Generic Conventions

:Genre Horror/Psychological Thriller

Film Teaser

Generic conventions:Mise en Scene -

(Costume, props, iconography)

Characters

Narrative

Usually set in isolated areas where there is no one to help the characters/nowhere for them to run (The Human Centipede, Evil Dead, Saw franchise)

Everything is usually dark, dirty and dilapidated

Creepy adult character who scares/intimidates the teenage characters

Creepy child who scares/intimidates the adult characters (The Omen, Orphan, The Good Son, The Ring)

Male ‘jerk’ who dies first due to his self-absorption

Dim-witted, promiscuous blonde girl who never survives (Scream)

Male protagonist (has some flaws, usually in personality)

Attractive male who is brave and usually

Fight scene between supposedly friendly characters as tension runs high

Chase scenes where characters are unsure of what they are running from and cannot escape anyway.

Unknown character kills people off in disturbing ways.

How will anyone survive?

Can they find out who the murderer is?

Lots of screaming.

Characters established through certain defining dialogue/actions.

Cathartic process where the audience’s emotions and expectations are built up then released

Sadistic or masochistic voyeurism

dies trying to save others.

Love interest for the protagonist male who is naturally the prettiest of the females.

Geeky character who thinks they know everything (and sometimes do) but are ignored by other characters till the end. (Scream, Stay Alive, Final Destination franchise)

Shy, overly scared character. Often dies near the end after a build up of their panic.

Characters have to give in to primal instincts. (Battle Royale I & II, Saw franchise)

A play on common fears, blurring the line between fantasy and reality. (Bug)

A struggle of good against evil. (The Omen)

Evil forces, events, or characters, sometimes of supernatural origin, intruding into the everyday world. (Final Destination franchise, Saw franchise)

Designed to make the audience jump, feel shocked, uncomfortable, disturbed, disgusted, frightened or panicked.

The audience is unsure of exactly what is happening and made to feel vulnerable and dominated.

/ :Technical Rules Codes

Camera techniques, angles, shots.Editing

Fast cuts that create pace and sense of panic. The viewer cannot really see what is going on in each shot which makes them apprehensive.

Chase scenes-Fast jump cuts

Fast cuts between people running, blood/wounds and ECUs of scared

SoundLighting ‘Creepy’-sounding backing track

Diegetic sounds like footsteps, echoes, screams

High and low angles to make the audience feel dominating or dominated by, the way the characters are on screen.

ECUs of objects or people so the audience are unnerved since they aren’t sure of what exactly they are looking at.

Close ups to make the audience identify with a character and understand their emotions.

faces

Hand held camera shots make the audience feel part of the action.

Steadicam used in scenes where a smooth pan is needed.

Torchlight/insufficient light for the characters or the audience to see (Silent Hill)

Fades-to-black which are slow-build suspense and make sure the teaser doesn’t give too much away.

Canted (tilted) shots disorientate the viewers.