Sub-genre codes and conventions research

 Horror films have certain codes and conventions that are stuck to in the creation of a horror film to make it seem like a typical horror film and for the audience to feel like they are watching a horror film. 

However the codes and conventions differ when we are introduced to sub-genres:

• Slasher
• Psychological
• SciFi (Science Fiction)
• Paranormal 
• Documentary
• Zombie horror
• Creature Feature
• Supernatural 

These sub-genres differ in many ways, for example, you wouldn't expect to see a werewolf in a slasher film, you would expect to see that in a supernatural film.

Slasher:

The plot that you would usually see in a slasher film usually involves a group of teenagers (this appeals to the common audience that watch these kinds of film) and a murderer with a weapon of choice (axe, knife, chainsaw etc). The group of teenagers would be doing something together such as having a party, going out or staying somewhere remote or cut off from other people would somehow end up coming into contact with the murderer. They are never usually killed off together, it is usually just one or two at a time and the rest of the group never suspect anything until they realise that some of the group is missing.

Titles of already existing slasher films are:

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
• Halloween
• Nightmare on Elm Street
• Scream

Characters expected to appear in a slasher:

• Hero (character who tries, possibly succeeds, to overcome the villain in some way, whether it be distracting so the others get away or trying to stop the killer. Usually thought that the bimbo's boyfriend will be the hero, usually the unexpected person that becomes the hero)
• Villain (the murderer, usually has some sort of motive to kill or has something wrong with them, they are possibly a psychopath)
• The final girl (this character is typically a 'tom-boy' and virginal or possibly vulnerable and is usually the one to escape or to die last)
• 'Damsel in distress' (this character in a slasher is usually a pretty, blonde girl who is typically a 'bimbo' who is with her typically masculine 'jock' boyfriend and she usually gets killed first)

 Colours that typically are featured:

• Red 
• Pink
• Black
• Grey
• White

Psychological:

The typical plot featured in a psychological horror film would be a character with an unstable mind set and usually with a mental illness such a schizophrenia killing people (not necessarily having a link with them) for unknown reasons or maybe there is something in their mind telling them to do things although that's not to be mixed up with supernatural. This therefore almost involves the audience more or at least makes them think more about the reasons, and they then get more out of the film in contrast to just being told what is wrong (Psycho is a good example of this). There are many different branches of psychological horrors, for example they may include themes of identity, death, perception and existence.  

 Titles of already existing psychological films are:

• Psycho
• The Silence of the Lambs
• The Shining
• Inception

The characters that are featured:

• Villain (the killer/character the film is based on)
• Damsel in distress (the character that gets killed/in need of help)
• Victim(s) (the people who are killed by the murderer, there is never usually a typical type of person or group of people that are targeted, it depends on the issue of the killer and their motives)

Colours that are typically featured:

• Red
• Black
• White
• Grey

Paranormal: 

The typical plot for a paranormal film includes an abandoned house, a family, group of friends, couple or single character moving into that house and, a ghost, spirit, spectre or possessed person. The house may have the ghost in it because of something that was important to the ghost whilst it was still alive. For example, in The Woman in Black, the Woman in Black is haunting Eel Marsh House because she wants to get revenge for her son's death that took place there, and also because she was found dead herself there. 

Titles of already existing paranormal films are:

• Paranormal Activity (2&3)
• The Woman in Black
• The Awakening
• Ouija

The characters that are featured:

• Hero (Character who fights off or tries to fight off the being/solves the problem)
• Villain (the supernatural / paranormal being)
• Damsel in distress (a young girl, or a teenage girl who is in need of help, possibly got some sort of relationship with the hero)

Colours that are typically featured:

• Black
• White
• Grey
• Desaturated colours - greens are muted for example in The Woman in Black and The Awakening