Research
essay: codes and conventions
Within all horror films there are two types of codes. These
codes can either be technical of symbolic and are used to create different meanings
with the film. Technical codes are used to tell a story for in the way which
media is used. This can involve different things like camera shots, angles and
movements. This means they will include media techniques like shot size, long
shots, mid shots, close ups and extreme long shots to add more depth to a
story. A symbolic code will show you what is going on beyond what we can
visually see on the screen. For example, you will be able to determine the
emotions and feelings of a character through the characters actions. This can
involve them speaking differently or just moving in a different way which could
symbolise something to the audience. Other codes like music can fit into both
technical and symbolic however.
Conventions are the way that things are accepted in the
film. They are things that the audience will always expect to see depending on
what type of film is being watched. For example, in a horror film you would
expect for people to die, someone to go missing, a noise to come from upstairs
even though no one is home and other general conventions like that. Codes and conventions
are important within horror films as they help to set the scene, to build more
tension and elevate emotions within characters. These are all essential parts
of horror films as they can bring much more mystery and suspense to the movie.
Wrong
Turn:
The opening scene to Wrong Turn involves plenty of different
technical codes to emphasise the vulnerability of the male and female character
on the side of the cliff but mostly the female as she is not the immediate
victim. This includes crane shots from above to look down at the female
character as she is clinging on to the cliff. This is showing that she is
struggling. Low angle shots are used to show that she is quite high up the
cliff and in a dangerous position. Extreme close ups are used throughout the
scene as well to show her panicking and scratching at the wall of the cliff so
that she can hold on. When the male character is killed it is from a low angle
mid shot, this makes it unable for us to see what has actually taken him away
and killed him leaving us with more suspense and mystery. After the female
character has fell of the cliff after nearly being captured by the villain, the
use of close ups and POV are used to show the dead, bloody body of the male and
then to show her running through the woods. The diegetic sound of her breathing
indicates that she is very scared and literally running for her life. POV is
also used to show that she is not far at all from the safety zone which is the
car. The use of non-diegetic sound also helps to build a lot more tension and
sharpness to the chase scene whilst she is running through the woods to her
car. This is also a convention within horrors. The film starts off with
conventions to set the scene. These include being in the woods, secluded
location, male and female and the fact they are both roughly the same age as
the target audience. The mise-en-scene also shows that the female is also
wearing quite revealing climbing gear which could be seen as stereotypical
within films. Other conventions include the male and female being separated, abandoned/dangerous
area, no one is near to hear them and that the safety zone is always touching
distance away. Editing within the scene
is used to create a smooth match on action so that the scene makes sense and
also includes linear filming. Editing also includes the titles into the scene.
Dead
Mary:
The start of Dead Mary uses in-out of focus shots to add suspicion
to where the location is actually set. It uses extreme close ups to look at the
chains and old/worn signs to give the impression that the location is not cared
for. The chains make a metallic sound as well that makes the scene seem like a
weird atmosphere with an imminent danger. The camera then tracks out to show an
establishing shot of the car stopped in the middle of the road, this shows that
it is vulnerable and in a potentially dangerous position for something to
attack. The camera gives a lot of detail as to what the female character is
doing. For example it shows a lot of flesh on the girl and shows that she is
looking for a way to contact someone by checking her phone for signal and using
the radio to check for any type of communication. As this is a horror film
however, we all know that there will be no chance of any of them working at
all. Whilst this is happening the camera is switching from time-to-time to
something that is lurking in the woods nearby. The camera slowly pans and
tracks closer and closer to the car. The diegetic sound of the rustling leaves
add more tension to the scene whilst the non-diegetic eerie music makes it
quite spooky as well. The unfocused camera makes the male character seem like a
potential threat as well as it is unclear that he is there to help. Some conventions
which are involved in Dead Mary include an abandoned/secluded location, 2
people (boy/girl), no signal, same age as audience, the car wouldn’t start and
that the predator is not seen yet. The editing is still linear and has good
match on action but also helps to promote the growing danger of the villain that’s
lurking in the woods.
Dead Wood:
Dead Wood starts with an establishing shot to set the scene
of the secluded woods, much like Dead Mary and Wrong Turn. The camera then pans
down from a crane shot into a mid-shot/close up of a small stream in the woods.
All seems peaceful but then from this point a male character comes sprinting
through the stream. Instantly the music picks up pace into a fast and quick
tune. As the man is running you can see by the body actions that he is scared,
worried and terrified. Over the shoulder shots are used to make it seen as if
the audience is very much running alongside the male. Much like the other 2
openings you still can’t see the predator but know that it is very much out
there and dangerous. Once the male reaches a ditch in the woods, the music
stops and the camera cranes over him showing the danger of the ditch and
showing he is stuck with nowhere to go. The male can see the safety zone (tent)
just over the ditch but as this is a horror, we all know he won’t make it
there. As the non-diegetic sound of rustling leaves indicates that the predator
is quickly approaching, the male character attempts to leap over the ditch but
does not succeed. The camera uses low angles shots to show that he is now
stuck, clinging on to the edge of the ditch. High angle shots are used to show
he has no power at all in his current position. Once the male is dragged into
the ditch, the female comes out of the tent, revealing the flesh on her leg
first to give that stereotypical impression of a girl. The camera then pans out
from a mid-shot of the girl to a long/crane shot of the girl standing on her
own whilst the male is dead in the ditch. This crane shot shows that she is now
on her own and very vulnerable in a dangerous place. Some conventions which are
included in the scene are that they are in the middle of nowhere, boy and girl,
he trips up, doesn’t know what is chasing him, safety is always close, they
never make it to the safety area, he doesn’t think to warn the girl and eerie
music is used to add more tension. The use of Mise-en-scene in the scene makes
the male character seem as if he is a bit of a fool as he is wearing a tacky Hawaii
themed shirt but he also has blood on his face which could suggest he has
already previously encountered the predator and has narrowly escaped. The editing
in the scene can be seen when the male attempts the jump over the ditch as it
goes into slow motion. This can show the amount of effort and struggle he is
going through at that moment as he tries to complete the jump.
Mise-en-scene-____
Use of Sound-____
Editing-____
Camera Angles/movements/shots-____
