Codes & Conventions of Horror

Horror films are films genre which seeking provokes negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's fears. Horror films come with its own codes and conventions, this allows the target audience to identify which specific media text and images.

Settings

The setting sets the tone of film, allowing the audience identify with the genre of the film. Many horror films are set close knit/small communities or isolated places.

 If it set in urban environments with large cites, usually looks dark with dark streets and narrow alleyways or looks abandoned like a run down ghost towns.

Sometimes horror film are set in places with a ‘history’ for example an like abandoned houses, hotels and insane asylums.

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Characters

Antagonist

In slashers and Psycholoical’s it usually a person who trying to communicate with protagonist through revenge or terror. For example in Scream Ghostface terrorises Sydney.

In supernatural ‘s it is demon/spirit/ ghost  trying to communicate a message which terrorises the  victim. For example Paranormal Activity a couple are haunted by a supernatural presence in their home.

Protagonist

In Horror the protagonist is the main character and usually is a female role, they are usually the most morally standing and smartest of the group; they have to overcome many obstacles which the Antagonist has created.

The Final Girl

The ‘final girl’ as she is usually is the last girl alive to confront the killer or villain. The final girl is usually presented as the heroine in the film as she is the last one out of her peer group to defeat the killer/villain The final girl is featured throughout the storyline. The final girl is usually very obedient and doesn’t engage in activities such as drinking and drug taking. For example Nancy Thompson from Nightmare on Elm depict her struggle to survive her dreams and defeat the killer,Freddy Kreuger.

Sacrificial Lamb

This role is often filled by a promiscuous blonde woman, they are often the first to be killed and are the first to exposes their body. She is usually weak, fragile and unintelligent which causes her to be killed. From the killing Sacrificial Lamb, tells the audience of what is come in the film. For example in Casey Becker in Scream has a flirtatious phone call from with Ghostface before being murdered.

Demonic Children

Demonised children scare the audience children are normally associated with innocence.The child is either possessed by an evil sprit. For example The Exorcist Chris MacNeil, who is possessed by the devil and goes through an exorcism.

Or the child is a evil spirt/ghost haunting  people.

Weapons

Within the horror sub genre there is variety of weapons used.  In psychological the weapon is usually knife, as it a weapon which to get hold of. In the infamous shower scene the film ‘psycho’ a psychological horror. Were Norman Bates attacks a female in the shower with her knife and repeatedly stabs her. The Knife is a phallic symbol the knife stabbing is a represents rape.

In Slasher’s killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner therefore they more brutal weapons. Such as Chainsaws, Machetes, Knife, and axes.  For example in A Nightmare on Elm Street Freddy Krueger who uses a glove armed with razors to kill his victims in their dreams.

Iconography- The use of visuals that signify the genre

Costume

If the antagonist is person  usually in Psychological and Slashers the costumes is simple dark clothing of they can blend in or not be seen which makes them look mysterious. 

The Protagonist and other character usually were dull, every day clothes such as jeans, t-shirt, jumper etc. The colour of the clothing is usually dark such as blue, grey, and black, relating to the dark and cold atmosphere of the film.

Sacrificial Lamb in slasher film promiscuous blonde women, who is first to be killed is wear minimal clothing showing her figure and cleavage.

Children usually in supernatural were white, as children  are associated purity and innocence, which is opposite to who they really in supernatural as demonic.

Masks

Masks are worn by the Protagonist/killer usually in Slashers. They conceal the identities of the killer, which the killer scary as the audience and characters don’t know who he is. Mask can make killers face look demonic and non-human, as the masks make the killer t look emotionless and detached.

Jason Voorhees of the Friday the 13th series.  

The Strangers

Michael Myers of the Halloween series.