Joseph Russo

SECTION ONE - CONVENTIONS OF THE HORROR GENRE

• Young VictimsYoung victims are important because most of the audience are going to be around the same age. Young victims are typically vulnerable in horror movies so this is another reason why they are used. For examples in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, both of the victims are young and vulnerable.

• Eerie SettingsEerie settings are used to create an uneasy atmosphere for the audience and the characters in the scene. They cause a sense of danger and mystery so the characters and audience don’t know what is going to happen. In the example from “Thriller” the characters are walking through a cemetry and the audience can expect something to happen to them.

• Good vs EvilGood vs evil is normally the main convention of a horror as it creates a narrative. The evil character is normally more powerful and dominant than the good character, which creates a scary atmoshpere between them and the audience. In Thriller, it is shown when the werewolf is chasing the female and it is clearly the more powerful of the two.

• Lone femaleBy having a lone female, the audience can sense that the character is more in danger than if it was a lone male, as typically, a lone female is weaker and more vulnerable. It adds a scary effect to the horror film. In Thriller, the female character is in a lot of danger and due to her body language, the audience can sense her vulnerability.

• Screaming

Screaming is a very important convention of the horror genre as it gives the sense of fear between the characters and the audience. In Thriller, it puts the audience into a position of fear and vulnerability as the character is in danger.

• Chase

A chase is important as it adds to the tension of the horror movie. It also creates action which grips the audience and creates enigma codes, making them watch on and be able to find out what happens in the conclusion of the chase. In Thriller, the girl is being chased by the werewolf, asking the audience who will come out on top in the chase.

• Unknown KillerAn unknown killer causes a mystery in horror

films and also creates tension. The audience is more likely to be engaged in the film if the killer is not revealed. In most cases, the killer is revealed towards the end and in some cases it is not revealed at all.

• Identifiable CostumesThese are important as specific characters

need to be identified to create horror and fear towards the characters and the audience. An example from Thriller would be the red and black leather coat that Michael Jackson is wearing. This is a very famous and identifiable costume.

• WeaponsWeapons can be an important convention of

the horror genre because they can be used to cause a threat to victims. Typically in horror films, people are hurt or killed and weapons are used to do this. In Thriller, the werewolf uses its claws as weapons to cause a threat to its victim.

• IsolationIsolation can make the audience feel the

same fear that the characters are feeling as it can make them feel exposed. They don’t know what is going to happen and it creates a mystery. In Thriller, the characters are isolated as they are being chased by zombies.

• Use of soundSound is important as it can create horror in

certain ways such as music and sound effects. It can create fear as certain sound effects can scare the audience and some music can build up to something scary or mysterious. In Thriller, music is used to create mystery and horror.

• BloodBlood can be used to add detail in horror

films as it makes scenes more realistic and it can fit certain sub genres, such as “Gore”. In Thriller, blood is used when the zombies are chasing Michael Jackson and the girl.

• DeathDeath is a main convention of horror and

happens in almost all horror films. It is important as it creates tension and leaves the audience wondering who is going to die and who is going to survive. In Thriller, rather than characters dying, characters (zombies) come back to life after being dead.

• DarknessDark settings such as graveyards and old

buildings are typical of the horror genre as they build up fear and scary incidents tend to happen more often in darker settings. In Thriller, the setting is dark all of time and this is a classic convention.

• Luton Bus ShocksLuton bus shocks are used to scare the

audience into thinking something scary is happening but it turns out to be a normal, everyday situation. For example, in Thriller, the werewolf is chasing the girl and this scares the audience, but it turns out it is just being watched in a cinema as a film.

• Reflecting Society’s FearsSuccessful horror films focus on specific

fears and exploit them to meet the needs of the genre. The best way to create fear to the audience is to base the narrative on the fears that already exist in society.