1. HORROR GENRE
CONVENTIONS
By William M. Dixon

2. CHARACTERS
Protagonist – The protagonist of the film usually lives throughout and escapes the
clutches of the killer of the film. They can either be a man or a woman and usually have
help from secondary characters.
Antagonist – the antagonist of the film can take many forms, from a sadistic madman to
an evil entity (such as a vampire, werewolf or zombie). The antagonist is usually killed by
the end of the film, unless they are to appear in a sequel.
Comedic Character – this character provides comic relief during the bloody carnage that
happens in the film. These characters are usually characterized under Jocks, Nerds or
Stoners and usually are one of the first characters to be killed.

3. ICONOGRAPHY
Iconic Villain – Horror films usually have an iconic antagonist that is easily recognizable
due to features such as a mask, a distinguished weapon, etc. Iconic Horror movie villains
include Michael Myers (Halloween), Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare On Elm Street), Jason
Voorhees (Friday The 13th) and Ash (Aliens).
Blood – One of the largest connotations of death in Horror movie history and also one
of the most generic. Blood can be used to create mystery (such The Amityville Horror) or
can be used in an over-the-top lavish effect (as used in Dead Alive).
Settings – Horror movies can be placed in different settings such as an old dark
castle(Dracula, Frankenstein), forests (Evil Dead, Blair Witch Project), desolate deserts
(The Hills Have Eyes, Devil’s Rejects), a modern suburbia (Halloween, The Amityville
Horror), snowy landscapes (The Thing, Dead Snow) or in a claustrophobic atmosphere
(Night Of The Living Dead, Saw).

4. THEMES
Death, Blood & Gore – These are key elements that are shown in most Horror films
throughout the ages. These can either be exploited or used carefully to create tension,
films such as The Evil Dead and An American Werewolf In London use these themes to
almost sicken the audience: a reaction that gives the film its success.
Controversy – This is used to promote the film in a negative light that can gain the film
a cult following. Films such as ones included in the 70s Video Nasty movement used
controversy to their advantage to gain a macabre reputation, such as Snuff, Driller Killer
and Cannibal Holocaust.
Tension – Many Horror films use tension as a key element in their films; this is used to
make the audience feel on the edge of their seats and feel uncomfortable when watching
the film. Alfred Hitchcock used tension to great advantage in films such as Psycho and
The Birds to hook the audience.

5. NARRATIVE
First Person Narrative - this is where a character from the film narrates the story and
guides us through. An example of this is the movie House On Haunted Hill in which
Vincent Price narrates the story.
Device – where technology (such as a camcorder) tells the story and we see it through the
eyes of the device. Found footage films such as Cannibal Holocaust and The Blair Witch
Project use this technique to their advantage.
Omniscient Narrator – A character from outside the movie tells the story, explaining to
us what happens to the characters and the settings. Horror movies don’t generally have
an omniscient narrator as people are usually focused on the characters inside the movie
and not from outside the movie.

6. VISUAL STYLE
Dutch Angle – This angle is used to create a sense of distortion that was first used in the
German Expressionist movement of films including early Horror movies such as The
Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari.
Gore – Gore is used more in modern contemporary Horror films as a shock tactic. The
certification of what is classed as ‘gore’ has changed over the years and the BBFC (British
Board of Film Classification) has decided what types of gore is allowed to be shown on
screen.
Close-Ups – Close ups are used to show character emotions, these shots are essential in
modern day Horror movies that show the fear on a characters face. They can also be used
to create a feeling of claustrophobia in films such as Saw.
Shadows – Shadowing is a technique used to the advantage of the director to create
mystery either about a person or a setting. A well known technique is a killer stepping
out of the shadows ready to claim his next victim.

7. SETTINGS
Old Dark Castle – Dracula, Frankenstein.
Forest – The Evil Dead, Blair Witch Project.
Modern Suburbia – Halloween, The Amityville Horror.
Snowy Landscapes – The Thing, Dead Snow.
Claustrophobic Atmosphere – Night Of The Living Dead, Saw.
Outer Space – Alien, Apollo 18.
Ocean/Water – Jaw, Piranha.