Codes - Systems of signs, which create meaning. Codes can be divided into two categories - technical and symbolic. Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film.
Technical codes include sound (diegetic and non-diegetic), camera movement, camera shots and editing.
Symbolic codes are portrayed through aspects of Mise-en-Scene which can have connotations that can be decoded by the audience.
Conventions - 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.
Conventions of a Horror Film
Isolated Location
Horror films are usually set in a secluded location in order to create a tense, scary atmosphere. It also ensures that later on in the film, the characters won't be able to call out for help because they're all alone.
No Signal
The convention of having 'no signal' again puts forward the sense of helplessness as it stops the characters from being able to call for help.
Lights Go Out
A common fear is the fear of the dark. By incorporating this within movies, the scenes automatically become scarier as the element of the unknown comes into play.
The use of darkness is effective in this clip of 'The Woman in Black' because it hides the figure - this makes the scene more tense because the audience is unable to determine when the jump scare is going to occur. As well as this, the lights turn out one by one to highlight how the woman is getting closer and closer.
Someone Always Falls Over
Right in the middle of the chase, the victim inexplicably falls over. This makes the audience feel an urge of panic and intensity.
When the woman trips up the stairs, it forces the audience to focus more on the surroundings. The pace of editing slows down, which makes it more dramatic because the threat of the chase suddenly stops without any explanation.
Characters Forget About Threat
The characters always forget about the negative things that have happened previously - whether it's a death, a curse or worse. This sets the scene for the horror movie because the audience always has the sense of threat at the back of their minds.
In the movie 'Sinister" the Oswatt family move into a new house, even though it was the sight of many family murders.
Mysterious Noises
In practically every horror film old, unexplained noises are usually heard.
The clap and seek scene in 'The Conjuring' uses a harmless noise of a clap. However, later on it is revealed that the clapping wasn't from any of the family members.
Early Deaths
Early deaths are used to set the mood and tone for the rest of the film.
In the opening scene of 'Jaws' it becomes obvious that the film is based around the idea of deadly sharks.
Bad Weather
The use of pathetic fallacy indicates the emotion that the director wants us to feel. Quite often thunder and lightning is used because of the common childhood fear of them.
Silly Decisions
Characters usually make stupid decisions, which nine times out of ten, gets them killed. Whether its hiding under beds or taking risky shortcuts, the decision is always fatal.
In this scene from 'Scream', Tatum decided to go through the cat flap even though it is obviously too small for he whereas she could of easily re-opened the garage door whilst the killer was on the floor.
Freaky Children
Freaky adults are scary, but freaky children...that's just a whole new level.
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