Horror Genre

settings• Graveyards• Isolated Buildings• Woods• Cabins• Old abandoned houses• Ghost towns• Lakes• Roads and highways• Abandoned old buildings such as schools, hospitals, churches• Marshes• Often foggy places• Deserted towns• Asylum• Cities• Underground tunnels and train tracks• Factorys and labs• Barns

Technical codes• Camera angles high and lows influencing fear.• Often use handheld shots that is difficult for the

viewer to see what is happening. Adding the feeling of terror from the unknown.

• Point of view shots to see the viewing of the villains eye.

• Sounds such as footsteps and door creaking that are disturbing to the audience.

• Ambient lighting that is dark and low keyed is often used.

Iconography• Generic props such as chainsaws, knifes, masks, candles,

crucifix, paintings etc.. These help us further identify horror genre.

• Villain iconography further indicates fear such as generic vampires, werewolves and mummies.

• Dark colours like red and black are often used links to evil , danger and blood.

• Low key lighting that can create shadows giving a spooky atmosphere.

Narrative structure

• Usually there is always a hero and a protagonist a man being the main hero and a final girl fighting together.

• Usually the hero has to go on a mission to defeat a villain.

• There is normally several climaxes in the film where the audience is most scared.

Character types

• The villain is often generically a serial killer, monster, alien etc.• Children are sometimes victims that are more innocent so

gives more effect to the audience. • There is usually a main protagonist, often hero/victim of the

movie.• Many more characters that may be involved such as ghosts,

zombies, demons, stalker, werewolf …

themes

• There are many specific themes that may be a specific overall role in a horror film.

• There are themes that seem to be more popular than other such as a good vs evil theme.

• Other themes include-• Depression Religion Life after death Envy Suicide Past/childhood issues Revenge