Conventions of a Horror film

Most generic horror films follow the same conventions as it supplies a fright and a scare which is what the audience usually wants. For example, the characters are typically a younger audience with a range of charters who are a group of friends and these are to help relate to the audience . Examples can be cabin in the woods with a wide range in characters from a 'jock' to a 'nerd'

The villain is usually a male middle aged especially in a slasher films such as Friday the 13th

Alternatively, a lot of horror films revolve around supernatural and out of this world beings as it generates fear which is scary.

Themes and story lines of horror films are usually a group of people in a set place where they cannot escape and are being attacked by a deadly person or thing.

In Saw they are trapped and have to fight to escape with one sick minded person controlling it much like in Cabin In The Woods which they cannot leave and this is similar to Blair Witch Project where they try to leave but for some reason cannot. So the setting and the story line are together and the audience get set vibes from the atmosphere by either witnessing the antagonist or the setting.

There is usually a re-occurring prop that in horror films tends to be a weapon or object that summons or links to the scary, horrifying stimulus that the film will be focused around. For example the iconic chainsaw in Texas chainsaw massacre where every time it is seen it is linked to a gruesome death.

This is also the case with the huge kitchen knife in Friday the 13th and is the icon for a brutal stabbing and also the mask which just its appearance is chilling.
Finally, a classic cheap horror film exposes it nature and makes it more personal and connected with the audience if there is a camcorder or a video camera such as paranormal activity or REC.

The lighting and colour of a typical horror film is simple... dark and gloomy with colours such as deep reds which stand out against a white object with a black background. The low key lighting also leads to more shadows and thus an eerie atmosphere.

One of the main aspects of a horror film is Mise-en-scene and because scenes are often dark and dull, when we see something scary it is well costumed or in lots of detail. Directors use a lot of relatable fears in horror films to try and attract a wide audience this is why (^) clowns and spiders/ zombies are often used as jump scares. In addition to lots of gore or high pitched sound! To elaborate on the sound, when we see key elements or occurrences in the film loud sound effects are used to shock and further scare the reader with the surprise effect. Additionally, off putting sounds may also be used such as childrens toys which end up being extremely creepy and off putting. Furthermore, it is conventionaly for horror to lack sound as it helps create suspense.

Even though this is from American Horror Story you can see that the same principles apply.

The camerawork of a horror film tends to consist of tracking shots as it involves the audience more and like the typical shot within the hotel of the shinning we cannot see what is around corners.

The editing is often full of long takes to lengthen the waiting process making the anticipation of waiting for the inevitable jump scare. Rather unusual in other genres half way through a film, but in horror there is often uses of a fade to show a passing of time and horror films, especially classics are over a fairly long time.

From a typical horror opening we as the audience learn who the killer/ the problem is and we see either  inkling of a death so that the audience want to know what happened. We learn a little about the victims or at least the location and therefor the audience learns and knows weather or not the film is for them or not.