CONVENTIONS OF HORROR

MISE - EN - SCENE

Old, abandoned or unfamiliar location. Usually where the main events of the horror film takes place. The killings, or phenomenon.

A torch or form o flight, used to guide the victims through the stereotypically dark location. E.g. woods, house, their house.It usually reveals a clue about the killing, or reveals the victim to killer, exposing their hiding place. Or they shine the light and find the killer’s location.

Blood is a very common Mise-en-scene feature, especially in a wet horror. Where the scare features are people dying violent death. It can also be used by the victims, to identify how ruthless the killer is.

Masks are often used to hide the identity of the Villain(s). The fear of the unknown is what creates an element of terror and panic. It’s what gives the horror film mystery. The classic ‘Who did it’

Dead bodies and corpses also feature in a lot of wet and some dry horror films. It can be a presenter of danger or trouble.

Skeletons in the basement.

The victims have no set wardrobe to be identified by in numerous horror films.There is no specific type of wardrobe for a horror film unless it’s to suit a purpose. For example if the killer was a wielder, he would put on a safety mask and large boots to do his killings. Or if a ghost was killing people for revenge they may wear an item linked to their death, or symbolises how they died.

PROPS

A lot of the props in horror films are things such as weapons, skeletons and dangerous objects. These all reflect the theme of death.

CHARACTERS

Protagonist female Damsel.

The victimiser. The villain

The friends, other victims that go first.

There also a few passers by that may render help to the victims, but they may also become a victim themselves.

Each of the characters hold a particular significance. One of them may even have particular traits to hide themselves with the victims. But as the film progresses, you grow to realise their previous actions where out of place, which reveals their identity.

The killer usually has some kind of disturbed pass, that they want to compensate for by killing. They may even re-enact their past by inflicting the pain on others.

HORROR FEATURES

• SCREAMS - The screams of a victim can emphasize the tension happening in the scene, even if nothing is physically affecting them. It really exaggerates the danger, and the shrieks may even scare the viewer also, making them feel as if they are they, or causing them to image what it would be like if they were in that position.

• BREATHING - Breathing is a common tell for danger in a horror film. It may be the victim is running and hiding from the killer/villain. Their breathing may even add to the tension, because t may be what gives their hiding place away. Also it tells you how the character is feeling, weather they are in shock, loss of breathe or scared.

• ACTION OF A VILLAIN - Every villain in a horror film tends to have their own trait, personality, or gesture to extend their twisted personality. For example in the shining, the villain uses a nursery rhyme to taunt the victim, the irony or the innocent nursery rhyme to contrast with the gravity of the situation and how he’s coming to get her. Also they may conduct a killing in a particular ritualistic way, or has a certain fetish for his killings. For example every victims will be killed in the exact way. For example in the call, the killer kidnaps young victims, blonde, and must be an adolescent. He then uses them for their scalp and head of hair. Then disposes of them, in a sinister/torturing way.

EXAMPLE CLIPS• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVsVKn-MS14&safe=active FRIDAY THE 13TH

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7S3ygQJJLc&safe=active THE CONJURING

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdG7A377boY&safe=active FINAL DESTITNSTION 3

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUmyrBSeDs4&safe=active ORPHAN