature a protagonist who
‘saves the day’ and is generally male. Females play the role of the
damsel in distress. This may be due to the difference in the roles of men
and women in the time period gothic films are set in.