4. The first victim is usually the bimbo,
blonde, weak female who’s death sets
the style for the rest of the movie
The last survivor is female, and is
strong willed and intelligent, respectful
of the rules and usually a virgin
5. The deaths are gore filled, using close
range weapons and bloody effects to
accentuate the tension
Victims are mostly teenagers, who
rebel from the norm (typical sex,
drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll style rebellion)
7. The antagonist has a twisted a
psychotic mind, but physically looks
and acts normal
The antagonist’s mind is the main
threat in the film
8. Deaths are usually not very gruesome, and happen more
frequently as the main character loses mental control
Flashbacks are
common, as the
pro/antagonists
mental state and
history of mind is the
driving force for the
narrative
10. Narrative is driven by the presence of a usually evil spirit or
poltergeist who is uncontrollable
Other narrative pushing events will
occur, such as a curse
11. Psychics and mediums are often called in to help
with the problem, but is most likely unsuccessful
Jumpscares are common, with mirrors, shadows and
anticlimaxes building the tension until the snap
12. Creaks and slamming doors create tense diegetic, whilst
contrapuntal is commonly used as non-diegetic sound
The location is often a family home similar to
the one an average member of the target
audience would inhabit
14. The main driving force on the narrative is the presence of a spirit
or demon that has taken over the body of a host
The main character who serves as the unwilling host is often a
female, and is either very young and innocent or older and
normal (ie they fit within the bounds of normality, with nothing
really special about them)
15. The evil spirit is contained in something simple and household
such as a book or a cuddly toy
The victim’s physical appearance changes from the innocent normal look we see
before the possession, to the pale, peeling skin, dark haired, endless eyed costume
16. The host body will start speaking in ancient languages
such as Hebrew, Latin of Incan/Mayan.
NOTE: The host body here in Insidious is a
young male, rather than the conventional
young female
Levitation and contortion are two conventional visual climaxes
that both climax the tension and further push the narrative
18. The protagonist that captures or slays the beast is usually a
strong, archetype male; one who overpowers the
antagonist creature rather than outsmarting it
The damsel in distress character will play that role exactly, and provide a means
for the male protagonist to enter the narrative
19. Gothic horrors are often set in the past, on a large estate or a
Victorian manor or mansion
Mythical creatures or beings could occur, such as Dracula,
Frankenstein’s monster, Werewolves, or Ancient Spirits
