This document lists common horror movie tropes and elements including: supernatural creatures, ominous music, confusing mazelike settings, knives, possessed or evil characters like vampires and zombies, themes of torture and gore, visual styles like low lighting and misty environments, and isolated settings like graveyards, large empty houses, and forests. It touches on common character archetypes, editing techniques, and forms of graphic violence viewers have come to expect from the genre.

1. Horror

2. IconographyIronic DeathsHigh pitched Orchestral musicShadowsNightmares building on fearSupernatural CreaturesLow-key lightingSmoke/Mist/FogBloodThe door no one should go through but someone always does...Confusing set design, maze like layoutKnives

3. Some strange man who tells the story of what's going to get themMonster fighting on side of goodStereotypical ditsy girly girlCharactersVampires, werewolves, zombies, etc.Possessed peopleThe StalkerCrazy PriestEvil childrenStrong silent typeThe bullying Jock.Demons

4. DementiaDemolition of InnocenceTortureThemesMassacreNightmarishDemonicHauntingGorePossessionDarker side of humanityVengeance

5. DismembermentDeformityTorn flesh showingSupernatural Creatures via Editing or costumeVisual StylesHidden in shadowsMisty Environments usually in graveyardsLow-key lightingBloody environmentsEditing of eyes to show evil (Turning them black)Figures in mirrorsPanning of an area and whip pan back where a figure was

6. Night timeGraveyardLabyrinthLarge derelict housesSettingHellish EnvironmentPrisonShower scenes (Psycho, Halloween, etc.)Forest/JungleMiddle of nowhere so no one can helpMental AsylumWasteland