Preliminary Research: Genre Conventions

Conventions of Horror Genre:

Content:
  • An element/aspect designed for the purpose of unsettling the audience
  • An element involving death 
  • A monster/evil that the protagonist must face and/or defeat
Production:
  • Low lighting--creates a dark and evil atmosphere
  • Dark colors on set to establish a more sinister tone
  • Props like weapons (knives, guns) to fight off evil
  • Masks and dark colors for costumes 
Institutional:
  • The marketing technique of "less is more" is often used to engage younger audiences (young adults) who enjoy the mystique 
  • Teaser trailers-- non-revealing and hype up the film 
Film Example #1: Halloween (1978)
  • https://youtu.be/aMCLVSlk1Tk
  • This film represents the horror genre well, as it incorporates several of the standard genre's conventions
  • Michael Myers = the evil that the protagonist (Jamie Lee Curtis) must face
  • Low lighting used, most notably in the iconic scene nearing the end of the film when Curtis' character is wandering the house in search of her attacker
  • Michael Myers wears a mask
Film Example #2: The Exorcist (1973)
  • https://www.youtube.com/YDGw1MTEe
  • This film is a classic and certainly embodies several characteristics of a true horror film
  • An element (demons) designed to unsettle audience
  • Low lighting throughout the majority of the film
  • The trailer successfully entices viewers, while not giving too much away
List of 5 more films that embody the horror genre: 

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