Codes and Conventions - Horror

1. What Are They Designed For?

1.1. Cause dread and alarm

1.2. Make your fears come alive

1.3. Play on your vulnerability

1.4. Fear of death

1.5. Frighten or panic

1.6. Make the audience fear they are in danger

2. Common Codes and Conventions

2.1. Atmosphere is usually sinister & locations often appears dark and isolated

2.2. Often do not always use well known actor/actress as the audience feel more uncomfortable with actors they do not recognise - it makes them feel less secure

2.3. Dark non-diagetic music to help increase a frightening atmosphere

2.4. Lead character often ends up surviving and 'slaying' the antagonist character

2.5. The antagonist often is masked or initially not known to the audience

2.6. Usually good vs. evil

2.7. Plot frequently involves themes of death, the supernatural / mental issues

3. Camera Angles

3.1. Extreme CU (emphasise the subject)

3.2. Tilt (create distraction)

3.3. Establishing shots (showing location)

3.4. Handheld (looks realistic, making it feel more believable to the audience)

3.5. Long Shots (help to show the danger or what the lead character is surrounded by - commonly isolated

3.6. Tracking (where the camera moves at the characters side)

3.7. Dollying (where the camera follows the character from in front or behind, to make it feel as if the character is being followed/stalked

3.8. POV (so the audience can see what the character sees, to feel as if we are looking through their eyes