Conventions of the horror genre

When analysing the conventions we use the following abriviation C.M.I.N.T.S.

Characters

• There is always a main character that is portrayed to be the killer/ monster etc, that often results as the survivor in the film.
• The killer/ monster etc, often has a trademark characteristic in the way he/ she/ it kills, for example, the people he kills or the weapon he/ she/ it uses.
• The good person always survives and/ or defeat the bad guy/ monster etc.

Mise en scene
We analyse mise en scene with C.L.A.M.P.S.
Costumes

• There is usually a mask. Which is usually a trademark to that particular killer this is usually used when there is more than film for example: Jason x, Texas chainsaw masacre. Sometimes the clothes used in the film are the trademark of that killer, also when there is more than one film perhaps for example: Freddie from nightmare on elm street wheres the red stripy jumper in the Freddie films. This creates familiarity to the killer for the audience so that after the first film the audience knows what the trademark clothes are so they know it is that killer this makes it so that the opening of the film doesnt have to introduce that actor again.

Lighting

• Low key lighting in horror films is generally used when the killer/ monster is stricking because it creates tention to the audience. The setting and lighting tie in together importantly because when someone is killed or taken then the setting and lighting must go well together for example: if a woman were to be killed in a graveyard in broad daylight it wouldnt have as much affect than if it was at night.

Actors

• The actors usually used in horror films is attractive young adults for the victims usually. The old sometimes scard or that has dissabilties are usually the killer/ monster this ties in with the costumes because the killer wears a mask to hide these dissabilities. The audience of these horror films will automatically look at these conventions and within 2 minutes will know what genre it is from the way the actor is dressed and how he/ she is made up.

Make up

• The make up put on the victims is well made up because it makes them look attractive and vulnerable whereas the killer is usually not good looking and has made up scars made from make up. This is one of the reasons why the killer/ monster wears the mask, another reason why the killer/ monster wears a mask is to hide the identity of them selves. The audience see's the make up and then assumes that it is a horror all the blood used is make up also this helps to see that it is a horror.

Setting

• Horrors are generally set at night when the action happens but it can be set in the day but it wouldnt create the same effect.
• The setting of the film sets the mood and the tone of the film so that the audience see these places and know that it is a horror. 
• Some examples of places horror films are set are: Old mines, Derelict houses, Fields, A house in a hormal neighbourhood, Sorority houses, University grounds, Schools, Old farm houses, Butchers, Lakes, The country side, A haunted house or a forest.

Iconography

• There is a specific pattern within horror movies, as they are set up to address the implied viewer. Connotation of the horror genre shows the viewer who or what is good or bad.
• Iconography can also be symbolic to symbols which recur throughout all horror films for example: A haunted house, A screaming victim, The phallic murder weapon, Good vs evil, Darkened places where the killer/ murderer is and blood and body parts.

Narrative

• Horror is based upon conflict and dillemmas the main character goes through. From the main set of characters, several character types are chosen, the heroine or hero, the evil killer/ monster and the supporting characters. Horror addresses the viewer with the expectation that the viewer will identify the hero.

Theme

• Horrors main theme is cause of conflict between the two characters in the film. There are a few general themes in horror such as: Slasher, Vampire, Zombie, Demonic possesion, Alien mind control, Evil children, Cannibalism, Werewolves, Animals attacking humans, Good vs evil.
• The villan is a representation of persons fears from that particular era that the movie was made, for example: In western horror films, the monsters are consistent with the representation of sexuality, whereas in European horror films the monster is consistent with cultural myths.

Sound

• Diagetic- Means that the actor hears the sound during filming it is not edited in.

1. Sound is used to create tention for the audience, screaming and tools being sharpened are examples of these more examples are: Twigs breaking and the rustling of the trees by wind or by someone like the killer it makes the audience panic. When it is used though th eaudience knows it is coming therefor is ready for it but still is jumpy.

• Non- Diagetic- Means that the actor does not hear it during filming it is edited in during the production stages.

1. Music in horror films help create tention, there is usually an audio sequence in horror films that most people recognise. A long eerie musical build up of strings and horns as the victim, for example approaches a closed door then this is followed by a violant orchestral hit as the victim opens the door to encounter whatever is hidden behind it.

All of these conventions of the horror genre work together without one of them all the others will not work below is a clip of a good horror film that meets alot of the conventions in a horror film:

As you can see it has the eerie music, the low key lighting, an attractive young victim and the setting at a beach. This clip addresses alot of the horror conventions as you can see there and this would be the case in alot of horror films.