The horror genre is completed by a number of conventions. These conventions are split into seven main groups, these being; 1. Mise-en-Scene, 2. Camera work and editing, 3. characters, 4. narratives based on... issues/themes emerging, 5. narrative structure, 6. icons and 7. music and sound.
The conventions within Mise-en-scene are:
Isolated settings, or domestic settings often at night time.
Dark atmosphere, created by expressionistic lighting, shadowy lighting.
The conventions within Camerawork and editing are:
Crosscutting for suspense sequences,
Faster cutting for violence action,
point of view shots for those being watched,
Hand held shots for chase scenes.
The conventions within Characters are:
Hedonistic teenagers,
Innocent girls,
Victims become hero's,
Monsters,
Final girl,
Psychologically damaged adults.
The conventions within Narrative themes and issues are:
Good triumphing over evil,
Conflict played out as a battle between good and evil,
The supernatural haunting an individual,
Unfinished business with a villain coming back for revenge,
Confusion with identity,
Unsolved murders,
Unexplained events.
The conventions within Narrative Structure are:
Conforms to Todorov's equilibrium, disruption, restoration of equilibrium,
Propp's character theory,
Binary oppositions between good and evil, life and death, supernatural and natural - leading to resolution of those conflicts but often with a twist at the end suggesting all is not well.
Victims using their skills to solve the crime and reveal/overthrow the murderer.
The conventions within Icons are:
Blood,
Gore,
Knives,
Shadows,
Darkness,
Masks,
Ghosts,
Deformities.
The conventions within Music and Sound are:
Heartbeats,
Atmospheric suspense music,
Psycho strings,
Loud bangs and crashes,
Screams.
Horror is created to scare the audience. The audience watch it so they can get the adrenaline filled rush that makes them want to come back and watch horror movies over and over again.
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