Researching Conventions In Horror/Slasher

 Conventions In Horror/Slasher

    Hello! Learning the proper conventions in a horror/slasher film is essential to actually making one. Though horror/slasher films usually follow the same stereotypical tropes, it's best to still research all the conventions in them, so that way I have all the information needed to make my own.

~ Characters 

    Horror/slasher films usually include the same character types: the killer, the 'final girl', the popular girl, the nerd, and a comic relief character. The killer seems indestructible. It's like no matter what you hurt the killer with, they just get back up and recover like nothing happened. Doing this drives the plot forward with the horror and makes the targeted characters work harder in order to try and take down the killer. The next is the 'final girl'. This character is the last to survive, innocent, and the one who goes face-to-face with the killer. Then we have the 'Popular girl'. She is often gullible, vain, and the first to get killed. The 'Nerd' is the smart one who helps figure out a way to defeat the killer. The last is the comic relief character, which is used to lighten the mood, but often is distracted.

~ Setting

The movie Freaky taking place at a High School

    In order to build tension and vulnerability, horror and slasher movies tend to select remote, dim, or familiar settings such as high schools, suburban homes, summer camps, cabins in the woods, and abandoned buildings. These settings, which are typically at night, prevent escape routes and increase fear. 

~ Lighting

    Low-key lighting is often used in horror and slasher movies to create deep shadows, high contrast, and a dark, mysterious mood. Also, it can show or mask scene details like a weapon or the killer. As ASC member Roy H. Wagner explains, “where the shadows are is where the audience doesn’t want to be... What kind of person walks into a dark room and doesn’t reach for a light? But if you put the main character in the light and surround that person with shadows, the audience instinctively wants to know what’s going on in that darkness.” By placing the main character in the light and surrounding them with shadows, it's able to pull the audience’s attention toward the unknown, building tension and fear. 

    This technique was especially important in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, where Freddy Krueger was intentionally kept partially hidden. By not fully revealing him, the audience is unable to relax, making him much scarier.

~ POV Shots 

The POV of Michel Myers in the film Halloween.

    In horror and slasher movies, POV (point-of-view) shots increase tension, mystery, and voyeurism by putting the viewer in the shoes of a character, usually the killer. This method, which is sometimes defined by shaky, stalking motions or deep breathing, hides the identity of the murderer while forcing the audience to follow their viewpoint. As you see the murderer approach someone who is oblivious of them, tension increases.

~ Twist Ending

  The plot twist of the killer being both Billy Loomis & Stu Macher in the original Scream film.

    Plot twists are often used in horror/slasher films to startle viewers while keeping suspense. Unexpected information, such as the killer's true identity, a character's hidden connection in the killings, or the villain not actually being dead, is frequently revealed by these twists. Plot twists are important because they contradict the audience's expectations and increase the suspense and fear of the movie. Particularly in slasher films, an unexpected turn of events close to the conclusion may drastically change how viewers think of the plot, making the ending more unsettling and unforgettable.

~ Conclusion

 In conclusion, learning the conventions of horror/slasher films is important for making a strong and believable movie. Features like familiar character types, dark settings, low lighting, POV shots, and plot twists all work together to create fear and suspense. Understanding them will help me use these conventions in my own film to keep the audience interested and on edge.

~ Sources 

- https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/SoYouWantTo/WriteASlasherHorrorStory 

- https://theasc.com/articles/terror-through-lighting#:~:text=The%20makers%20of%20suspense%20and,t%20reach%20for%20a%20light?

- https://www.colborlight.com/it/blogs/articles/low-key-lighting-in-horror-films-basics#:~:text=Low%20key%20lighting%20uses%20lots,shape%20and%20regulate%20the%20light.

- https://nofilmschool.com/point-of-view-shot