Date post: | 07-Jul-2015 |
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Slasher Conventions
Killer usually masked and psychotic in nature
The first victim is usually the bimbo, blonde, weak female who’s death sets
the style for the rest of the movie
The last survivor is female, and is strong willed and intelligent, respectful
of the rules and usually a virgin
The deaths are gore filled, using close range weapons and bloody effects to
accentuate the tension
Victims are mostly teenagers, who rebel from the norm (typical sex,
drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll style rebellion)
Psychological Conventions
The antagonist has a twisted a psychotic mind, but physically looks
and acts normal
The antagonist’s mind is the main threat in the film
Deaths are usually not very gruesome, and happen more frequently as the main character loses mental control
Flashbacks are common, as the pro/antagonists mental state and
history of mind is the driving force for the
narrative
Supernatural Conventions
Narrative is driven by the presence of a usually evil spirit or poltergeist who is uncontrollable
Other narrative pushing events will occur, such as a curse
Psychics and mediums are often called in to help with the problem, but is most likely unsuccessful
Jumpscares are common, with mirrors, shadows and anticlimaxes building the tension until the snap
Creaks and slamming doors create tense diegetic, whilst contrapuntal is commonly used as non-diegetic sound
The location is often a family home similar to the one an average member of the target
audience would inhabit
Possesion Conventions
The main driving force on the narrative is the presence of a spirit or demon that has taken over the body of a host
The main character who serves as the unwilling host is often a female, and is either very young and innocent or older and
normal (ie they fit within the bounds of normality, with nothing really special about them)
The evil spirit is contained in something simple and household such as a book or a cuddly toy
The victim’s physical appearance changes from the innocent normal look we see before the possession, to the pale, peeling skin, dark haired, endless eyed costume
and makeup we see from a possessed host
The host body will start speaking in ancient languages such as Hebrew, Latin of Incan/Mayan.
NOTE: The host body here in Insidious is a young male, rather than the conventional
young female
Levitation and contortion are two conventional visual climaxes that both climax the tension and further push the narrative
Gothic Horror Conventions
The protagonist that captures or slays the beast is usually a strong, archetype male; one who overpowers the
antagonist creature rather than outsmarting it
The damsel in distress character will play that role exactly, and provide a means for the male protagonist to enter the narrative
Gothic horrors are often set in the past, on a large estate or a Victorian manor or mansion
Mythical creatures or beings could occur, such as Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, Werewolves, or Ancient Spirits