Conventions of Horror.

Most horror films end up sharing similar if not the same conventions, although this may make the genre fairly repetative, it also adds to the scaryness of it all, and keeps you in suspence as although the conventions are similar, the plot is most definantly different.

Sound
- The music is expected to be scary, slow and very tense.
- Diegetic sounds such as the televison on very quite, or the use of the phone ringing is a typical convention. For example, in Scream and The Ring both of these conventions are used.
- If music or the use of props are not used, sounds such as children singing can be seen as disturbing and can put you on edge, this is shown in Stephen Kings It, for example.

Titles
Inter-lay titles, such as having white writing on a black background is extremely popular in horror films, as it stands out and adds to the effect, having either the writing or background red is also a typical convention- red portraying the colour of death or blood. If none of these conventions are used, usually something will be shown such as pictures like in Stephen Kings It, which relate to the film from past events or characters. The titles are also completed fairly quickly, to concentrate on the real meaning of the film.

Locations and Lighting
The typical location of a horror film being a big house out in the middle of no-where, there is normally one person left within the house to create a more tense effect, if the location is not within a house in the middle of no-where, it would be outside in the middle of no-where! for instance in the middle of a woods. The use of these locations allows anything to happen, if you are alone with not many people around you then the killer can get away with anything, if you are in a big house there are many rooms and areas the event can take place, and the same for being in the woods.
The lighting which is used is very dark, usually the most scary scenes will be filmed in the night time, natural light is not normally used. This is the case due to the fact that the killer will not be seen in darkness, making it much more scary for us!

Main character

The main character in a typical horror film would be a young, dumb, blonde female. She would be portrayed as innocent and defenceless, therefore this makes her an easy target for the killer! it also makes us feel sympathy towards her, which is the intention. If the main character was a big man it would be less shocking and far more boring. A perfect example of this is Scream.

Camera Shots

Obviously many different camera angels and shots are used in all horror films. However, the most significant shots which are used are establishing shots and close ups, these show the audience the location and the importance of it, aswell as showing the emotion the character is experiencing.

Props

Props are extremely important in horror films, as they more often than not they foreshaddow future events, the main prop which is used in most horror films is the use of the phone ringing, it keeps the audience in suspence as you are unaware who is on the other line and almost expect it to be someone bad, a good example of this is Scream. 

Enigma codes

There are many enigma codes which are raised for horror films, usually at the beginning of the film throughout the opening sequence. This creates servere suspence for the audience as it makes them want to watch more and find out what is happening, it keeps you on edge and awake!

I came up with these conventions due to the three horror films which i analylised. I thought about what was the usual occurance within the opening sequences, and then i looked at horror films in general.