C and c of horror
- 1. What the audience expects to see, feel and be exposed to whilst watching a film of this genre. Horror Films have been around a long time, and have covered nearly every possibility imaginable. But under the fake blood and even faker screams, the same formula is used to create a Horror film
- 2. Characters -THE VICTIMS The Sacrificial Lamb is the first female victim to get killed in the film. Their death is for a good cause as they start off the narrative and also informs the audience of the antagonists intentions. • Young adult/Teen stereotypes normally fulfil the role of ‘Jocks’ or ‘Blonde, dumb, slutty Cheerleaders’ (Popular in American Films)- Completely unaware of dangers present. • They also do not take the initiative to run, instead they stand and scream and wait to be killed. • Their frustrating lack of common sense nearly always puts them in “grave” danger and they are likely to be gruesomely killed.
- 3. Characters -THE KILLER Jason's Weapon Often they have a troubled, dark past that explains why they do what they do and reveals motive-Flashbacks or monologues are often used to tell us about their background and origin.
- 4. Characters -THE LAST ONE Martin Brody-(Roy Schneider) Jaws series (1975) Jaws 1 Taking on the role of an intelligent lifeguard with a solid marriage and nuclear family; Brody discovers remains of a woman and sets out to find the shark responsible after the killings continue. Jaws 2 After the events of the first attack, Brody discovers someone else has disappeared and a beached whale with huge bites in it confirms another massive shark, however the greedy manager fires him after initiating a false alarm thus losing money so he takes it upon himself to stop the threat. Jaws 3 In this film Martin Brody is very old and his two children take over from him in preventing yet another monster of the deep from terrorising a sea life centre. Stereotypical Final Survivor Usually smart, wise, brave and the protagonist. Also portrayed as paranoid so they are very aware of the danger present. We are led to believe that they will die but in the final battle they manage to miraculously overcome the killer.
- 5. THE SETTING Horror Films are usually set in places that evoke fear and trigger terror.
- 6. ACTIONS (CONVENTIONS) These are what is expected to be seen in a horror film, an action code is a movement that usually tells the audience that something is about to happen (E.g.- A Killing). Groups split up to investigate a strange noise- This is used frequently and despite the murders of their friends they still insist on following the sound. Characters don’t acknowledge warning signs- instead of a hotel, a couple will choose an abandoned mansion in the middle of the woods to have sex in. Power cut & Dead phone line- This removes vision so they cannot see the predator attacking and no way to communicate to the outside world leaves the character to defend for themselves. Characters trips/ Car won’t start- This inexplicably happens whilst being chased by the antagonist and delays the escape or completely squanders any chance of survival.
- 7. STANDARD ICONOGRAPHY Killers signature weapon (Friday the 13th Jason's huge machete that reminds him of his mother. Disfigured Faces & Masks (Friday the 13th, 2005- Jason's Mask). Grotesque faces or disguises that hide emotions to make them appear unpredictable. Blood and Body Parts (Pretty much every Horror film) Good vs Evil Symbols of Death • Skeletons • Darkness • Coffins • Gravestones