Media A2

Like the opening of most films, horror films will usually begin with institutional information relating to the film; the companies most involved in the making and distribution of the film. These will be presented in a way that suits the film; the logos may be made darker and more gothic. This is usually necessary, especially if the institutions involved are not specifically involved in the horror genre.

The main codes and conventions that feature throughout horror films are;

• The soundtrack is usually very slow and eerie, usually made this way through the use of classical instruments or a synthesiser. Many horror films will have the music playing at a very low volume to start with, and this  then increases in volume up to the point where the action happens. There is also the use of sudden, sharp music at points in the film where suspense is being built up. This puts the audience on edge, and when the action appears it make them more jumpy.

• Throughout the horror film, long shots are used often. These create a strong sense of place, and builds up the creepy, isolated atmosphere that most horror films wish to create. Close-ups are not used as often, as they usually convey emotions of characters, with the principal emotion in horror being terror, these are not usually necessary. The close-ups in horror films will usually be on objects rather then on people, to show their significance.

• The setting is usually very dark. This is used because it creates a strong feeling of terror; the audience can sympathise with how little the characters can see and feel the tension this causes.

• The weather in horror films is usually stormy when the main action of the film takes place. This is called pathetic fallacy because it reflects the feelings of the characters.

• The most vulnerable characters in horror films are usually females. This is because they are stereotyped as the weaker sex, and make for the easiest victims. Males are usually portrayed as the stronger and more rational character, who has to protect the female.

• The killer usually has a trademark that makes them unique; this could be the way in which they kill someone, or the way they leave a crime scene. It can even be the type of person that they prey on. They are also shown to be alsmot inhuman. They show very little feeling when they kill/hurt their victims, and if someone attempts to hurt them, they appear unaffected. A good example of this is in the film ‘Halloween’. Michael Myers is at one point stabbed, but carries on like he has not been hurt.

• Screaming is used throughout horror films and has become one of the major conventions of the genre. Weapons are also conventions of horror films; the most common being a knife. Like blood, this has become such a major convention, that it could possibly be described as an icon of the horror genre.

• Jump cuts are the most common way of changing shots in horror films. This is because it creates a feeling of tension, and when a number of shots are edited this way in a short space of time, it creates a sense of confusion for the audience, positioning them to be scared when it is necessary in the film.

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