Codes and Conventions of the horror genre and sub-genre

Conventions of the horror genre

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The purpose of a horror film is to make the audience feel disconcerted and so therefore this is done through the conventions of a typical horror film. Whilst watching horror films the audience will experience an adrenaline rush because the horror genre creates anxiety and shock; it summons the audiences' fear onto screen because the inconceivable is happening right in front of them. Moreover, horror films also tend to end in an unforeseen way that would astonish the audience and so this therefore is another convention that attracts audiences to the horror genre. Screaming is also an effective convention of a horror genre as a character's scream is a signifier of death and therefore alarms the audience because the screams pierces the audiences' ears and this makes them feel even more uncomfortable. Furthermore, in horror films, chase sequences are used nearly all the time as it builds up the terror within the audience because of the fast pace of the chase; during this time the uncertainty of the character's fate is what makes the audience feel nervous.