Horror movie conventions.

• Urban or secluded setting, e.g. a run down city, ghost town, deserted alley, forest, countryside, etc. Horror films often use locations like a highway, cabin or lake for the film.

• Dark colours like red and black are often used, red links in with evil and black links to mystery. Using these colours connotes an unknown, but malevolent force which builds up tension and fear for the audience.

• Objects associated with death, the supernatural or violence are often used, e.g. chainsaws, skulls, noose, etc.

• Horror movies often deal with themes like madness, religion, the supernatural, good versus evil, reality versus fantasy, the apocalypse and science gone bad.

• There are many sub-genres in horror, for example: gothic horrors (Dracula, The Woman in Black and Dorian Gray), slasher horrors (Scream, Child’s Play and A Nightmare on Elm Street) and psychological horrors (The Ring, The Exorcist and Session 9).