Codes and Conventions

Supernatural Horror

Settings
It is conventional for a supernatural horror to be set in the home
of the protagonist. Other venues vary, depending on the
narrative, but the horror is set at the places that are close to the
main character. For example their workplace, the garden, the
car etc, but most commonly at the characters house.
Supernatural horrors are set in peoples homes because it
promotes the fear of something unwanted and unfriendly
entering your own personal space, making you feel frightened.

Plotlines

There are two common themes that supernatural horrors tend to use, one of which involves a home where the
previous residents had died there and a new family moves into that home. This then triggers the occurrence of
paranormal events, for instance the film The Amityville Horrors takes the format of this plotline.

The other common type of plotline used is that something happens to a person that forces a spirit/ curse to
come to them, this takes place in the supernatural horror Drag Me to Hell.

Other conventional features to the plotline involve the audience being led to believe that a certain character is
one that we can trust, when eventually it is exposed that they are the cause of the horror. For example, in
Paranormal Activity the couple believe they are being followed by a spirit, when in fact; the female
character turns out to be the one possessed.

Another basic plotline includes the protagonist being a child, one that was murdered and has come back to
seek revenge by tormenting the main character.

Costumes
In supernatural horror, the audiences attention is not diverted away
from the action in the scene due to the simplistic costume, so we can
identify the mood of the character and distinguish between different
character personas.
The main character is likely to wear studios and conservative attire,
nothing provocative or revealing. The main female character is likely
to be a grown woman and so she wears clothing that is smart and
sophisticated when leaving the house, and is also likely to wear casual
garments, such as jeans when relaxing at home.

Occurrences
The creaking of a door and the curtain blowing in the wind by the open window are
common occurrences, as they symbolise the entry of the unknown.

These tend to take place in the earlier stages of the narrative, as their occurrence
only minutely indicates the presence of a ghost or spirit. In supernatural horrors,
there is always the scene that involves the protagonist looking into the bathroom
mirror, to see that beside her own reflection is the reflection of the ghost.

Other conventional occurrences include flickering of candles, peering through the

key-hole, wet footprints, squeaky noises such as creaking doors or floorboards,
dripping water and the protagonist hiding in a darkened corner like a vulnerable
child.

Weapons/Props
Uses of weapons in supernatural horrors come out of what
is surrounding the victim, for instance, household
appliances, kitchen utensils, ornaments, and garden
equipment anything that is sharp, long and or heavy. This
subgenre tends to have less blood and violence as it is
more focused on paranormal events.

Sounds
It is conventional to create a juxtaposition of sound and image, for instance,
in this genre, especially ones that involve a child-ghost, you can create
contrapuntal sound by adding sound that is supposed to be sweet, innocent
and endearing to a scene where something terrible is about to occur. Adding
childs laughter to a scene like this can make it appear sinister.

Other uses of sound, usually asynchronous and parallel include faint

whispering, childrens laughter, crazed laughter, an old woman cackling,
sounds like these are usually presented to us as we view the protagonist
hearing them as if they are coming from another world.

Lighting
It is conventional to use backlighting in scenes where the spirit will not be
exposed, we can only see the silhouette that has been created. Profile lighting
is also used to make a character appear sinister; it indicates to audiences
whether or not this person can be trusted. Under lighting is lighting that comes
from a light source below, used in scenes of desperation, during blackouts of
light, characters resort to torches, lanterns and candles to help them see.
In supernatural horrors it is conventional for the protagonist to experience
cold, wet and stormy weather, as it re-enforces the turbulent, unsettling bluster
of the plot. The main character is also likely to experience a power cut in their
home, this promotes the childhood fear of the dark, making the character
appear vulnerable and naive.