Generic Codes and Conventions of Horror Movies
Visual Codes/Iconography
• An old, dark house
• Cemeteries
• Laboratories
• Suburbs of big cities
• Deserted villages/countryside
• Woods
• Isolated places
• The unknown- spirits, haunted characters
• Hidden motives
• Creepy children
• Vampires, zombies, werewolves, ghosts, monsters
• Masks- clowns, hockey mask, balaclava
• Murderers
• Heavy make-up
Narrative Conventions
• Suspense builders
• Unconventional non-manifestation of the monster
• Blood/death/killing/brutal attacks
• Villain/ Victims
• Evil
• Weapons- machete
• Gore/violence
• Screaming
• Chase sequences
Character conventions
• The hero- the one on the quest and the one who saves the day
• The villain- the evil one who causes the disequilibrium
• The helper- a person who helps the hero on their quest
• The victim- at the mercy of the villain
• The donor- someone who has a something special which will help the hero
• The joker/idiot- the one who gets people in trouble/danger
Music/Sound Conventions
• Famous suspense building soundtrack- jaws music
• Silence- sudden explosion/scream/loud noise
• Screaming
• Creaking doors/floorboards
• Evil laugh
• Heavy breathing
• Muffled scream/ shouting
• Sobbing
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