Codes And Conventions Of A Horror Film

Supernatural/Thriller Horror's

Technical codes

· Camera Movements - Pans, tracking as the character realises somethings wrong, missing.

· Editing - Fast pace, alot of suspense is created through this which fits with the genre type.

· Framing of Shots - Close-ups, characters and their reactions are very important.

· Lighting - Can be varied, form torchlight to flickering fluorescent lighting, usually the lighting types of this genre ad to the uneasiness of the film, e.g. Silent hill.

· Juxtaposition - Life changes as you know it with one major event. E.g. Funny Games, Drag Me To Hell.

Symbolic Codes

· Objects - Weapons, usually settings, e.g. a haunted house, or room e.g. The Amityville Horror, A Haunting In Connecticut.

· Setting - Everyday places, make normal things abnormal, it could happen to you.

· Costumes - Everyday things, characters are presented as normal people.

· Colour - Lots of black, some uneasy colours like greens and yellows.

· Music - Generally these types of films have their own score to create suspense.