HORROR - Codes & Conventions

Codes and Conventions

-Set in suburbia: There is usually the idea of equilbrium being broken one way or another. When the film is in suburbia, it is likely that there will be a friendly community, where everyone thinks that they know each others business. It will also be a lot quieter area, and may give the impression of isolation and being cut off from the city or sources of help.

-Hero/Villain: There will be a seemingly vulnerable character who will be stalked by a tyrannical character. The basic plot of most horror films follows the villains failing attempts at catching/killing the innocent victim. Majority of the time the victim will prevail as a hero/heroine who overcomes the force of the evil character.

-Female teen victims: In a lot of classic horror films, the victims will be naive, vulnerable teenagers, and most likely female. In some way or another, their innocence is compromised or taken away. However, in more recent horror films, it is beoming increasing popular to have a group of teenagers of both gender put in jeopardy. The typical audience of horror films are teenagers, so the characters situations will feel more realistic to them.

-Characters fate changing: At the start of the film, the victim will seem naive and vulnerable. However, as the story progresses, the character will develop and addapt to the situation. Also, at the start, the character will be with his/her friends and they will be safe, however as they separate from the group, their luck will alter and they will find themselves in danger.

-Weapons: Horrors are less likey to be psychological and more likely to be about a physical confrontatiion between the hero and villain. The most common weapons in horrors are knives and guns, sometimes it will be the hero who kills the villain with their own weapon.

-Blood/Gore: Due to the nature of the weapons involved, there will be inevitable blood and gore in a horror film. The confrontations between the hero and the villain will almost always lead to the death of one of them, or both.

-Music: The music used in horrors adds tension to a scene. It will also be used to shock the audience. It is likely that string instruments will be used to create an atmosphere. Music in thrillers builds up, whereas the music in horrors is more about creating the 'shock' factor.

-Darkness: As with thriller films, darkness is used as a device to create suspicion and tension within the audience. Most of the killings/murders, or action in the film for that matter, will take place at night. It not only darkens the settings, but the tone of the film. It restricts what the audience and characters are able to see.