Ebooks

I went on the college's Ebooks system and typed in then searched for 'horror film conventions'. A book came up and as I looked through the pages I found some useful information about some conventions and audiences for horror films. The information informs me about teenagers usually being a fan of horror films so they should be included in our target audience. Also, horror films are told at night so this also means filming at night or in an evening would also build up tense and follow some conventions.

Primarily, confrontation of fear in a safe environment (whether it’s in a cinema, around a campfire or snuggled up in bed) works at a primordial level to psychologically prepare an individual for life’s hardships as well as acting as a cautionary source of morality. To this end, the best tales are told in the dark or at night where the logical light of day cannot disperse their phantasmagorical effect or mock their inherently dubious premises. Ultimately, the horror film is a faerie or folk story, no different to Grimm’s traditional oral tales, just presented to the audience in a manner suited to our times. Throughout history, humankind has been fascinated by the bizarre, the macabre and the horrific - from revelling in ancient gladiatorial battles to modern motorists gawping at an accident, terror has always formed a part of our lives. The horror film offers a chance to experience this fear and disgust within a fantastical and physically nonthreatening context. There is a catharsis within horror - to see victims deal with a situation, jump at the scary moments and recoil at the grotesque, but ultimately leave the cinema unscathed. It also offers an ideal date setting, which is why it is so popular with teens - a scary movie is just the thing to ensure that you both cuddle up close.

Odell, Colin; Le Blanc, Michelle. Horror Films.

Harpenden, , GBR: Pocket Essentials, 2001. p 7.

http://site.ebrary.com/lib/stratford/Doc?id=5007504&ppg=7

Copyright © 2001. Pocket Essentials. All rights reserved.