Research into Horror Films

Horror films are designed to:

v  Frighten and panic

v  Cause dread and alarm

v  Invoke our hidden worst fear

v  Captivate and entertain us in a cathartic experience

v  May conclude in a terrifying finale which shocks the audience

Fears created by horrors:

v  Nightmares

v  Our vulnerability

v  Alienation

v  Revulsions

v  Terror of the unknown

v  Fear of death

v  Loss of identity

v  Fear of sexuality

Convention of characters:

v  Lead character becomes the survivor of the film

v  Killer monster often has a trademark of the people he kills or the weapon used

v  2 characters are in a conflict – good vs evil

v  Good person survives and defeats the ‘baddie’

General conventions:

v  Isolated location

v  Female victim

v  Disruption of normality

v  Sub plot of male/female relationship

v  Defeat of monster