Conventions of the Horror Genre

After watching ‘The Others’ I was able to conduct a detailed analysis into what the conventions of a horror film are. The horror genre is identified through common visual and aural characteristics where the different iconographies/codes and conventions are then identifiable and recognisable to the audience in which their expectation is framed already. These iconographies that are easily recognised to the audience is of the modernist idea of the horror genre, as the approach is the modern side of horror which is generic and seen in many horror films.

The conventional audience expectation of a horror film is to evoke fright panic whilst we see characters go through our hidden worse fears as the suspensful narrative unravels, which is the modernist approach. However some horror films have a sense of post-modernism where the horror offers more than just the simple pleasure of feelings scared for example physical effects (adrenaline), Empathy, a sense of enigma (intrigue, mystery, problem-solving etc), Voyeurism and a sense of community. This expands the present ideologies, giving the audience a different perspective of the horror genre.

Low-key lighting: This form of cinematography is a well-known convention within a horror film as dark scenes evoke suspense and enigma. Low-key lighting can be used to create shadows and other eerie visuals with a scene. This was a huge part in the film ‘The Others’ which also gave me more of an insight into the conventions as throughout the film it was mostly dark, yet it was played upon with candles creating shadows and effects throughout the film.

Settings:

The conventional setting of a horror genre would be anywhere that could connote a sense of isolation and being alone, in which these places normally hold a dark history which entices the evil.

These locations consist of:

• Abandoned house
• Graveyards
• Basements
• Cabins
• Creepy hotels

Within the film ‘The Others’ it gave me a clear perspective on what the conventional setting for a horror film would be. This is because, throughout the film it was shot in an old/creepy looking house on the outskirts away from any other people which is a clear icon of an abandoned house. The house also had a dark history which is what make the film a horror as that is how the narrative unraveled.