Research: Codes and Conventions In Horror Films

What are codes?
Codes are a system of signs, which are used to create meaning. Codes are divided into two categories - technical and symbolic.

Technical codes are the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text. An example of this is the editing or use of sound (diegetic and non-diegetic).

Symbolic codes, on the other hand, show what is beneath the surface of what we see. They are usually seen through aspects of Mise-en-scene. For example, a character's actions show you how the character is feeling, a character's costume can be decoded to help us understand what type of person they are, certain props have connotations which can be decoded by the audience, etc.

What are Conventions?
Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. There are various general conventions in any medium, such as the use of quotations in an article, but conventions are also genre specific.

Examples of the conventions in Horror films include:

Secluded Locations
In most horror films, characters are placed in a locale where there's no one around to help them. Examples of this are the woods, a ghost town, a summer camp, a house in the middle of nowhere, etc.

Power Is Cut
Light suddenly go out at the worst possible moment. Note to any would-be serial killer, definitely cut the power before you start killing. There is very high chance no one will think it's out of the ordinary.

Victim Inexplicably Falls Over
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Person falls over for no reason. Why do they do it? No-one will ever know.

Vehicle Won't Start
Need I say more.

The Fake Scare
One of the oldest and most over-used conventions in horror films. They can take on any shape and size, but in general, any scare in a film that is not connected to the threat.

Warning Goes Unheeded
It is a basic part of human nature to go where one is told not to go, and do what one is advised against doing.

Someone Is Killed In The First 5 Minutes
It is either brilliant when done well (i.e. Jaws) or completely pointless.