Once we had researched all 3 genres by looking at existing products and came up with our pitches. We decided to do a horror opening for our project. To expand my knowledge of this genre I decided to do further research into its conventions etc.
Horror Genre:
Horror often focuses upon the opposed extreme possibilities of human nature with women as the embodiment of trusting innocence and vulnerability and a male figure as the personification of violent predatory desire; in short we inhabit a world that contains both good and, most frighteningly evil.
Horror genre can be categorized in a variety of different ways:
- Hybrids: horror thriller/sci-fi/fantasy/comedy/adventure
- Sub-genres: gothic/slasher/zombie
- Franchises: sequels, remakes
- Cycles: Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy.
Conventions:
- Horror films are set in an irrational, supernatural world. This setting distinguishes the films from other genres which exist in a believable realistic world.
- This setting also differentiates the horror film from the thriller which has a rational explanation of events e.g: if people die in a thriller they stay dead; in a horror film they may come back to life.
- Despite taking place in an irrational world the horror film is governed by rigid rules - vampires can only be killed by a stake through the heart etc
- There is little moral certainty in the horror films; the audience may be encouraged to identify with or feel sympathy for the 'monsters' and enjoy the deaths of the innocent victims.
- There are certain conventions which the sub-genres share - the isolated setting, the indestructible monster, the themes of forbidden pleasures - but it is also the case that sub-genre has its own definable conventions.
The aim of the horror film is to frighten the spectator, to make them feel fearful and anxious.
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