Research: Codes and Conventions Of Existing Teen Horror Films

Many different varieties of codes and conventions are used within the existing teen horror films 'Dead Wood', 'Dead Mary', and 'Wrong Turn.'


Summit Entertainment is the distribution company or the teen horror Wrong Turn. One type of sound it involves is diegetic which is a few lines of dialogue, at the beginning, being exchanged between two characters, a male and female (a common horror film convention), those such as "What are you screaming for? You know were 50 miles from anyone.' This means that the film is set in a secluded location where there is no phone signal, these are conventions seen in most horror films. The sound effects in this film include echoing, screaming, stabbing, sudden sounds, the thud of a body which is enhanced for extra effect and most importantly the fake scare when the women character slips which is followed by the real scare where someone kills her. At the beginning of the advertisement for the film it has tension-building scary music, non-diegetic sound (which is a technical code) and dull music which shows a sense of danger. Someone is also killed within the first five minutes of the film which sets the scene and shows the audience that it is a horror and also it is clearly a dangerous situation as its not easy to escape the point of being halfway up a cliff-face, these are also very frequently used conventions in teen horror films.
Menan Films is the production company of the teen horror film Dead Wood. This film opening begins with a bird whistling and an establishing shot which suggests that the location is secluded as minute sounds can be heard. It also begins with dull, low tone music which involves and slow paced piano, this is non-diegetic sound which builds tension within the audience as it suggests that something bad is going to happen. The film opening begins with a man running through the woods, with the bushes swishing, the sound is enhanced and becomes enhanced here using non-diegetic sound, which is a technical code. The sound is enhanced when he runs through a puddle, which is also used as a jump scare. The film opening ends with a women character coming out a tent and looking for the male character, this is a horror film convention used in almost every single teen horror movie created. When the women comes out of the tent a crane shot is used over the top of the tent, she has very little dialogue as she sounds confused repeating ''Rob, Rob?'', she is shown as vulnerable at the end. Diegetic sound is used when the male character attempts too jump over a ditch, leafs and mud fall down on the camera and the sound is cut out, this a technical code. Symbolic codes are used in this film opening when the fear in the male characters face is shown, this is because it uses mise-en-scene(make-up,) however it also uses an extreme close up camera shot to show the pure emotion. Mise-en-scene is also used through make-up when the male character chokes up blood in an extreme close up camera shot, this is a symbolic code. Someone is killed within the first five minutes which is a very frequently used horror movie convention. The same slow paced piano used at the start of the teen horror film opening is sued at the end, to indicate the ending.
Architect Type is the production company of Dead Mary, the teen horror movie. This film opening begins with an establishing shot which shows a secluded location, which is the most common convention used throughout many teen horrors. The male character walks back too the gas station a few miles away whilst the women waits at the car that has broke down due to no fuel. A common convention used in teen horrors is too start with a male and female character, this makes it particularly appealing to the teenage audience.  A symbolic code is used through mise-sen-scene which is through the use of props, this is within the sign at the gas station that says 'Last stop for 100 mile' which also indicates that the location is isolated. the woman is clearly waiting for something, she sighs which suggests frustration and she is tapping on the roof of the car which conveys the level of how impatient and bored she is. The common convention is used as the women tries too use the radio and their is no signal, she then tries too use her phone which also has no signal which she is frustrated with. The mimics of a threatening laughter is used through a technical code as it is a diegetic sound because the character would be able to hear it. The women is shown as a stereotypical person with a lot of skin showing. When she then looks through the glove box out of pure boredom, she comes across a flare gun which is usually used to send a signal out for help. This foreshadows that something bad is going to happen and the characters will try to get to the car later, which is another convention as they will most likely be stopped from reaching the car. A jump scare is also used, this is when the male character arrives back at the car from behind and slams the bottle of fuel on the floor which startles the female, this is a quite common convention used in teen horror films. When the car drives off the sound is enhanced.
I think my essay fits into level 1 for the first marking criteria. This is because I don't show much understanding of the task throughout my essay.
I think my essay fits into level 3 for the second marking criteria. This is because my essay offers consistent examples which are mostly relevant to the question.
I think my essay fits into level 2 for the third marking criteria. This is because I only included some terminology which may be inaccurate.