Genre Conventions.
Horror films are generally unsettling that aim to bring forth emotions such as fear, disgust and horror from its viewers. They often feature scenes that are very startling for the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural and often frequently overlap with genres such as fantasy, sci-fi and also thrillers. Horror films specifically target the viewer’s worst fears, nightmares, revulsions and the terror of the unknown.
Although the vast majority of horror films are generally supernatural related, they can also contain plots such as morbidity, serial killers, disease/virus outbreaks and surrealism. Plots written in the horror genre often involve the intrusion of a force of evil, an event or personage commonly of supernatural origin into the everyday world. Themes or elements often prevalent in typical horror films include ghosts, torture, gore, werewolves, ancient curses, Satanism, demons, vicious animals, vampires, cannibals, haunted houses, zombies and serial killers.
The trait of the genre of horror is that it provokes a response, emotional, psychological or physical within each individual that causes someone to react with fear. In order for that response to be elicited there are different techniques used, such as unreal figures (phantoms, mummies, etc.), or more real situations and figures (serial killers). The whole horror genre is built up upon people's fear of the unknown and anxieties
Most horror films follow a set of conventions throughout the genre although sometimes these conventions can be broken to provide a twist in the film. The common conventions we see in horror films are:
- Dark/Shadowy lighting
- Isolated locations
- Female victims
- Disruption of normality
- Sub plot of male/female relationship
- The defeat of a monster
Some examples of horror films that I believe are effective are:
- The Strangers
- Haunting in Connecticut
- Paranormal Activity
- Insidious
- Quarantine
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