what is horror

Every film genre similar conventions like mis-en-scene, camera work and editing, narrative structure, narratives based on issues emerging, characters, icons and music and sound. A film would not work without these conventions. Conventions of a horror movie would be:

Mis-en-scene:

• isolated places or domestic settings this is often during the night times.
• shadowy lighting to create a dark atmosphere, lighting is very important

Camera work and editing:

• for chsing scenes hand held shots are used to make feel as if you are chasing the person
• point of view shots are used for the people that are being watched makes the audience feel like the villian
• crosscutting is mostly used for suspense sequences
• for violent actions faster cutting is usually used

Narrative structure:

• propp's character theory
• victims reveal the murderer and or kill the murderer, the victims usually use their skills and become stronger through out
• conforms of Todorov's equilibrium, disruption, retoration of equilibrium
• binary oppositions between life and death, good and evil which lead to resolution of conflict but often have twists at the end showing that not all is well

Characters:

• innocent girls
• fianl girl
• victims become hero
• psychologically damaged adults
• monsters
• hedonistic teenagers

Icons:

• blood
• gore
• knives
• shadows
• darkness
• masks
• ghosts
• deformaties
• zoombies

Music and sound:

• heartbeats
• loud bangs and crashes
• screams
• atmospheric suspense music
• phone ringing
• psycho strings
• foot steps

Narrative based on issues/themes emerging:

• good taking over evil
• battles between good and evil
• supernatural hauting an individual
• history with the villian therefore they come back for revenge
• identity crisis
• unsolved murders
• unexplained events

these are the conventions of a Horror genre, some examples of these films would be:

• Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
• Halloween (1978)
• The Ring (2002)
• Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Some films only a limited amount challenege these conventions by making them horror/comedy genre or thriller/horror genre. this would be subverting genres. some examples of these would be:

• Shaun of the Dead (2004)
• Scary Movie's (2000)
• Scream(1996)