Codes and Conventions of a Horror/Thriller

All horror/thriller movies tend to use the same codes and conventions to have an effect on their audience. There are many conventions that are used in horror movies which successfully scare or thrill the audience. I think one of the most important conventions to be used in a horror/thriller movie is the music. The music used in any film determines the mood so when scary music is played in a movie you automatically know something bad is about to happen. However the use of no sound can also be just as effective when creating suspence in a horror/thriller e.g silence before the villan jumps out to scare the victim.

   Amoungst the class we probably came up with over 200 conventions of a horror movie alltogether. However i will just list a few to give an idea of the range of aspects used to scare the viewer.

-paranormal

-gore

-death

-darkness

-chasing

-screaming

-storms

-weapons

-unrecognisable sounds or contrapuntal sounds

-abandoned houses

-haunted places

-cloaked figures

-masks

-insects

-blood

-evil

-dolls

-shadows

-horses

-monsters

-dark woods

-bats
All of these have been effectively used in horror/thriller movies.