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Codes And Conventions In Classic Horror Films
Final Girl Theory
The final Girl theory states that one female character will always be left alive until the end of the film, while all the other characters have died. These characters are often much more rational, and compared to other female characters, aren't conventionally pretty or stereotypically naive and reckless.
The final Girl theory states that one female character will always be left alive until the end of the film, while all the other characters have died. These characters are often much more rational, and compared to other female characters, aren't conventionally pretty or stereotypically naive and reckless.
For example, in scream, the blonde character 'Casey' dies first, while the brown haired character 'Sidney' survives and confronts the killer.
Isolation
To create much of the tension for the audience, victims are often shown to be isolated, alone or with few people. This acts to make the character feel even more vulnerable to the killer. Often, characters are home alone, walking somewhere at night or trapped (this ties in to Craven's theory, that the safest places can be made the scariest). Scream also uses this with Casey being home alone.
To create much of the tension for the audience, victims are often shown to be isolated, alone or with few people. This acts to make the character feel even more vulnerable to the killer. Often, characters are home alone, walking somewhere at night or trapped (this ties in to Craven's theory, that the safest places can be made the scariest). Scream also uses this with Casey being home alone.
Phones
Technology such as phones is often paired with the isolated location, as it highlights how alone the character is.
Technology such as phones is often paired with the isolated location, as it highlights how alone the character is.
Sometimes a phone will also often be shown to break or have no service, to use part of Carroll Clover's idea of technology never working in a horror film.
Playing With Audience Expectations
Building suspense is a big part of a horror narrative, however it can lead to the audience quickly second guessing what'll happen next. As a result a more modern trope has appeared, where the points in the film in which something is expected are deliberately ignored, or the suspense build goes from high to low over and over. This makes actual jump scares more surprising, and leaves the audience less secure as they don't really know what to expect.
Building suspense is a big part of a horror narrative, however it can lead to the audience quickly second guessing what'll happen next. As a result a more modern trope has appeared, where the points in the film in which something is expected are deliberately ignored, or the suspense build goes from high to low over and over. This makes actual jump scares more surprising, and leaves the audience less secure as they don't really know what to expect.
'The ring' uses a phone call to highlight the characters are without a authority figure or someone to protect them, and uses heavily implied or fast imagery as well as character dialogue to signify the monster, rather than showing what she actually looks like.
An Unseen Monster
Commonly in paranormal horror, the killer or monster will often be heavy implied, briefly seen, but never fully shown. This is to add to the tension of the film in many cases, as if the audience and characters never see the threat, they cannot truly expect it. Also by employing the power of suggestion, the audience can create something in their mind 10 times more horrible and scary than can be shown on screen through practical effects or CGI.
Commonly in paranormal horror, the killer or monster will often be heavy implied, briefly seen, but never fully shown. This is to add to the tension of the film in many cases, as if the audience and characters never see the threat, they cannot truly expect it. Also by employing the power of suggestion, the audience can create something in their mind 10 times more horrible and scary than can be shown on screen through practical effects or CGI.
The locations of murder scenes
One of the most common places that murders happen in horror films are in the character's homes, as it should be the place where they are the safest. The scenes then often take place either in the bathroom or kitchen. The symbolism of this comes in the kitchen comes from the presence of knives, a classic horror weapon, while in the bathroom comes from bath, the perfect place to drown someone, as well as it being a place in the home where you may feel most vulnerable.
One of the most common places that murders happen in horror films are in the character's homes, as it should be the place where they are the safest. The scenes then often take place either in the bathroom or kitchen. The symbolism of this comes in the kitchen comes from the presence of knives, a classic horror weapon, while in the bathroom comes from bath, the perfect place to drown someone, as well as it being a place in the home where you may feel most vulnerable.