Horror films use certain cinematic techniques and conventions to create suspense and fear in the audience. These include high and low camera angles to portray vulnerability or power, extreme close-ups to build tension, and isolated or deserted settings. Common horror film themes involve death, characters unable to escape threats, and icons representing the villain's methods. The characters typically include protagonists, psychopaths, curious teenagers, victims (with at least one survivor), ghosts seeking revenge, demons, and serial killers with signature killing styles.

1. CODES AND CONVENTION OF A HORROR FILM

2.  Horror films are used to play on the vulnerability of
the audience. It’s a genre that captivates the audience
by drawing on their fears as well as creating suspense
through its mysterious elements.

3.  Certain elements of Horror films are styled and designed in
order to set the mood and atmosphere of the production.
These can be present not just in the film itself but how it is
presented through the following:

4.  High angles often used to portray vulnerability and most often are used
on the victims to demonstrate their inferior state in comparison to the
villain. They are the villains prey.
 Low angles are often used to portray dominance and power which is
mostly used for the villain as it shows their strength within the film and
the audience understand that they are the predator.
 For example, in the movie JU-ON (The Grudge) usually displays the
ghost glaring at her victims before she executes them. By using a low
angle, her stare becomes more intimidating and asserts her authority
over the victims.

5.  Extreme close ups are used to highlight certain aspects of the film
which may build tension and mystery as the audience aren’t seeing the
full picture. It also invades their personal space as the close up forces
them to take note of every gruesome detail.
 The screenshot below, taken from the movie has used an extreme close
up on fingertips and razor blade. The shot displays the blade being
used to roughly scrape at the skin. This causes fear and tension as the
audience are concerned about the person cutting themselves.

7.  A common trend in horror movies is that they all explore the theme of
death.
 Whether the lead character dies or not, they are usually alive to witness
at least one person’s death as a way of anticipating what could be their
fate if the villain is not defeated before then. This is a way of creating
tension as the audience fear for whether the villain will survive the
horror or not.
 The Plot involves death of some kind.
 Another common trend within horror movies and their plots is that the
characters always get into a predicament that prevents them from
escaping the enemy.

8.  A signature feature of horror films is the iconography that represents
the themes of the movie and the killer’s chosen execution style.
 In terms of representing themes, a gore horror would be justified
through the use of a prop or gadget the villain may use.
 Examples would be Texas chainsaw where the villain uses a chainsaw
and Saw which is well known for its torturous chambers that Jigsaw
uses to torment and punish his victims.

9.  Deserted location – hospital, graveyard, church, basements, attics,
lifts, house
 Isolated communities

10.  Horror movies tend to play on the idea of binary opposites: Good vs
Bad, God vs Satan, Predator vs Pray.
 Devil and The Lord of Salem are clear examples of binary opposition in
terms of God vs Satan which is demonstrated through their imagery.

11.  The characters involved in a horror story usually consist of
the following:
 Protagonist – Story follows either the victim or villain.
 Psychopath
 Teenagers – usually in a group, curious and go out to
explore places that are haunted.
 Victims – there is usually at least one survivor.
 Ghosts – Usually restless and seeking revenge.
 Demons -
 Serial Killers. – Tend to have a trademark style of killing.
E.g weapons used, type of victim.