Repertoire of Elements - Horror

A repertoire of elements are the key features that are repeated throughout a certain genre. Each genre has its own specific repertoire of elements, which help to distinguish it from other genres. They all come under these categories:

• Iconography
• Props
• Style
• Settings
• Narrative
• Characters
• Themes

HORROR

*ICONOGRAPHY*

-Halloween mask

-Psycho shower scene

-Bloody dagger

-Dracula – black cape, fangs

-Frankenstein (bolts through neck)

-Silhouettes

-“Here’s Johnny!”

*PROPS*

-Weapon

-Dagger

-Masks

-Blood

-Candles

-Cloaks

*STYLE*

-Dark and shadowy

-Low key lighting or high key on dark sets

-POV shots

-Dark, slow movements followed by fast cuts (to disorientate the viewer)

-Eerie music

-Sense of fear created through style

-Climatic moment

*SETTINGS*

-Dark places

-Haunted, isolated places

-Supposedly ordinary or safe places (like home or school)

-Castles, mountains, forests

*NARRATIVES*

-Co-incidence

-Chase

-Supernatural

-Being trapped, captive

-Most die, only a few survive or escape

*CHARACTERS*

-Killer

-Monster

-Damsel in distress

-Female victims

-Demons

-Devils

-Vampires

-Human heroes (usually male)

-Children appear quite often

*THEMES*

-Death

-Fear

-Isolation

-Pursuit

-Traps

-Gore

-Revulsion

-Premonitions