Genre Conventions

Horror

Location/ Setting

Horror Films are usually set in isolated areas, such as dark streets, narrow alleyways.

Places with a ‘dark’, negative history are also very effective in horror films, some examples of these are abandoned houses, hospitals or metal asylums.

Cabin In The Woods

In the Cabin In The Woods, the setting is a small, worn down cabin in a very overgrown and spooky looking forest.

A Stranger Calls

The setting for A Stranger Calls is a large spacious house which is decorated with very dull colour’s and is located next to a lake and surrounded by woods.

The Women In BlackThis house is The Woman in Black is located on a small island across some marshland from a small village. The island is often very foggy and the only time you can travel across is when the tide is out. The island is also very overgrown with trees and there is a grave-yard just outside the house.

Sound- Music

There are a few different ways that music can be used with horror films, for example there is the typical horror film music which is very screetchy type, violin notes. Horror films also sometimes use upbeat type music as this can make the film seem sinister. And the final example of horror film music would start of quite calm as this would build suspension and as something happens the tempo increases.

Sound - Effects

Sound effects such as loud crashes, or something banging on a wall or even slamming a door are very popular in Horror films.

Footsteps are also very often used in Horror films as they build tension and also give the audience an idea of what is going to happen.

PropsThere is a very wide range of objects which can be used as props within horror films, some examples are

• Masks• Knives• Guns• Religious imagery• Dolls/ Childrens toys• Puppets• Mirrors• Phones• Jewelry Boxes• Clocks

These props are all very effective because they are commonly seen in horror films.

The StrangersThese 3 masks are props from The Strangers. They are effective in a horror film because they are quite unusual and they are used to hide the identity of the murders. They are quite a good symbol in the film as once they have killed the couple, they remove their masks and leave them in the scene of the murder. They are then also used as a calling card for the police.

Child’s Play

This is the doll used in Child’s play, this is very effective in this film as he is the main character however he is originally seen to be an inanimate object which is a doll however we later learn that he is an animate object and has a mind of his own. The doll is also seen to be evil so is very effective in this horror film.