This document discusses common characteristics and conventions of horror movie genres. It outlines that horror films aim to elicit emotions of fright and terror through unsettling themes involving threats like serial killers. Key characteristics include establishing an eerie atmosphere with dark scenes and strange props, incorporating startling sound effects and musical scores, including graphic violent or gory scenes, and featuring supernatural or evil antagonists that victims must overcome. Common expectations are violence, dark imagery, mysteries, cliffhangers, and a climactic ending, along with stereotypical character archetypes.

1. BY STEPHANIE WILLMOTT
Year 12 Media Studies
Horror Movie CharacteristicsHorror Movie Characteristics

2. Typical Horror ConventionsTypical Horror Conventions
• The horror movie genre has the aim to touch
audience emotions such as fright, terror, or
disgust. Horror films commonly have an
unsettling theme, such as a serial killer on
the loose, and "shocking" scenes designed
to startle viewers. Most films include certain
characteristics that help them achieve their
"dark" objectives.

3. • Atmosphere
• Dark bleak scenes filled with disturbing shadows
and strange props are usually seen in horror
movies. These scenes reflect the eerie
atmosphere; establishing a frightening mood. A
characteristic foreboding shot is a tight shot of
footsteps coming closer to the main character,
who is trying to hide from this threat, with the
purpose to give the audience the creeps.
HORROR ATMOSPHEREHORROR ATMOSPHERE

4. • Sound
• Horror films typically feature "creepy" sound elements
e.g. a sudden loud bang or a falling object crashing to
the floor will deliver a shock factor. Alternatively a
jittery scene set in dead silence could be used by the
director, which makes the anticipation of what
comes next more hair-raising. Sound effects often
reflect the presence of otherworldly supernatural
beings which is a popular technique of the fright-film
trade. The beat, pacing and instruments used in a
musical score help establish tension in horror
movies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HV1RVK4j6c
HORROR SOUNDSHORROR SOUNDS

5. • Graphic Scenes
• Most horror films include graphic scenes of
intense gore. These elements typically
feature violence caused by humans,
monsters or supernatural beings. Horror
movies typically feature a torture, murder
or revenge theme that concludes in visually
"horrific" scenes.
HORROR GRAPHIC SCENESHORROR GRAPHIC SCENES

6. • Evil Forces
• A horror movie antagonist can be a person,
animal or creature that represents some kind
of evil force. Some common evil elements are
ghosts, werewolves, vampires, demons, vicious
animals, cannibals, zombies, and masked
killers. Victims of evil forces are usually
characters that have vulnerable weaknesses .
They are inferior to the evil forces or gather
the courage to defeat them.
HORROR EVILHORROR EVIL
FORCESFORCES

7. Expectations of a horror film:
• Violence
• Dark Imagery
• Enigma codes
• Cliff-hangers
• Climax
Conventional Characters:
. Hero protagonist
. Villain antagonist
. Victim
. Non believer
. The helper
. The false hero
Horror StereotypesHorror Stereotypes