The document discusses conventions used in the horror genre through analyzing scenes and characters from the film The Shining directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1980. Some of the key conventions highlighted include the use of long shadows to connote danger, high angles to make characters seem vulnerable, low lighting and chiaroscuro effects to create mystery, exaggerated facial expressions to emphasize threats, isolated or abandoned settings like large homes or mazes to generate fear of the unknown, and stereotypical depictions of weaker female characters compared to threatening male figures. Color, shots, angles, lighting and other cinematography techniques are explored in relation to how they enhance suspense and scare audiences through established genre tropes.

1. The Shining
Directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1980

2. David's Slides

3. Long dark shadow
connotes danger and
vulnerability. Typical
convention of the horror
genre
Knife is a typical
symbol of danger
but it is used here
to symbolise
protection of the
potential victim
Dressing gown
portrays she was in a
casual mood- sudden
threat has left her
vulnerable
High angle shows she
is the weaker
character in the
scene (audience have
high ground).
Chiaroscuro lighting
makes her face
visible but the rest of
the room dark and
mysterious
Picture shows this scene is
at a home. A place
associated with safety and
comfort, which this
subverts (typical horror
convention)

4. Smile is iconic with
JN. The smile is so
friendly that it
becomes a parody
and therefore
‘creepy’. This
psychological
element of horror
was unusual for the
time
Picture once again shows
this scene is at a home. A
place associated with
safety and comfort, which
this subverts (typical horror
convention)
Casual clothing shows that he was not
prepared to do this. Shows he is a
father figure, makes this change in
character more frightening
Side angle medium
shot. This will make
the audience feel like
they are with him
(the killer) and
therefore he could
harm them
Low level lighting to
make him less well
known, which in turn
makes him more
threatening

5. Overly exaggerated
mouth and eyes- in
horror. This is a
typical convention of
the genre and has to
emphasise to the
audience in the few
seconds that they
will see this clip, that
he is in danger
Knitted jumper makes him seem more
innocent and therefore the audience will
become more immersed (and feel more) for
his character
Extreme close up (typical convention of the
genre) allows us to see his reaction to the
killer (Jack Torrance) and he [Jack’s] POV
The background
is black/blurred
out to place
more emphasis
on Danny’s
reaction
Dark colours and low level lighting has been
used to give the scene a more edgy feel
(darker tone). This is often seen in many
subgenres of horror films

6. Katherine's Slides

7. Close up on the
woman. This means
that the audience
can see her facial
expressions easily.
The background is
unclear this may
make the audience
feel nervous as they
are in the unknown.
The angle is a low
angle. This would
typically make the
character look
important and in
charge however her
facial expressions
juxtapose this.
Her make up
looks pale and
her facial
expressions
suggest that she
is nervous and
uncomfy
Her clothing is old fashioned and
this suggest the time period that
it was set in (1980s).

8. The mise-en-scene
shows that the location
is in a large, old
fashioned (possibly
gothic) manor. A setting
of a large, old home is a
typical convention of
the horror genre
because people may
find them creepy and
they may often be
haunted or bad things
may have happened in
the past at the house.
The female looks stereotypically useless, this is a convention of the
horror genre because often the female just screams or runs away. Also
the prop that she has (a baseball bat) looks like it won’t be any help as
she is not holding it in the right way and her body language is not
confident. Because of the way she looks the audience can tell that the
person she’s looking at (the shadow) is dangerous and the antagonist.
The long shot means
that the audience can
see the whole of the
scene and see that the
female has no escape
routes. The long shot
also makes the female
look small which may
make the audience feel
scared for her.
The over the shoulder shot shows the view that
the villain can see and this may make the
audience feel like they are actually there at the
scene. This may make the experience more
scary for them.
The straight shot shows
the scene clearly.
The shadow adds a
sense of foreboding as
the audience can’t
actually see the
antagonist and this may
make them on edge.
They don’t know what
he may be doing as they
can’t read tis facial
expression or his body
language.

9. The location is in a
maze which
creates a sense of
foreboding
because the
audience and the
characters don’t
know what is
around the
corner. A maze is
a typical
convention of
horror theme
parks as
throughout the
people feel on
edge.
The woman is wearing a red coat and the boy is
wearing red gloves. The colour red is a typical
convention of a horror movie as the red connotes
danger and blood.
The long shot makes the
characters look very small and
defenceless. This may make an
audience worried.
The daylight
subverts the
horror genre as
the daylight
makes the scene
seem safer as
the light means
that we can see
everything in
the picture and
there is less of a
sense of
foreboding.
There is a straight shot
which means that the shot
seems natural for the
audience.
The maze also feels
claustrophobic which
reflects feelings of
isolation (typical
psychological horror
convention)

10. Alec's Slides