Genre: Horror
Genre Conventions-- content: Typically, the goal of a horror movie is to scare an audience,
with intriguing plots that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The films often feed off of
typical fears, such as clowns. Most of the films revolve around a protagonist attempting to
avoid death by an antagonist or outside force and are usually very suspenseful. Most
horror movies include a tactic called “jump-scares” where a character would quickly and
suddenly pop out, causing an initial scare in the audience. Many horror movies also
incorporate some humor and interesting plot dynamics to deflect from the fear aspect
and keep the movies interesting. These films also usually consist of a mixture between
extremely innocent, and extremely non innocent characters, depending on the story line,
that are targeted by an outside source.
with intriguing plots that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The films often feed off of
typical fears, such as clowns. Most of the films revolve around a protagonist attempting to
avoid death by an antagonist or outside force and are usually very suspenseful. Most
horror movies include a tactic called “jump-scares” where a character would quickly and
suddenly pop out, causing an initial scare in the audience. Many horror movies also
incorporate some humor and interesting plot dynamics to deflect from the fear aspect
and keep the movies interesting. These films also usually consist of a mixture between
extremely innocent, and extremely non innocent characters, depending on the story line,
that are targeted by an outside source.
Genre Conventions-- production techniques: Horror movies have dark lighting and shadows
to add to the suspense of the movie. They sometimes have flickering lights or strobe lights
to create a sense of unknown or confusion. They are sometimes set in isolated locations,
such as a house in the woods or a small town, to show that a character cannot escape the
antagonist in the film. Weapons are the most common prop in horror movies because they
are leading causes in death. Dark colors, such as deep reds, blues, greys, and blacks, are
used because they suggest danger. Sounds are also greatly used, especially foley sounds,
that produce a variety of fast and loud diegetic sounds. These quick sounds usually aid in
the “jump-scares.”
to add to the suspense of the movie. They sometimes have flickering lights or strobe lights
to create a sense of unknown or confusion. They are sometimes set in isolated locations,
such as a house in the woods or a small town, to show that a character cannot escape the
antagonist in the film. Weapons are the most common prop in horror movies because they
are leading causes in death. Dark colors, such as deep reds, blues, greys, and blacks, are
used because they suggest danger. Sounds are also greatly used, especially foley sounds,
that produce a variety of fast and loud diegetic sounds. These quick sounds usually aid in
the “jump-scares.”
Institutional Conventions-- marketing: Horror films have the opportunity for great marketing
campaigns. Since suspense is built in to the plot, trailers often tease audiences about the
movie, revealing relatively little about the plot, but leaving them wanting to know the outcome
of the film. The target audiences for these films are teenagers, young adults, or horror
enthusiasts. Advertisements for these movies are usually seen along with content that
appeals to this audience. For example, trailers for horror films are usually played before
popular youtube videos that have a target audience of teenagers.
campaigns. Since suspense is built in to the plot, trailers often tease audiences about the
movie, revealing relatively little about the plot, but leaving them wanting to know the outcome
of the film. The target audiences for these films are teenagers, young adults, or horror
enthusiasts. Advertisements for these movies are usually seen along with content that
appeals to this audience. For example, trailers for horror films are usually played before
popular youtube videos that have a target audience of teenagers.
Film Sample #1-- “It”: The movie “It” is about a scary children-killing clown named pennywise
who is released in a small town. A small group of ragtag pre-teens are personally victimized
by the clown and try to find a way to stop him while avoiding being killed. This film is
consistent with the typical conventions of a horror movie. It includes a group of innocents
being targeted by an outside force, feeds off of audience fears, has numerous jump-scares,
has dark and suspenseful lighting, foley sounds, and even uses humor to deflect from the
horror. An example of some of these conventions is a part in the movie where the main
characters get trapped in the sewers and must find a way to escape. This whole scene
features dark lighting and different foley sounds to mimic the dirty, echoey sounds of a sewer.
Another example is when the group is trying to defeat the clown in an old, creepy, dirty house
that includes all of their great fears. This section of the movie includes dark lighting also, as
well as many jump scares and horrifying images.
who is released in a small town. A small group of ragtag pre-teens are personally victimized
by the clown and try to find a way to stop him while avoiding being killed. This film is
consistent with the typical conventions of a horror movie. It includes a group of innocents
being targeted by an outside force, feeds off of audience fears, has numerous jump-scares,
has dark and suspenseful lighting, foley sounds, and even uses humor to deflect from the
horror. An example of some of these conventions is a part in the movie where the main
characters get trapped in the sewers and must find a way to escape. This whole scene
features dark lighting and different foley sounds to mimic the dirty, echoey sounds of a sewer.
Another example is when the group is trying to defeat the clown in an old, creepy, dirty house
that includes all of their great fears. This section of the movie includes dark lighting also, as
well as many jump scares and horrifying images.
Film Sample #2-- “Truth or Dare”: The movie “Truth or Dare” is about a group of college
students that are lured into a friendly game of truth or dare in Mexico, unknowing that the
game they were lured into would turn into a intense game with outside demons forcing them
to do dangerous things that could kill them. The rules of the complex game were that the
characters had to tell the brutal truth, do their dangerous dare, or face death. This was a true
horror film because it centered around death and enlisting fear in the audience. The movie
included great suspense that kept the audience eager to find out about the characters’ fates.
When the characters were in a bad situation and asked their truth or dare question, the horror
conventions were greatly displayed. Dark colors were interspersed throughout these
segments to create an environment of danger. Also, suspenseful music would be playing to
keep audiences intrigued. An example of this was when one of the characters was dared by
the demon to walk the edges of a roof while drinking an entire bottle of alcohol. The scene
was filmed at night, with dark lighting and shadows, and had a track of suspenseful music
playing through the entire scene. The whole scene was shot as either a high angle or close
up, to make the character look helpless or to show her true fear.
students that are lured into a friendly game of truth or dare in Mexico, unknowing that the
game they were lured into would turn into a intense game with outside demons forcing them
to do dangerous things that could kill them. The rules of the complex game were that the
characters had to tell the brutal truth, do their dangerous dare, or face death. This was a true
horror film because it centered around death and enlisting fear in the audience. The movie
included great suspense that kept the audience eager to find out about the characters’ fates.
When the characters were in a bad situation and asked their truth or dare question, the horror
conventions were greatly displayed. Dark colors were interspersed throughout these
segments to create an environment of danger. Also, suspenseful music would be playing to
keep audiences intrigued. An example of this was when one of the characters was dared by
the demon to walk the edges of a roof while drinking an entire bottle of alcohol. The scene
was filmed at night, with dark lighting and shadows, and had a track of suspenseful music
playing through the entire scene. The whole scene was shot as either a high angle or close
up, to make the character look helpless or to show her true fear.
Other examples:
- “The Nun” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzD9zGcUNrw
- “Happy Death Day” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NTaDm3atkc
- “The Purge” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0LLaybEuzA
- “The Conjuring” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k10ETZ41q5o
- “Halloween” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek1ePFp-nBI
- “Split” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84TouqfIsiI
