Research on Genre Conventions

 I've made up my mind to select a new narrative but the genre is still similar to the previous one, with a little spice...

My previous Psycho Serial Killer artist narrative was all thriller and horror, but my new story adds mystery to it too. based on my research and observation, nighttime, mist, and crooked trees, with a swing swinging by itself is one of the very commonly used conventions in horror stories. When any of these things are observed, it gives off a scary vibe, and the audience are welcomed into a horror genre.

My filming location already has these conventions in it, since I'll be filming in my backyard at night, where there are numerous trees, a swing, and frequent winter mist. I'll be editing the footage and setting it to the commonly used color grading given to horror films, that includes high contrast and desaturation. Setting a cooler temperature will bring a raw and cold effect to the scene, and will complete the conventions of the genre, and will prepare the audience for a creepy and mysterious experience.

here are some pictures of common horror conventions I'll be including in my opening scene:

1. NIGHT TIME is perhaps the most common depiction of horror, because nearly everything haunted happens at night. The natural darkness carries its own beauty and horror, and you can never expect anything to happen under the pitch dark sky.

2. FOG and MIST are usually used in outdoor night time scenes in horror movies , and they surround the environment with a mass of dense air that blurs what you see and gives a 'trapped' feeling. Plus the fact of something dangerous being in the fog also brings shivers.

3. EMPTY streets and places fit well in the horror and mystery genres, because the fact of being alone and isolated in an empty place with no one else is scary, not because you are alone, but because you might not be alone.

4. MYSTERIOUS FIGURES in deep and foggy areas are also perfect for bringing curiosity in the viewer, and also creates a disturbing vibe. The viewer would want to know who or what that strange figure is, and how did it end up there.

5. Creepy SWINGS swinging by themselves at night is also a convention of horror used in numerous films. It brings unease and a ghostly feeling to the scene.

 

6. SCREAMS are perhaps most common and prominent in the horror genre. Be it the reaction of a victim to a monster! or just an unnerving cry of the monster itself!