Genre Research Activity

For the Genre Research activity, I chose to research horror.

Horror is all about scaring the audience, getting them on edge, and playing with emotions like fear, shock, and suspense. This genre will dive into themes like death, the supernatural, and the fear of the unknown, made in such a way as to play with both your mind and senses.

Genre Conventions - Content

Horror usually features creepy themes such as the supernatural, ghosts, isolation, and people facing their worst fears or fighting against evil forces. Horror also has a lot of well-recognized character types, including "the final girl," who's normally the last one standing, and "the monster" or killer; there's also "the wise old person" who usually tries to warn everybody. They are usually set in creepy, dark locations such as forests, haunted houses, or abandoned towns that create tension and make things feel a lot more isolated.

Genre Conventions - Production techniques

The horror genre usually consists of dark lighting and shadows in order to maintain the eerie, creepy, themes as mentioned before. Horror is also known for the large variety of sound used, such as sudden loud noises or unsettling music; silence is also present throughout the majority of horror films to keep the audience on edge. Horror also uses lots of close-ups and POV shots to immerse the viewer, therefore making them feel as if they were experiencing what was on the screen.

Institutional Conventions - Marketing

Horror movies usually play up how intense or scary they are in the trailers and posters. They’ll tease some of the scares without showing too much, making you wonder about the real danger or twist. They’re often rated R or have warnings to let people know these films are a level up in scariness.

Film Sample #1 - The Conjuring (2013)

The Conjuring is one of those classic supernatural horror movies. It’s set in a creepy, isolated house and has all the ghostly things you’d expect. The lighting is super dark, and the background music is unnerving, which just builds up the tension. They show very little of the actual ghosts, which makes it scarier because your imagination does the work.

Film Sample #2 - Hereditary (2018)

Hereditary mixes family drama with horror, which makes it even more disturbing. The film uses long silences, close-ups, and unsettling visuals to build up a sense of dread. It doesn’t rely on jump scares but instead has creepy moments that stick with you. The marketing focused on how this was a horror film that would leave a lasting impression.

Other Film Examples in the Horror Genre

1. Psycho (1960) - Psycho (1960) - IMDb

2. Get Out (2017) - Get Out (2017) - IMDb

3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - IMDb

4. Birdbox (2018) - Bird Box (2018) - IMDb

5. The Shining (1980) - The Shining (1980) - IMDb

6. The Exorcist (1973) - The Exorcist (1973) - IMDb

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Overall, horror movies keep drawing people in because they take you out of your comfort zone and make you feel scared and curious all at once. They let you experience fear without the real danger, and that thrill is what keeps fans coming back.