Codes and Conventions..

WHAT ARE THE CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF A HORROR FILM?

We have decided to look at the genre of horror again for our trailer. However, instead of exploring the idea of old and classic horror films we have decided to look at more new and modern effects and story lines. So our first step was to research the codes and conventions of a modern horror film...

We found many different conventions however the most popular were..

• Use of Low Key lighting

            - We strongly agree with this convention, as we understand that this kind of lighting is essential to create eerie atmosphere whether the film is modern or old.
      - We also felt the right use of lighting triggers the idea of the unknown and would be a good base for a scary scene.
      - Examples of this were not hard to find..

Picture from the film, 'Incidious'.
Here the lighting has been used to create a dark figure.
This contrast of light and dark has been used in create shadows causing the eerie atmosphere





 We took this picture from the well known film, 'Paranormal Activity'.
We thought this was a good example as the darkness in the door frame was especially eerie along with the green tint shows low key lighting

 

• Young Teenage characters

       - We think this is becuase it's easy and very realistic to show the teenagers as reckless and irreponsible and making them vulernable as a result.

• Dominant, hegemomic representation of gender: The Female Victim

        - This is a key code and convention as it is comething shown in many classic films such as 'Friday the 13th', 'The Texas Chainsaw Masacre' and 'Halloween'. However by choosing to make a more modern film, set in the 21st century, this may be a convention to challenge..