Conventions in horror films

Iconography

• horror follows a standardised pattern, which wont deviate from the original format.
• the format is a very specific pattern, they are set up to address the implied viewer to make the genre identifiable.
• connotations of horror tells the viewer who or what is good and who or what is evil, and identifies codes linked with them.
• all horror films made today still also follow this pattern.
• the original form of discovery and conflict is essential to plot the structure, what the audience expects to see and hear and is consistent throughout the horror genre.
• symbolic symbols often recur throughout all horror films, including; the haunted house, symbols of death, the disfigured face or mask, the screaming victim.
• and then theres the phatic murder weapon, such as; knife, meat cleaver, chainsaw etc.
• in horror films you often find binary oppositions of good and evil (Van Helsing. Darkened places where the 'monster' lurks: woods, cellars. Audience expects blood and body parts)

Narratives

• the classic narrative structure has a protagonist character and is usually based upon conflict and dilemmas the main character(s) endure.
• from all the characters found in film, some are often chosen for horror films to enhance the genre; heroine/hero, the evil 'monster' and then the supporting characters. In "The Women in Black" the protagonist would be Arthur Kipps and the villain is the women in black herself.
• these types of characters are used to try and connect with the viewer and the expectations that the viewer will identify with the hero. 
• Some narratives are typically seen in sub genres, and are very common and unoriginal when it comes to film plot/storyline. E.g the film revolves around the story of a killer that had a traumatic childhood past or even psychotic medical issues. Thus, ending up killing people randomly or with 'reasoning'. These are usually teenagers.
• the fate of this 'hero' (the one who survives) tends to be left unknown, in the hands of the individual horror films.

Settings

• horror films are set in either daytime or night time but if there is significant action taking place it would more than likely happen in the dark night time.
• often; dark places, old and creaky, abandoned/middle of nowhere/buildings,damaged structures, crumbling or run down buildings, to create the scary effect of the horror genre.
• the setting of the film is a big influence on the moods created in the film. Murder in the daylight wouldn't give the same scary impact on the audience as a night time murder and in the dark.
• other places which are often used to set a scary film are: old mines, derelict houses, fields, house in a normal neighbourhood, forest/woods, sorority houses, university grounds, schools. old farm houses, butches, lakes and countryside.

Characters

• there are always certain characters expected to be seen in horror films.
• ghouls, monsters, zombies, murderers, psychiatric patients, mentally disturbed, convicts, animals and even the environment or as demonstrated in "Final Destination" fate. 
• there is always the dumb character who managers to falls straight into the trap or gets captured at the very beginning to provide entertainment for the audience.
• theres the clever character who figures out clues or how to escape the clutches of the killers.
• the main character or set of characters that are haunted down.
• most horror films have a rescuer.
• and finally the girl who gets to the end and defeats the killer. A girl is used to contrast stereotypes because its less expected for a girl to be brave enough to defeat a killer.

Themes

Themes are used in film to scare, thrill and entertain the audiences. They centre around 'the dark side of life', the strange, forbidden and alarming events. 

• revenge
• demons and exorcisms
• serial killers
• haunting
• gore
• religious belief 
• ghosts