Research Essay: Codes and Conventions in Existing Horror Films Aimed at a Teenage Audience

Essay for Media 

Codes are signs that create meaning in a film. They are broke up into two categories, symbolic and technical. 

-Symbolic - Shows thing beneath the surface of what we see, i.e. a characters actions show you what they are feeling. 

-Technical - How the equipment is used to tell the story, i.e. the lighting, how often clips change.

Conventions are the typical events that happen or aspects within a genre of a film, i.e. In horror films it is usually a small group of people in the middle of nowhere with no signal. 

Dead Wood 

Mise-En-Scene 

Dead wood starts off with an establishing shot of the woods along with shading from the trees with slow, eerie music in the background to set the scene. It is interrupted by a foot running through a puddle and the music becomes tense and fast paced. A man appears to be trying to get away from something that has already encountered him as he has scratches and blood on his face. He is wearing a Hawaiian shirt which makes him look like a bit of an idiot and the other character (female) is wearing revealing clothing which she can easily be injured through. 

Conventions 

There are a lot of conventions in this film, beginning with the characters being isolated in the middle of nowhere with no way of getting help if they are in danger. Another convention is that the character being chased falls over to make the audience think they are going to get caught therefore causing suspense. When you see safety there is an obstacle and the character has to stop, enabling the enemy to proceed closer to them. The character doesn't call out for help when someone would be able to hear and dies within the first five minutes. Another character then comes out of safety to look for the other person. 

Use of Camera 

There is a wide range of camera shots, angles and movements. This includes mid-shots of the character running through the woods and close-ups to show the expression on the character's face. High and low camera movements are used to show height, for example when the man is hanging from the ditch. There is a slow-motion shot when the character is jumping across the ditch to make it tense and makes the audience nervous and question whether or not he is going to make it.  

Use of Sound 

The music starts off soft and peaceful to give a nature feel to the atmosphere. A step through a puddle interrupts the music and all of a sudden it becomes tense and fast-paced. It gradually increases in volume as it gets more tense (this is to build up to the outcome). The violins are used as sudden noises to make the audience jump before you know the threat. When the character stops at the ditch the music stops and there are only diegetic sounds, this is until they decide to jump. The music becomes soft again when the other character comes out of the tent and is looking for them. 

Editing 

It fades into the first scene making it seem spooky and mysterious. The clips are linear, this means that they run in the correct order to which they are supposed to so it makes sense. When it becomes tense the clips are shorter and therefore change more often, this gives a rushed, dramatic sense to the film. Again, slow-motion is used to create tension and suspense. 

 

Dead Mary

Mise-En-Scene 

The music played gives the audience a sense that the villain is there even though you can't see it. The character is wearing revealing clothing which she can easily be injured through. The different camera shots, angles and movements give a sense of danger and the lighting from the shade of the trees gives an eerie feeling. 

Conventions 

The character is on her own in a car in the middle of nowhere, this means that if she gets into danger she has no one to help her. The car is out of gas and it appears that another character (male) has gone to get some from the gas station a while behind them, so she can't quickly escape if something bad happens. The character checks their phone and the radio but fails at both as there is no signal. She finds a potential object that will get her out of danger if she gets into any but places it in a place that would be difficult to quickly grab hold of. 

Use of Camera 

 The film starts off with a close-up of an object the audience will not yet be able to make out, this makes it seem mysterious. It uses a range of close-ups after to show the main objects e.g. the car, the woman and the trees. There is a mid-shot of the character to show her revealing clothes. The road length is emphasised by an establishing shot looking down the empty road behind the car. There is a shot from another point of view looking at the car from the trees, this makes the audience think it is the villain. 

Use of Sound 

In the view of the villain, there is a loud, irritating metallic sound which creates fear for the audience and makes them feel something is suddenly going to happen. The diegetic sounds include the crackling of the radio to show there is no signal and the trees swaying to show emptiness. 

Editing 

The clips are linear so the film flows well and in order, this ensures it makes sense. The cuts are slow and don't happen as often as they do in 'Dead Wood', this gives a dark, strange feeling and may make the audience feel uncomfortable. The blurriness when the camera looks down the road gives the audience a feeling of the unknown as you can't see the end which is a fear to most people. 

984 words

1. Explanation/Analysis and Argument = 12

I could have explained a lot of the points better and not of used the same phrasing. 

2. Use of Examples = 11 

I used a few examples but I feel I could of used them a lot more to explain my point better. 

3. Use or Terminology = 5 

I think I have used key terminology but could have used it a lot more where appropriate.