Genre

Genre

What is genre? What are typical horror and psychological thriller

genre conventions?

What is genre?

Genre is a French word which means ‘type’

A genre has certain characteristics that are known and recognised by the mass audience. Media products can be placed into a type of genre by the conventions which they convey.

Horror is a genre of film, but within this there are sub genres. A sub genre is a smaller category under a broad genre heading.

For example: A psychological thriller is a sub genre within horror.

Genre and Audience

As films fit into specific genres it allows the audience to learn the conventions of these genres to apply them to the film they are about to see.

By having set genres the audience create expectations of the plot or storyline and it gives them pleasure to know that they can predict how the the film will pan out.

Genre and Audience cont…

A suspension of disbelief is used in horror films, especially in psychological thrillers as they portray a story or a mental illness so well that the audience genuinely believe that everyone with that illness really acts this way. These films are made so believable that even the most far out ideas seem the ‘norm’.

The audience hope that their own fears will be overcome when they go to see/watch a horror film.

Horror conventions

They rely on myth and legends for the plot and themes.

Monsters and Vampires are seen as a metaphor for death and illness.

Settings; Forest/Woods, mental hospitals, usually quiet areas (villages/towns), warehouses

Props; Knives, chainsaws, blood, dolls

Music and Sounds; Creaking doors,

echoes of quietness, slow/eerie music to drive the narrative and create tension

Psychological thriller conventions

The characters try to determine what is real and what is not. It’s them battling a mental issues that consume their minds.

The character has a different perception of the world than others, often seeking advice or seen mingling with people who think the same as them.

Unstable and emotional state of a character

Themes; reality, perception, mind, existence/ purpose, identity, death