Horror Conventions

Horror Films

Usually set in a isolated place as to cause a sense of being alone with no hope of being saved. Like the setting of The Uninvited. It also allows murders or terrible happenings to happen without interference of the police or someone else. The fact that are so alone leaves the audience thinking that something will happen as it is a common fear of people in general that something bad will happen to them while they are in the home alone. Also because it is so isolated the audience begins to why. There must be something wrong with the house for it to be so far aaway from civlization. Generally the house are covered by greenery which make it look as if it is being hidden emphasisnt that something bad has or will happen in the house. The architecture itself makes the house looks sinister as if it is a scary face. This aids the feeling of unease the audience already has about the house.

 

 

Dark, dim lighting cause a sense of mystery as everything is hidden in darknessand therefore a fear of the unknown. The use of profile ligting also implies that something is being hidden but usually within a character making the audience suspicious of that particular character. However it can be used to show a victim is consumed by darkness leaving the audience in suspense as they wait for something to spring out from the dark. Throughout The House AT The End Of The Street there is very dim greyish lighting signalling that something is wrong or being hidden.

 

Eerie music and loud sounds signalling danger especially if they are used after an eerie silence as they are not expected and the audience has been lulled into a sense of secruity. The sound then shocks them even more as it is a complete contrast to the quiet. The stabs of sound are usually followed by something bad happening which is a very strong convention that the audience will probably know meaning they are now expecting something to happen. However some stabs of sounds did not follow with a negative event leaving the audience kicking themselves for getting scared lulling them back into a false sense of secruity. Just like in the Trailer for Silent Hill where the woman knocks into a bucket which creates a loud noise that makes the audience jump.

A final girl that the audience roots for to overcome the protagonist. The protagonist is usual a female because it is more acceptable to see a woman acting friegtened ; screaming and crying, etc. It also means any one can relate to her less powerful state because even a male would not be able to pyshically overcome the antagonist as they wouldn't know how to while a female is automatically seen as pyshically weaker.

A protagonist that creates terror to disrupt the equilibrium, usually early on in the narrative. The protagonist is usually male in order to show a contrast in pyshically power making it seem like the female antagonist has no hope of overcoming him. however in supernaturual horrors the antagonist is usually a possed child which leaves the audience feeling uneasy as the protagonist will probaly not want to fight agaisnt an child who seems innocent, again leaving little hope of the antoganist surviving.

Usually a trauma behind the protagonist's desire to create havoc which may be explained by some sort of mediator in the film. Revenge, etc.

Death is a prominent threat throughout the movie ad is hinted during the begginning and throughout through editing, sounds and lighting along with the actual events happening on screen.

Use unknown actors/actresses to make narrative more believable so that the audience will not have an image of how they should be have or have images of them acting in another role like a romance which would make the realism of the movie decrease rapidly.

Trailers

Start with equilibrium to create a sense of security.

Stings to create fear and tag lines usually at the end so that it is the last thing the audience remembers.

A summary of the narrative without giving away to much in order to create interest and curiosity.

Loud bursts of sound which play on a human beings natural fear of loud noises.

Eerie music to create suspense- and a general feeling of something being abnormal.

Fast editing - fast montages so that the audience is left not knowing what is going on therefore creating fear.

Distorted editing - eg. green-ish hue.

Low, dim, dark lighting so it looks as if something isn't right because things are hidden in the dark and shadows, also gives connotations of evil.

Close up shots to concentrate on expressions of fear to create sympathy in the audience making them feel more involved.

All of this is presented in the trailer of Sinister.

Posters

Usually involve black, red and white in the colour scheme and all colours indicate danger or fear.

One large main image usually of the victim or the protagonist to draw the audiences attention. Also allows the narrative to be hinted at before the title is seen by the audience as this will bve the first thing their eye is drawn to.

Title of the film is usually at the bottom of the poster along with credits which are usually small to make them less of a focus in order to maintain realism within the narrative.

A strap line to stick in the mind of the audience usually at the top of the poster.

A great example is the Friday 13th poster which uses all of these conventions.

Film Magazine Front Covers

Image is usually of main character and normally would be a close up/medium shot this is to show off the actor as this is a highly attractive advertyising feature and will draw in many readers.

Sell lines usually to the left where the eye is drawn first so that the audience will know what the magazine is supplying and will make an informed decision on whether to buy it or not.

Masthead is usually in bold font and very big to show  the stautus of the magazine. Big masthead attracts audience's as they will think the magazine is succesful and therefore will satify their needs.

Very masculine colour scheme, fonts, images, etc.

A very popular film magazine called Empire always in cooperates these conventions into its front cover maybe being the reason why it is so successful.