Genre research and interlectual texts

The music in a horror film has one common type which starts off slowly as a build up to usualy when a killing is taking place then quickens up the pace to interfere with your heartbeat to intensify the situation. In all horror films this music is used to show the dramatic effect in one way or another. This music is generaly repeated whenever a killing is taking place to ensure the audience is aware of what is happening and signifys to the audience there is fear/horror related to this piece of music. The most famous example of this is most probably Jaws (imdb)

The theme tune to Jaws.

The location of most horror films are usualy romote and abandoned therefore enforcing the atmospheric feeling of being alone/being watched which makes it uncomfortable for the audience to be there as can be realistic in many situations. Scream (house), wrong turn (woods/abandoned road), sorority row (house party/outside middle of nowhere), The shining( in a house)Old school horror is set at night and in locations such as graveyards, woods, moors, beaches, holiday destinations, countryside where stormy/cold weather is frequent unless a comedy factor is introduced where a hot climate may occur such as club dread:


Blue or green Filters are often used over the lense to signfy cold blood/cold atmosphere and to singfy nightime. They are use in Cry Wolf and Bride of Chucky.
There are also many stereotypical characters  and factors which a succesful horror film will incllude such as:
1) Scream Queen Blonde 'Male Gaze' Exposed.
2) Teenage Characters- use of slang and comedy.
3) Final girl Brunette Virgin Type,
4)Sex, drugs, music and alcohol use.
5)A weapon such as knife, saw or gun.
6)An unexposed killer.
7)Figure of authority
8)Boyfriend- jokey/immature.
9)False scares for example in Hell night (when window slams)

Teenagers/Adults are generaly aware of the codes and conventions of horror films, however a novelist Seth Graeme smith wrote a book how to survive a horror movie he outlines 7 things a character does to be destined to die they are:
Curiosity
Sex=having sex in care will ensure death
Unattractiveness= makes you a prime target to a killer.
Independance
Doubt
Maschismo
Irresponsibility.

THE KILLERS MOTIVE: In many horror films the killer is jelous/doesnt agree with a couple who is sexually active, so kills them as a form of punishment. In the SAW films, the killers motive is that every person they play games with has done something wrong in their life or that they should be ashamed of and punished them.

The killer also often has a point of view shot which is very commonly used in most horror films, shakey camera work is used to signfy someone is being watched and heavy breathing is usualy used to indicate someone is there, which again messes with yor heartbeat.

The killers are generaly male and masked such as halloween and scream.