Genre Investigation

I researched into the different sub-categories that are included in horror films and also the common conventions found within urban drama films.

Horror

Slashers.

• usually involve a psychopathic killer.
• stalking involved.
• killing a sequence of victims in a violent manner. 
• often has a tool/weapon of choice.
• the killer is usually masked.
• lots of blood and gore.
• Examples: 'Friday the 13th' and 'the Texas chainsaw massacre'.

Gothic.

• may have a romance that develops within the horror film.
• elements of both goth and horror.
• Examples: 'Let me in'.

Psychological.

• relies on characters' fears, guilt, beliefs, emotional instability.
• eerie sound effects.
• 'facing demons'.
• mystery contained which builds tension throughout the film.
• emotive.
• contains plot twists.
• relies heavily on the main characters' psychological state.
• Examples: 'shutter island'.

Supernatural/Paranormal.

• demonic presence, e.g. demons, ghosts.
• possession.
• usually stars a 'normal' family at the beginning or 'normal' characters.
• mystery and suspense.  
• lots of non-diegetic sounds e.g. doors and floorboards creaking. 
• themes including ghosts, spirits, demons etc.
• Examples: 'Insidious' and 'the exorcist'

Thriller.

• narrative to create enigma and make the audience jump.
• quiet scenes with sudden diegetic and non-diegetic sounds.
• suspense and anticipation.
• may be located an isolated place.
• a mix of slow and fast paced editing to create tension.
• Examples: 'the cabin in the woods'.

Science Fiction.

• often deals with paranormal elements.
• not just limited to scientists and experiments.
• can deal with the fear to technology.
• Examples: 'alien and the mist'.

Zombie.

• portray viral, reliving corpses or mindless humans.
• tension and suspense.
• apocalypse. 
• Examples: 'night of the living dead' and 'day of the dead'.

Urban Drama.

• drugs and weapons e.g. knives, guns etc.
• main character will usually be from a troubled background and/or dysfunctional family.
• gang violence.
• lots of tracking shots. 
• typically filmed in a run down, urban area e.g. London estates.
• main character is typically young and male.
• lots of diegetic sounds.
• colloquial dialect spoken between characters.
• non-diegetic sound used mainly for transitions of fade as memories or flashbacks.
• Examples: 'adulthood' and 'fighting'.