CONVENTIONS OF HORROR

SETTINGSThe following links show examples of each setting within film trailers:

• Isolated places – (As Above so Below) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq358xHbzN4&safe=active

• Dark streets – (Smiley) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11yBPx-ymZA

• Narrow alleyways – (Hell Raiser) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAx34IZ8bTk

• Often revolve around buildings that have a dark history (insane asylums, hotels, abandoned houses) – (Saw 2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nac1avJp3UE&safe=active

• Dark woods/forests – (Cabin in the Woods) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsIilFNNmkY&safe=active

• Under ground tunnels/dungeons – (As Above so Below) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq358xHbzN4&safe=active

EXAMPLE IMAGES

PROPS AND CONNOTATIONS• Colours such as red and black are often used due to their effective

connotation of fear, blood, death, violence, danger and evil.

• These connotations are further emphasised by the common use of dark lighting.

• Props such as weapons are often used to identify the killer/villain (knives, chainsaw, machetes and torture devices in some cases).

• Costumes such as masks are often used to conceal the identity of the killer or to effectively make use of the ‘Uncanny Valley’.

THEMESThe following links show examples of each theme within film trailers:

• Good vs Evil – (The Exorcist) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iS59iV2Ffs

• Revenge – (I Spit on Your Grave) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt7lWlpTuUM

• Supernatural – (The Woman in Black) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lReemWmO5o

• Torture –(Saw 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nac1avJp3UE

• Suicide – (The Woman in Black) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lReemWmO5o

• Lust – (The Human Centipede 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpcCJ8ozirU

EXAMPLE CLIPSHell Raiser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAx34IZ8bTk

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2013)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKqFfkassgo

Smiley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11yBPx-ymZA

I Spit on Your Grave (2012)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt7lWlpTuUM