Genre Research: Horror Thriller Conventions

Conventions of Horror Thrillers:

Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something.

There are general conventions in any medium, such as the use of interviewee quotes in a print article, but conventions are also genre specific. 

All genres of film have certain conventions which the audience will expect to see.

• Secluded Location

Typically, horror/thriller films use a location where the protagonist is isolated. This is so no one is around to help them in the very well known disaster that is about to occur.

• i.e. woods, house, ghost town.

• Phone Line Goes Down

The phone line commonly goes down during a horror/thriller. This takes away the ability for the protagonist to seek help.  Cannot call the police, hospital, friends, family etc. For a cellphone, this differs slightly in horror/thrillers, such as the phone signal disappearing or the battery of the phone to die.

• Investigating A Strange Noise

Traditionally, the most overused and unbelievable horror convention. This is seen in probably most horror/thriller films. People have been dying all around you wherever you have been. Yet a noise occurs in an even more isolated location and the protagonist walks towards it. For some reason the actions of a normal human being would't be seen because it does not create the suspense a horror movie wants.

• Victims Linger Around Doors & Windows. 
• Antagonist Pass By Doors & Windows

This is an old technique used up into today's horror/thriller films. The protagonist, aware of a 'killer' is looking or hiding from their antagonist, always yet to appear right in front of doors and windows. This then leaves them to be 'snatched'. Or the protagonist looks out of the windows and see's nothing, yet as they turn around the antagonist suddenly rushes past the window, leaving the protagonist vulnerable and unaware.

• Vehicle Won't Start

Just as the protagonist gets the chance to escape to enjoy safety or gain help, the vehicle does not work, shame. Horror/thriller films purposely use this type of conventions to create panic and show that the character is stuck and will not be able to escape and is inevitable to die.

• Fake Scare

Fake scares have been used from the very start. The are used so much, maybe even overused. A fake scare can come in many different forms, from a door slamming, unknown phone ringing, unknown knock at door, friend jumping out, window, balloon pop, footsteps of animals or bird flies out etc.