Codes and conventions in horror movies

The codes and conventions of a horror film are almost like the 'rules' that a horror movie must follow in order to be successful. Here’s a list of conventions that people often associate with horror movies: o Blood o Screams o Death o Killing o Darkness o Evil o Haunted houses o Ghosts o Victims o Exorcism o Devil

One of the main conventions in horror movies are isolated places, to create a mysterious atmosphere. Isolated places are usually known for having some ‘dark’ past incidents or myths. My movie Other horror movies Small communities Lakes Countryside Subways Dark streets Alleyways Abandoned houses

Most demonic horror movies have children as the evil spirit or as the victim, for example the movie 6 th sense. Possibly because children are more sensitive/vulnerable therefore becoming the victims. My movieOther horror movies Men- often portrayed as brave, therefore always willing to this discover the mystery (evil). The male audience usually compare themselves to them. Women/children- vulnerable/sensitive hence usually becoming the victims.

The majority of horror movies also have the ghost (when a girl) dressed in the stereotypical old/dirty white long dress and usually with long black hair. For example I used the movie ‘the ring’ as a main influence as I liked the effect the girl’s appearance had on me as the audience.

Intertextuality This is the practice of deliberately including references to one text in the narrative of another. I done this to engage the interest of the audience by appealing to their prior knowledge and experience of horror movies. For example, the ghost’s costumes/appearance in my trailer is very similar to the ghost in the movie “the ring”.