Film genrescodes and conventions in films

By Lauren Revell & Reece Leonard

Horror

Somebody is killed, usually the two main good-looking characters survive. The characters are usually isolated with nobody else around, in places such as the woods or an empty house. Usually a coloured male dies or is hurt first. The characters usually open doors etc. and get killed, even though everybody knows that the murderer is in the next room. It can be very jumpy and usually tries to catch you by surprise. Uses music to build up suspense, and it is mostly gory and features a lot of blood. Features stereotypical characters, a woman with no self respect(slut), a jock, a nerd etc.

Comedy

Two main characters, who are not very well presented and nerdy. A love interest is usually introduced, and she is a mainly out of the males league, and the male characters usually do stupid things in an attempt of humour. Features in random settings such as a house, a shopping centre, a beach etc. It uses ridiculous scenarios, and contains a lot of swearing and sometimes nudity. It features a wise character, who advise the silly characters along the way of the film. It is usually a closed narrative with a resolution at the end. Uses flashbacks and ellipsis so the film can be based over a matter of days/weeks/months/years.

Action

It is the good guys Vs the bad guys, there is usually a hero and a villain. There are usually missions to be completed which involve weapons, knifes and gun fights. There is always a motive, for the good guy it would be saving the planet or the city and for the bad guy they’ve usually got childhood memories or something sad to spur on there destruction. The mostly feature chase scenes with fast cars or running and jumping of buildings. Explosions and crashes and fire is included a lot, to be dramatic. A loved one of the hero is usually killed or hurt, and it features sinister, upbeat and nerve wracking music.

Romance

Usually aimed at a female audience, and involves wedding bells, hearts and flowers, which symbolises love. Characters usually go separate ways in the middle of the film, due to disagreement, but always end up getting back together in the end. Based on what happens in day-to-day life, normally contains emotional feelings for example, heroines/hero’s dad died, mother left etc. Typically started by a ‘boy meets girl’ situation. Uses happy music, and usually ends with a happy upbeat popular song. Its almost always a closed narrative and usually ends with marriage and a family, and most characters are paired off in the end.