Conventions of Horror are the typical common things we would expect to see when watching this genre.
Secluded locations - This can be a place that is shut off or isolated so for example some horror films have an abandoned house in the middle of the woods.
Characters forget about threat - In Horror there is a lot of stupidity when it comes to characters forgetting that there is a threat waiting or lurking waiting for them.Normally this isn't the main character as it is the most vulnerable and gullable character.Dispersion of disbelief.
Power is cut off - The scariest moment of a horror film can be the power cut as anything can happen within this space of time.
Phone line is cut or phone runs out of battery - This features in a lot of horror films so that the characters cant escape easily or get help.More recent times the Cell phone has been brought into it and it all of a sudden runs out of battery or maybe damaged and possibly the character is in a location where they cannot get signal.
Someone investigates a strange noise - This is the most unbelievable yet overused convention of a horror film. The audience can see what is going to happen next to the character that will investigate a noise where the monster is lurking preying on them.
Someone will run upstairs instead of outside - Rather than running outside to freedom the character will clearly sprint past open doors or escape routes and run upstairs hiding whilst the monster is playing hide and seek with this character.
Victim cowers in front of window or door - An easy jump scare is for a character is to simply hide behind a door or window waiting for the monster to crash through it. Leading up to that moment it builds suspense for the audience.
Vehicle wont start - This can be any vehicle and it just so happens it brakes or has no petrol and the victim cant get away in it.
Fake scare - This is used a lot within the horror genre as it is a common convention. This is any scare that is not connected to the threat for example a friend jumps out , a door slams or a character enters the room unnoticed. This convention can be very effective if worked well.
Warning goes ahead - A warning to a character may be given but instead of not doing what they have been told not to do they do it and walk straight into danger.
Someone gets killed in the first 5 minutes - used in most slashers and some other horror films but mainly in slashers.
X years Before/Later - Seeing previous incidents that can occur again or cause a problem in the latter stages of the film.
The Stormy night - Even back in the Victorian times horror the stormy night cliché was used to create a scary and negative atmosphere.
The short cut -A Typical convention of horror film is the short cut, usually taken to get to the supposed destination quicker but it just so happens it ventures out further out to where help is not in site if anything goes wrong.
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