Codes and Conventions

Horror Films usually feature

A disruption of normality. However, this is to be expected with most films.

To shock or disgust us. This is usually what the entire film revolves around as a major plot device, such as the games in Saw or the Scientist's experiment in A Human Centipede.

To raise anticipation or suspence


Horror films sometimes feature a muted colour pallete. This sets a gritty dark mood. Sleepy Hollow is a film that uses a blue tint throughout. To compensate for this, the blood used during the filming had an orange colour, which under colour change, appears dark red.

Often Horror films use unsettling music. Horror films from

Other films use established popular music in a different context, such as how the soundtrack to An American Werewolf in London uses songs with Moon in the title. This adds a twist and can create a bigger disturbance because of the clash, e.g, how the happy song Blue Moon was used during the famous transformation scene created irony, similar to how in A Clockwork Orange, Alex DeLarge sings Singing in the Rain during the rape scene.

An Absense of Authority figures is a common feature, such as how the Sherrif in a Texas Chainsaw Massacre or the Police in Hostel all seem to be involved in the murders. Sometimes films are set in desolate locations, such as the Shining set in a mountain hotel and Cabin Fever takes place in a Cabin in the woods. In the latter film, the characters phones had no signals, making them unable to call for help. In 28 Days Later, when the protagonists arrive in Manchester following an army radio call, the soldiers, who we expect to be authority figures, turn out to be immature rapists.