Conventions of a horror film;

Horror films have the tendency to be set in isolated place such as a rural village/community or an abandoned house. These films are usually filmed during the night as day time is seen as 'safer' by the audience. Settings for horror films also may include churches or graveyard which link in with the theme of religion, which is popular with this genre. If a horror film uses what is seen as a 'normal house' for it's setting, the house will mostly likely have different levels for example a basement or attic.

Low or high angled camera shots are a main convention for horror films - these angles either show the power or vulnerability of a character. Depth of frame is also in a horrors camerawork as these shots normally place the protagonist in the fore frame and this character is always unaware of the antagonist in the background, creating suspense for the audience. 

Iconography in horrors can revolve around the innocence of childhood, therefore using children, sometimes possessed, dolls, playgrounds, clowns and nursery rhymes. Popular mis en scene would include weapons eg knifes, blood, masks and supernatural forces. 

Horror films usually use 'false closures' in the narrative structure - these allow mystery to be added to the story and also enables a sequel. Levi Strauss's narrative theory works well with horror as he identified the idea of binary opposites for example evil/innocence - we see this used with evil children characters. 

A clear hero is not always used in horrors unlike the classic Hollywood structure. Common characters used are irresponsible who are usually killed off due to their stupidity, children possessed by paranormal forces, a final girl and people who refuse to believe what is happening. The main protagonist is often the victim and the hero in one.

Popular themes used are binary opposites (Levi Strauss) such as natural vs unnatural, good vs evil, known vs unknown. Other themes include the idea of what happens when we die?;the hidden evil inside people and science that is taken too far.