Horror and Thriller Conventions

Horror Conventions
Horror films are designed to invoke  peoples’ worst fears. This is often achieved by making the unreal, real and the unbelievable, believable. It plays very much on the human fear of death and murder. The film  usually features one antagonist who is determined to kill a group of protagonists until one remains. They often plays on survival of the fittest in films such as Saw. The often naïve nature of curious young people in films such as The Blair Witch Project. Ghost stories about supernatural spirits such as The Others. And less often, psychological Horrors like Psycho.

Horror conventions:
- Blood
- Murder
- Killing
- Darkness
- Naivety
- Survival of The Fittest
- Isolation
- Unexpectedness
- Monsters
- Young victims
- Suspense
- Dingy Lighting and Atmosphere
- Alienation
- Children often evil

Horror films are usually designed to revolve around one character and the potential threat that looms over the protagonists: death. The movie itself usually accounts the struggle of these victims as they attempt to escape the monster’s massacre. The story  becomes all about the fear that is created, which is supported by the use of suspense-creating music.


Thriller Conventions
The Thriller genre is mainly dominated by style rather than substance. They are usually stylish in their use of  quirky camera angles, alternative editing and fast-paced sound.


- Establishing Characters: Tracking and panning shots are the most common and always establish the main charcter and make these shots interesting to capture the audience's attention.

- The Titles: There is usually quite a basic feel to Thriller titles and allow the action to speak for itself.

- Mise-en-scene: This usually includes fast cars and big weapons which adds to the 'thrill'

- Camera Shots: Typically, Thrillers use a mixture of shots but the juzta-position of close-ups and long shots are used to build suspense and establish scenarios.

- Narratives: Usually Thrillers use two main characters and shoot the film for their ponts of view. Usually a contrasting protagonist and antagonist, exploring the age old facination with good and evil but regularly this genre attempts to covey the inner-thoughts of the antagonist which can often result in empathy from an audience.

- Themes play on the fears of society and this may include isolation, entrapment, murder, pain or terrorism etc

- Setting: The setting can range from a bustling city scenario in Action-Thrillers such as Collateral to Isolated ares and more Horror like scenarios.