Mystery & Horror Sub Genres and Key Characteristics

Horror -- Characteristics A chill in the air effect.

Horror – SG = Action Horror Combines the intrusion of evil mixed with gun fights and frantic chases Zombies, demons, gore dominate genre Example = From Dusk til Dawn, Blade

Horror – SG = Gothic Horror Features castles, dungeons, ruined landscapes, haunted houses Example = Dracula, Frankenstein, Sleepy Hollow, Child’s Play

Horror – SG = Slasher Features a lot of pursuits and gruesome murders Several known characters are killed off Built upon mystery and suspense Sometimes take on elements of crime drama Example = Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Psycho, Friday the 13 th, Halloween, Dead Snow

Horror – SG = Thriller Feels the most real – features the work of humans Dealing with Craziness or people left in isolated areas Focuses on tension and suspense Stimulates the viewers mood to create high level of anticipation Example = The Purge, 1408, World War Z

Horror – SG = Sci-Fi Horror Fear of technology Example: Apollo 18, Alien

Horror – SG = Pyschological Relies on the beliefs of the characters--their feels, guilt, past experiences, repressed emotions Often characters demonstrate emotional instability Loss of sanity Example = The Ring, The Shining

Horror – SG = Neo Monsters New monsters instead of classic Hollywood collection So monsters that are popular that aren’t Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolfman, Mummy, Ghost… Example = Alien, Predator

Horror – SG = Comedy Horror Example = Haunted House, Scary Movie, Zombieland, Adam’s Family, This is the End, Shaun of the Dead

Mystery – Key Characteristics The bumbling detective The amateur investigator The child in peril

Mystery – SG = Noir Outlaw detective with a shady code of morals Damsel in distress who usually is not innocent 1920’s and 1930’s setting Real dark lighting and atmosphere Inner city slums instead of country side locales

Mystery – SG = Classic Whodunit Usually a private investigator Crime is the most important and figuring out the puzzle is the main point

Mystery – SG = Diagnostic Mystery Doctor shows and medical diagnosis Example: House,

Mystery – SG = Heists

Mystery – SG = Caper Glorifies the anti-hero Told from criminals point-of-view Criminals aren’t supposed to win—their plans are foiled in the final moments Example: Ocean’s 11,

Mystery – SG = Espionage Normally revolves around international spy games Thriller elements but elements of solvable crime

Mystery – SG = Inverted You know the killer and what’s happening but the characters inside the story do not The audience focuses on the struggle of the characters instead of the mystery elements

Mystery – SG = Serial Killer Serial Killer represents certain danger Plot elements are meant to help “find” killer Antagonist focus

Mystery – SG = Golden Age Late 19 th Century to end of WWII Professional and Amateur detectives When Mystery was at its peak