Horror and Crime Conventions

Hannah Knipe

Crime Conventions

• Complex storyline• Police or detective• Vilian• Hero• Victim• Weapon• Mysterious female character• Twists• Investigation

Complex Storylines

• When watching a crime film there is usually a great deal of background information for the viewer to understand in order for them to understand the storyline. Some films take more than once to be watched before you understand the exact story line.

Police / detectives

• There is nearly always a detective or police involved in a crime film as they are the one who will deal with the problem and hopefully solve it. They will be dressed in a smart formal uniform so that character is extremely obvious.

Hero

• The hero normally isn’t the person you think would be the hero and is normally not felt highly of by the other characters. They will take risks through out the film and will become a main character by the end of the film.

Villian

• The villian will be used to create a storyline. The villian will be the main key conventions of a crime film. They will usually be supported by others such as a gangs etc. They are also very dangerous.

Investigation

• Investigation will happen in every crime film as the audience will want to know exactly who done what. This will involve the police trying to catch the villian.

Twists

• There will be twists throughout the film. At the beginning you could think a certain character is the villian then as the film goes on you could decide that you think it is a different character who is the villian now. Twists are created to shock the audience and enable the audience to think about who really is the villian.

Horror Conventions

• Close up camera shots• Victims• Pananormal• Dark lighitng• Spooky house• Shadows• Loud dramatic music• Flash backs

Close up camera shots

• Close up camera shots are used often in horror films this enables the audience to see facial expressions of the characters and allows the film to be more dramatic creating tension.

Victims

• The victim in a horror film is usually a women or child because they are less vunerable. If children are used it can make the audience feel very sympathetic and can exaggerate a scene.

Dark Lighting

• Dark Lighting will be used in nearly every horror film because it sets the scene and creates a dramatic scary atmosphere.

Loud Dramatic Music

• Loud dramatic music will create tension and will set a build up in a horror film, it also informs us that something bad is going to happen.