Sub-Genre

I have chosen the sub-genre Supernatural horror as it is a personal preference. I like the element of the unknown that these films supply as even in this day an age we do not know a lot about supernatural presences. The fact that little is known about supernaturual forces and how they gain access to out lives makes it easier for me to create a narrative as I can leave room for the imagination to run wild. Creating a effect that appeals to a target audience that enjoys horror will also be relatively easier as supernatural horrors tend not to focus so much on gory, gruesome scenes which I may be unable to recreate myself due to lack of resources and skill in make up, etc. A supernatural horror will allow me to create a antagonist that the other characters will fear due to their lack of knowledge about what is going on. Playing on the fear of the unknown which is what the audience will find most enetertaining.

Codes & Conventions

Setting

Usually set in an isolated area where there is little communication to the outside world meaning there is little hope for survival for the victim creating a heightened sense of danger. Main locations could be dark unused woods, the protagonists home or previous home or somewhere that has been cursed by previous beings or forces. They are usually ordinary places but have a eerie feel tainting the audiences perception of what is normal. Also if a house is being used they are usually very big with confusing floor plans in order for the characters to get lost, they will also either have a basement or an attic which already have the stereotype of being scary or dangerous. They will also look very sinister from the outside with the archteechture creating an image of a scary looking face. There would most usually be trees hiding it away from the rest of the world emphasing the fact that there is something bad going on in it and that it will hard for the characters to escape. This can be seen in 'The Amityville Horror' where the house is covered by bare, ill looking trees while the front of the house looks like an un iviting face.

In general the film will start off with a family moving into this house meaning they are unaware of what could be happening in the house or what has happened before hand. If woods are used they will be heavily over grown and very unused. It will be far away from any form of civilisation meaning that the characters will have had to sought out the woods and will have no form of rescue available to them once they fall into danger. With haunted or cursed locations the characters will generally not know about the story behind the location so will fall blindly into a deadly trap.

Narrative

There are two main narrative baselines within this sub-genre; one being the tormenting of a family that has recently moved into a new house that has a terrible story behind it, for example there were previous murders that happened there causing the supernatural presence to be attracted to it, the other being a main character doing, seeing or taking something that causes a spirit, demon or force to place a curse on them or create a fixtation on them either because it used to belong to them or it was used to pass a curse on. Both create the fear of the unknown leaving both the audience and the characters unsure of what is going to happen or how to overcome the protagonist.However there are many other possibilities for exapmple a demon wanting payment in the form of someones soul seen within the narrative of 'Paranormal Activity'

Characters

Normally they will be a family with a mother and father and young children. The mother and father start of getting along fine but as super natural forces are hinted at they begin to grow apart or start arguing creating even more negative energy around the narrative. The young children usually end up being the vessels for the supernatural forces to gain physical access to the family. The use of young children is also very unsettling as the are perceived as innocent and pure so to see them being tainted in this way leaves the audience fearful of who is safe and who isn't as not even the innocent are safe. 

Another main character that is used is the final girl this is because audiences can accept a female responding to the situation in the only possible way, with abject fear, but not a male. She will either be single or in a relationship however if she is in a relationship she will try and console in her other half but he will brush her off only making her dismissal of what is actually happen stronger potentially causing her death or suffering. She will usually be in dependant and have a good job not unlike in the plot 'Drag Me To Hell'.

Other characters that tend to be used will be priests or some sort of mediator that will offer help and guidance in the removal of the supernatural presence. Using these characters also helps reveal the the narrative to the audience properly so they can understand what the antagonist actually wants and it will always be unreasonable leaving the audience shocked and in a sense of hopelessness.

Costumes

Characters costumes will always be simple as to not to distract the audiences attention away from the story line and suspense scenes. Hair and make up will also be very simple as seen on the main female character in The Ring.

Characters will be plain and ordinary. If it is a final girl she will always look very sophisticated and won't wear anything provocative or revealing. However as the super natural forces become more prominent and the main character(s) are put through certain ordeals their attire will start to look tired and dirty will hair and make up looks unkempt.

Event/Occurrences

Usually indications that something has invaded the character's life are small minor details such as a door creaking or a curtain blowing inexplicably. Objects will either go missing or have been moved without the owner knowing it. The characters may also see or hear things that are not physically there, for example seeing someone else's reflection in a mirror, which will cause them to doubt themselves or have the people around them doubt them. Basically things will happen without a reasonable explanation to them.

We will usually see the character seeking out the ghost/spirit/demon which will ultimately anger it and cause even more negative events to occur. This could also lead from the characters seeking a solution to the super natural problem in the form of a mediator or old books, etc.

Weapons

As this sub genre is usually set within an everyday situation like a house weapons will be everyday household items like candle stick holders, knives or anything sharp and/or heavy.

Sounds

There is usually little background music as to create suspense as it is almost too quiet. If there is music it will be quiet and normally be slow and eerie to connote evil. Loud, short stabs of sound are used a lot in order to make the audience jump, they can be used a lot to create a false start a let the audience lull back into a false sense of security. For example when a scene is very quiet and it seems as if something is about to happen and the character trips over something that creates a loud bang.

Lighting

Profile lighting is used to hint that someone may be possessed as it makes the audience feel that they may not be able to be trusted as the light is not directly uncovering everything meaning that the character is able to hide something. Under lighting is used during scenes of distress like blackouts meaning that the characters resort to torches or candles. This means the only source of light is coming from whatever the character is holding illuminating their expression of fear while leaving everything else in darkness leaving room for the imagination to wander.